Page 17 of Wicked Wolf

She swallowed hard.

But she wasn’t a pawn, and this wasn’t something to check off a list.

This was a decision about people. People who, frankly, didn’t even like each other. Quinn growled at her and treated her as though she was nothing more than a nuisance. If he was even feeling the mating urge, he was clearly fighting it.

What she did know, though, was that she couldn’t run and hide from it. She couldn’t ignore it. She wasn’t like Mel, who was newly introduced to wolves. She’d grown up with them, so she didn’t have that excuse.

No, she’d tell Quinn.

Tell him that he could be her mate if they both chose.

She knew he had a problem with her being a witch. He’d cursed her for it just that day. She might not know why he hated witches, but she’d find out…or walk away when he rejected her. She couldn’t help the blood in her veins, the power in her soul.

Her hands shook, and she clenched them. No matter what he said, she’d do right by herself and tell him that. She didn’t know what she wanted to do afterward, but if he knew, if he also knew there was a choice, then it was something.

She just prayed that when she told him he wouldn’t break her.

She’d leave herself open, bare to anything his wolf chose, because she knew if she didn’t, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

If he left her bloody and broken…then she’d have to live with it.

Somehow.

Chapter Four

Quinn didn’t want to deal with another meeting. He didn’t want to have to sit in a room with that wolf and her sweet scent. His wolf practically purred like a goddamn cat when she was around¸ and that couldn’t be allowed to happen. Instead of walking toward the meeting area, he’d rather go for a run and burn through every ounce of adrenaline currently flowing through his veins

That was a better idea than dealing with that blasted hybrid wolf.

He couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind or her scent off his skin. He hadn’t even touched her like his wolf wanted to, yet he could still sense her. Of all wolves, why did it have to be her? Why did he want this one?

He hadn’t been with a woman since Helena left. It had been five long years since he’d let himself get close to someone else, and he knew it still wasn’t enough time. Helena had broken him, shattered every ounce of the man he’d once been. She’d stripped him of half his soul and broken their bond. When it had first happened, he’d passed out from the agonizing pain. The only reason he’d woken up was because he’d heard Jesse cry for him. His little boy had been only a newborn yet had pulled himself from his own nightmare.

By the time he’d healed what he could within himself, he’d been focused on his son and not on the world around him. Gideon had let him remain in his position, and he’d had to fight off dominance challenges since people thought Helena had also damaged his wolf.

Too bad for them that they were wrong about that.

Helena had only strengthened his wolf. He’d had to keep everything sane and strong so he could survive. He hadn’t had the time or inclination to find a female to scratch the itch for him. Yeah, wolves needed touch and to release or they’d bottle up too much aggression, but he’d dealt with that. He had his hand to take care of himself when the need arose, and he could run off the adrenaline if needed.

He’d dealt with it all because he was not given a choice. The only reason he hadn’t gone off the deep end was because Jesse needed him.

That little boy had saved his life, yet Quinn couldn’t do a thing to save him.

He closed his eyes and cursed. No, he would not think like that. Jesse would be fine. Once he grew older, he’d get stronger. That was just what would have to happen because the alternative couldn’t be in the realm of possibilities.

“Quinn?”

He stiffened at Gina’s voice and fisted his hands. Of all people, it had to be her. Why couldn’t anyone else come up on him and pull him out of his funk? No, it had to be the fucking witch. He couldn’t trust her or her powers, but his wolf sure as hell wanted to try.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Plus, why hadn’t he scented her coming up? Even when he was in his mind, he could always feel someone entering his space, yet he hadn’t with Gina. His wolf liked having her there, so he hadn’t warned him. Her scent was already in his pores, so he hadn’t noticed it coming back.

What the fuck?

God, he needed his head examined.

“What?” he growled then cursed. His problems with her had to stop. He knew he was being an asshole, but something about her rubbed him the wrong way. If he didn’t start acting better, he’d screw up this whole thing with the Talons and Redwoods. Even though, for some reason, she put him on edge, he wasn’t going to let his Alpha down because of it.