Chapter 33
AMELIA
“Amelia.” I heard the worry in Ryden’s voice as he called me. He’d proven by the tension on my shoulders that I was not going to back down. I’d been in front of his laptop, working for hours. “You haven’t even touched your food.”
I barely glanced at the sandwich he put on the counter hours ago. “This can’t be. There must be something. How on earth there’s only one person, Rolden Banks, who has a record while the rest didn’t seem to exist?”
He began massaging my tensed muscles, and I yearned to his touch. It felt so good. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a spa. It was months ago with Ren, and it was a part of the job.
“You said it yourself. Special ops. Maybe they went rogue or something. The council has levels of access, doesn’t it”
I turned my head at him as I realized he was right. “Right. And I’m not even under level one, but Dane is probably level three or more.”
“He would have found something about that fucker. Ladybug—”
I groaned.
“Okay, Amelia. You should take a break. I’ll make you another sandwich. Then shower and sleep. It’s late. We have to see Calder tomorrow.”
“Honestly, ladybug is growing on me, and it’s kinda cute. I like it better than babe.” I smiled as I shut the laptop and faced him. “No one has ever called me that cute before other than guys wanted to get into my pants.”
His lips curved into a lopsided grin as he leaned down to kiss me on the lips. “You’ll eat, okay?”
“Not until I come back.” I slid off the stool.
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t sleep if I have a lot of things on my mind. Sometimes I get bad dreams and I don’t want to put a hole in your house. I need to run.”
“Amelia, that’s not safe.”
“Then feel free to run with me. I miss your wolf, Alpha.” I patted his arm even if he wasn’t happy with my decision. “Don’t worry I know your territory better than your hairline.”
He absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re kidding.”
“I’ll be back soon.” I walked outside his house and ran through the woods. They had places where they kept their clothes before running. Behind the big rock, I stripped naked and took a deep breath, and I was already in four-legged animal.
That was how easy for me to shift. I could not even feel my bone cracking my face deformed to form a snout or the fur sprouting from my skin. I began walking, feeling the wet surface of the ground beneath my paws. The smell of earth and decaying plants calmed my senses and the silence and peace of the night other than the wind blowing and crickets.
It had been almost two weeks since my last run, and my wolf was happier as she finally felt out of the cage. She got the freedom, the control over herself. That was when I ran.
I ran into the woods. The thuds of my paws echoed, and my fur formed in waves as I zigzagged my way out of the trails. I jumped through the decaying logs, enjoying the sense of calmness within me. Then I sensed a wild rabbit.
“Nope. Not tonight.” I growled off the temptation of hunting. Then I stopped before the pond and looked at myself in the water. My wolf was feisty. It came with being the fire wolf. My golden eyes narrowed as I sensed and caught his smell behind me.
I turned around and snarled at him. He only showed me a pride of grin and stepped closer. His wolf was bigger than mine, a grayish brown with lighter underbelly, on its tail and legs. He was robust and stood with so much strength, exuding the power of an alpha.
I bowed my head down, showing him the respect he deserved.
Instead, his light green eyes glittered with joy. He then pressed his snout against my head and then rubbed the side of his face against mine. I felt our bond getting stronger, forged in our trust and devotion.
Then he stepped back and sauntered forward. I followed him, and we ran side by side in the woods as mates under the moon goddess.
Once we got back to his house, I used the shower downstairs and changed into my baggy shirt. I entered his bedroom, and he was already in bed, shirtless. Damn, his shoulders were wide, his chest was broad with tiny hair spread all over. And then those six-pack abs.
I knew he was ripped and hard everywhere. I’d seen him shirtless many times, but not like this, just the two of us in one bedroom, and even a blind person could sense our sexual tension was heavy in the air.
“Your wolf is beautiful. Red. I’d never seen that kind of color like yours.”
“It’s because I’m only made for you.” I crawled my way to his side. I didn’t realize he was smiling until I lifted my gaze.
“Really?” There was a sense of relief in his voice.
“I’ve been having a crush on you since I learned that there’s such a thing so-called crush. So yeah. I’d be honored to be your mate, Ryden.”
“And I, Amelia.” He looked at me with a soft expression, and leisurely drifted his gaze over my wet lips, almost asking me to change my mind.
I smiled in determination.
While his silence was thoughtful, I still felt his struggle to control himself, and I didn’t know why, but there was no doubt that he wanted this relationship as much as I did.
But I’d been ready to be his half of my life. Our attraction— our bond was undoubtedly there, and what other reasons for me to doubt that we were meant to be? He took me back and welcomed me into his life. There was no holding back now.
When he leaned down and cupped the back of my head, I parted my lips. Then he kissed me. His gentle kiss caused an explosion in my senses. It didn’t just ignite a passion between us, but also something I’d never felt before, not even in our first kiss, and not because of our mating bond. It was that we both cared for each other— I trusted him, and my feelings for him grew beyond I what could ever control.
And yes, I’d loved this man longer than I knew what passion meant.
He cupped my ass and lifted me up so I could straddle him. I reached out to frame his face with my hand, clutching at him, my fingers gripping his hair. I was instantly aroused more than I’d like to admit. No man had ever made me turn on before like I wanted to rip off my shirt, get naked, and spread my legs wide for him.
Yes, I was that desperate, and being a horny werewolf and desperate at the same time was a bad mix, but I didn’t regret where I ended up right now because this was what we’d wanted. This was what we needed when the world outside this house was in danger from some lunatic who wanted power for themselves.
Ryden deepened the kiss, and his mouth tightly meshed to me. I opened my mouth to him because I wanted to kiss him more. And I wanted all of him beyond doubt.
As he got the clue, he slid his tongue inside, exploring. Ryden was a goddamn good kisser. He was a pro, and he would be a pro in bed by a mile.
With our bodies pressed together, my shirt was rubbing against his bare chest. I could feel my nipples poking against the fabric, and the friction felt so good, but it wasn’t enough for me.
I tightened my legs around him, and I began rocking my hips, moaning shamelessly loudly as carnal hunger rushed through me.