Chapter 5: Chapter Five
He was coming for her, the she-wolf knew it.
She could taste the bitter tang of danger mixing with the crisp night air and the scent of pine trees.
Instincts had her hackles rising, as she searched the shadowy depths of the forest for the presence she knew was nearby.
Cocking her ears, the wolf searched for a sign of the other one. And as always, his scent eluded her; his paws made no sound. Inexplicably, he was just—there!
Like a ghost, he seemed to appear out of nowhere, standing in front of her and blocking her way.
He began to circle her, appraising every inch of her wolf form, smelling her, as if he was marking his territory.
It was hard not to cower to his much bigger size. Part of her wanted to submit, to expose her throat and belly to him. Her tail dipped between her legs, even as she fought the urge to roll over.
His dark brown eyes narrowed, making her quiver. When she could finally break away from his gaze, she turned away quickly and began to run.
Where she was running to, she didn’t know, but the need to escape was strong. She flattened her ears and ran as if her life depended on it, keeping her body low to the ground.
The sound of him following her was easy to detect, as he made no effort to hide his pursuit. He was breathing hard; she could hear it. His bigger frame was at a disadvantage when it came to speed, yet with every stride, his longer legs brought him closer and closer to her.
Panic began to well within her, and she dug deep inside her, putting on a burst of speed, twisting around trees and jumping over logs.
It was all in vain, though.
Without warning, his body slammed into hers, and they both fall to the ground. She rolled, attempting to get to her feet, but even as she tried to stand, he was on top of her in a flash.
Hot breath fanned across the side of her face. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of shiny white teeth before she felt those same teeth penetrating her fur and biting into her neck.
“No!” Part of her was screaming in protest even as another voice, one deep inside her of her cried out yes, craving his domination and possession. She pushed that part of her aside and struggled.
She buckled against his hold, managing to dislodge him from her body. She shifted a few feet away from him, her hackles rising in warning.
Just like before, he moved like a ghost, nipping at her hind leg, making her spin, a growl catching in her throat.
He jumped to follow, his teeth snagging her rump—not hard, but playfully, making her pause.
She had no idea what he was doing, as he nipped at her leg again in the same playful manner.
They kept dancing in circles, his teeth touching her coat, her legs whirling her around, until finally, she grew tired of the game and lunged at him.
His masculine growl had her blood running cold, all her synapses answering to his alpha call until he tried to pin her again, with his jaw against her nape.
No, she was not going to submit.
She leapt away from him, only to find her much smaller form beneath his, grappling for purchase on the ground. She had half a mind to shift just to demand him to explain himself, but his muzzle against her neck forced her to fight back.
Round and round they went, sparring in wolf form beneath the glow of the moon in the forest.
When she pinned him with her jaws around his scruff, he flipped her off him with a shake and pounced again.
It was ridiculous, she knew it. But for the life of her, the she-wolf could not find it in her to stop. She had no idea where she was or what she was doing there in wolf form, but she had to admit it was fun.
His mouth closed over her flank, sending her skidding away once more, this time at a dead run through the underbrush. He gave chase, his strides longer, more knowing, but she refused to give up.
This time, she ran with everything inside of her.
Faster.
Harder.
Sprinting over the earth at breakneck speed.
Unlike before when she had thought she was in danger, this felt amazing. Free. Exciting.
And every time his teeth skimmed her hide, she pushed herself to pick up the pace even more.
His paws were silent, his presence behind her so invisible she thought she had lost him until he landed on her once more.
They tumbled and rolled from the impact, cascading down a hill to the bank of a nearby river. He clamped down on her scruff to keep her from falling over the ledge, then gently pulled her back.
He nuzzled her nose, his dark brown eyes glowing with heat and open curiosity as he rolled into her, his warmth a blanket of security that wrapped around her, setting her fur at ease.
She bathed in his energy, reveling in the power he possessed, his strength, and his agility.
He stood and stretched beside her, drawing her gaze to the athletic lines of his form, the masculinity of his coat, and the breadth of his shoulders.
He was a big wolf. In every way. The perfect mate for her.
Mate! The word ricocheted within her, and she knew it to be true, even without knowing who he was.
He nudged her with his nose, causing her eyes to lift to his. Amusement and hunger shone brightly in those dark brown eyes—a promise of a passion to come.
Instinct overtook her at the moment, and without waiting for him, she leapt into a run, knowing that if he caught her, his promise would ring true. She had no idea what would happen at the end of the chase, but the she-wolf knew that whatever the outcome, it would be in her favor.
This time when he slammed her into the ground beneath him and clamped his teeth against her neck, she didn’t fight him.
She stilled on a growl and began to shift back into human, opening her legs wide in invitation.
A low rumble escaped him, as he too shifted back into human, his groin pressing into her sex.
Her body hummed with tingling pleasure and promise as she waited in anticipation for what was about to happen. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she didn’t care—he was her mate, and all that mattered was sealing the bond between them.
Just when she felt the tip of him pressing against her, she woke up with a jolt, sweat coating every inch of her skin, a silent scream lodged deep in her throat.