“What a crock of fucking shit!” I spit out. He takes another step forward and reaches out, “Don’t you dare touch me or use your magic on me!” I growl in warning.
He drops his arm to his side and dips his chin. “Jessica, just wait, please. I?—”
Ignoring his plea, I twist around, instantly shifting into my wolf form, and run through the forest as fast as my four legs will take me. As I near the forest’s edge, a massive, powerful wolf collides with me, sending me tumbling to the ground. I quickly regain my footing, but Luke is already on the attack. I growl defiantly, refusing to back down. I brace myself for his impact. We tumble together, crashing into the bushes scattered across the forest floor. I rake my claws against him and sink my teeth into his shoulder. He lets out a piercing whine, and we break apart.
He lunges for me, snarling. I snap my jaws, and he places an enormous paw over my head, pinning me to the ground. He uses all his weight to hold me under him.
Damnit, Jessica, stop fighting me!His loud voice shouts through our mind-link.
Get off of me, Asshole!I roar.
Shift!He commands. I try to wiggle free, but I can’t escape.Jessica, shift!
I know it’s pointless, but I continue to writhe and squirm.Get off me!I snap my jaw aiming for his leg, but it’s just out of reach.
“Jessica, there are fucking paparazzi everywhere. If they see you in wolf form, it will be all over the damn news! The public can’t know you’re a white wolf! Not until you’re mated, and your pack is secure.
I stop struggling beneath him.Get off me. If I shift, you’ll crush me.
Stop fucking around and just shift! Damnit, Jessica! Now!I cringe at the harsh tone ringing in my head. Reluctantly, I shut my eyes and transition into my human form. As I gradually open my eyes, I anticipate encountering Luke’s wolf. Instead, his human face and completely bare body hovers above mine.
His chest heaves, and so does mine. “I went back for you. I found this little campsite nestled in the forest, and I recognizedyour scent. I would leave you little gifts and notes asking for you to meet me or at least tell me if you needed help. You never replied.”
I glare at him, “Why were you so cruel to me when we first met.”
“When my father told me that they adopted you, I immediately thought you were manipulating me and my family. Because I knew you were from Territory Two and even though we don’t have proof, we know they have an association with the Resistance.” He expels a breath and rests his forehead against mine. “I was a stupid teenage kid, that had gotten his heart broken for the first time. I promised myself that I would never allow anyone to take advantage of me like that again. I became overly distrustful, and second guessed everyone’s intentions. I know that I fucked up, and I caused you pain.”
He moves his face closer. “I love you, and I’ve spent years trying to atone for my past actions. I never intended to keep those secrets from you, but not all of them were mine to share.” I squeeze my eyes shut and turn my head away from him. “Look at me, please,” he whispers softly in my ear.
“This doesn’t change things between us, Luke.” Before I can push him off, his lips crash into mine, his tongue invades the open space.
His hand skims down my body, tiny electrical pricks ghost across my skin. His erection presses against my thigh. He pulls back slightly, nipping at my lips. “Tell me you don’t feel this,” he whispers as he glides his hand over my breast. “Tell me you don’t want me as much as I want you.” His lips meet mine, and he raises my leg to hook around his waist. “You can’t lie to me. I smell your arousal. I feel it in your kisses.” He lifts his body, just enough for the cool breeze to tickle my skin.
My skin instantly misses his warmth. I miss him, his scent, his kisses, his touch. I curl my hands around his biceps. In myhead, I mean to push him away, but my traitorous body pulls him closer. I kiss him, allowing his tongue to plunge deep into my mouth.
He smiles softly against my lips, moaning as my hips grind into his erection. Meeting my eyes, he implores, “Don’t toy with me, Jessica. I don’t think my heart can survive you abandoning me again.”
I turn my head. “I can’t be with you.”
His expression falls, and he slams his fist into the ground near my head. Jolted by his sudden reaction, I push against him and try to maneuver out from underneath him, but he pins me with his weight.
“Stop lying!” he spits “You still have feelings for him, don’t you?” When I don’t answer him, me moves off me and swings his arm, punching the air. “How can you fucking still want him? How can you excuse him for abandoning you, for betraying you? But you refuse to forgive me!”
I sit up and cross my arms to cover my nakedness. Tears stream down my face as I shake my head. “This isn’t about Liam or Shadow. This is about what you did tome!” I yell. I rise to my feet. I have to get out of here.
“I am just as much a victim in all of this,” he yells back.
“A victim?! You want to call yourself a victim?” I shove him, rage consuming me. I laugh. “You were in her bed, naked!” I shove him again, but he regains his stance. “Elaine answered the door naked with your mate mark, fresh and dripping with blood!” I scream and punch him so hard he falls back. Gripping my arm at the last moment, he takes me down with him. “You didn’t just fuck her! You mated her!”
Luke wraps his arms around my waist and flips me on my back. I attempt another punch, and he restrains my hands above my head. But he doesn’t reply. Years of hurt and anger that I washolding back takes over. I want to hurt him the same way he hurt me.
“I hate you for making me love you! I hate you for breaking my heart! I hate you because you mated her! I hate her for taking my best friend away from me, and I hate you for letting her!” I narrow my eyes, hating the tears that spill from my eyes. “I. Hate. You.”
He presses his face in the crook of my neck, and drops of moisture trickle down my damp skin. We both pause, no longer fighting, panting, crying.
In a gravelly tone, he says, “I lost Emily, too, Jessica. I hate myself every day, knowing I lost both of you, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.” He adjusts so that I lay on top of him.
I seize the opportunity of freedom and sprint all the way back to the manor.
