The answer comes swiftly.
One howl. Then another. Then dozens more, rising from every direction—near and far, young and old. I hear it in their responses: the relief, the excitement, the hope.
Their Wolf King is back.
Iam back.
The conspiratorial whispers will die now. The doubts will wither. The pack will feel it in their bones long before word reaches their ears.
And if any still dare to question me?—
I bare my teeth, exhilarated.
They will not do so for long.
My wolf throws his head back once again, howling into the night. The answer is a thunderous chorus of howls. So many I can’t distinguish them from one another.
All I hear is unity.
One voice. One pack.Mypack.
And it’s all because of her.
Satisfied, my wolf trots back to my girl who’s standing where we left her, looking ravishing in the silvery moonlight.
It’s my turn, I tell him.Let me back out.
He reluctantly steps to the side and lets me emerge. Fur disappears in an instant, long sharp canines retract, and I burst back into my human form feeling more whole and happy than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.
The cool night air washes across my skin and I am suddenly very aware that I’m standing naked in the field.
Nudity is nothing to shifters, since we’re constantly in and out of our animal forms there’s always someone around without their clothes, but to humans, to my mate, it’s something entirely different.
Her eyes flicker downward and she sucks in a sharp breath when she sees my tremendous size.
Heated lust surges through my veins as I watch her looking, all the innocence in those gorgeous brown eyes gone. Arousal and need have taken its place.
I grit my teeth, trying to stop my cock from responding, but I can’t. It gets hard and thick, taking on a mind of its own.
Her eyes widen, color blooms in her cheeks, and Gods help me, the way she nibbles her lip is the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen. There’s no stopping my towering erection now. It’sthrobbing.
“Alaric,” she whispers as she steps forward.
“No,” I hiss, putting my hand up as I turn away. “We can’t.”
“We’re mates,” she says in a low, sensual tone. “We can.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head, not trusting myself to look at her. “Three weeks.”
“Three weeks? What happens in three weeks?”
“Lunaris Vinculum,” I say with pain coursing through my chest. It physically hurts to keep myself away from her. “The sacred night of the binding. Wolves cannot… dothatbefore the mating ceremony.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” she says, and even though I can’t see her, I know she has a mischievous grin on her face.
I have never felt such temptation. The pull is too strong. My hands shake. My breathing stops. It’sagonizingto know my mate and her soft, warm pussy are right there, and I’m powerless to feast in the sinful pleasure.
I clench my hands into fists and squeeze my eyes closed.
