Vulnerable. Something she’d sworn she never would be again. But this was Wesken. He was as different from Roger as summer from winter. You couldn’t even compare the two.
She took a shaky breath and let the transformation take her. The burn in her left leg made her gasp and stiffen as her body stretched and bones reformed. The only sign that he even noticed was the muscle jumping in his jaw as he ground his teeth together.
Nuzzling close, she pressed her nose where his neck and shoulder met, then sighed. Yes, this was what she needed. His heat. His strength. His protection. She’d been fooling herself in thinking that she could resist this man—her mate. She took another deep breath. For months, she’d avoided close contact with Wesken when everything in her wanted to get as close as she could be.
Her wolf pushed—begged—for more. Until now, she’d refused each and every attempt to get closer to the man who was destined to be hers. But not anymore. She’d allowed the nightmare of her past to dictate her life for too long. Roger had stolen so much from her. He’d taken her family, her happiness, and even her home. No more. Her future was hers, and so was her mate, she refused to let her old Alpha take them from her.
Before she could change her mind, she took a long lick of Wesken’s neck. He tasted as amazing as he had when he’d kissed her on her front step, but this time, there was a hint of wildness that drove her wolf closer to the edge. His fingers dug into her thigh, and a small moan slipped past his lips.
“Amalija,” he said, his voice hoarser than it had been.
She slid the tip of her tongue over the corded muscle of his shoulder, this time ending with a scrape of her teeth against his skin. His groaned louder, and he quickened his step.
If any of their pack mates were near, she didn’t know and didn’t care. She needed her mate, and she’d do whatever it took to have him. Even if she couldn’t keep him in the end.
SEVEN
Wesken took Amalija through the village toward her home. No one approached as he strode past. Their pack mates weren’t stupid enough to risk it. Not when the beast inside him was so close to the surface, and the need for vengeance pounded so deep in his soul. That time would come, but for now, he needed to take care of Amalija. Only she mattered. He should have put a stop to it when she’d licked his skin, but the distraction had subdued her constant shaking, and in turn, had allowed his wolf to settle—a little. Now, all he could think of was her pretty lips on his body, the taste of her on his tongue. He needed it more than his next breath.
When she nipped at his shoulder, then licked the spot again, he groaned. They had to be alone. Now. Climbing the steps in two strides, he opened the door.
He didn’t bother putting her down as he entered her home. Her body was healing, and she could no doubt move without his help, but he wasn’t ready to let her go. She wasn’t getting away from him. Not that she seemed to want to, but he wasn’t risking it.
Her soft, little licks and the scrape of her teeth had his cock throbbing and his blood pounding hot in his veins. The scent of her arousal surrounded him, and for the second time that day, he wanted to hold her up against the nearest hard surface and slam into her. His cock twitched at the thought.
Walking through the living room, he headed for the hallway that led to the bedrooms. He hadn’t been in her home before, but it didn’t matter. Although his was smaller, the layout was the same. “Which one?” he asked.
“Let go of my legs,” she said, as she pointed to the last door at the end of the hall.
“No.”
“Just my legs,” she pleaded as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers. “I need more.”
He could do more. As soon as he released her legs, she wrapped them around his waist and plastered her breasts against his chest. She made a soft whimpering sound as