Page 117 of Shifted Desire

Everything fades into background noise as I look into the eyes of my mate as she moves away from me. My body strains, chest heaving, fangs aching, and cock throbbing with a singular focus—the goddess standing over me. Her pale pink skin glitters like pure moonlight spills from her, her supple body bared for me as an offering. A gift of healing and pleasure and true partnership, if I’m brave enough to accept it.

And here, under the stars in a forest that’s only ever been filled with pain, with a lifetime’s worth of shaming words echoing in my head, I choose to let go of it all.

Because there’s really no choice at all. Not when the woman I love—my mate—asks me to try.

“I’m ready.”

She flashes me a brilliant smile as she leans down to kiss me, cupping my maw with no trepidation about my fangs. My tongue snakes out, needing to taste her, plunging between her lips, and she moans, fingers tangling in my fur. My entire body aches with the need to hold her. To pull her on top of me and have her take me inside her welcoming heat. Or to pin her down and mount her from behind.

Oh, fuck, that’s what I want. I want to breed her from behind and sink my fangs into her shoulder to claim her, then once my knot releases, take her face to face so I can lap at my claiming bite and watch her expression as she takes all of me. I want to fuck her every way possible until I have nothing left to give.

One of the ropes snaps as my muscles expand, and Samantha pulls back from the kiss with a gasp.

“Naughty boy. I didn’t say you could do that.”

A low growl rumbles from me. “I’m done playing games, mate.”

The potent energy of arousal pulses in the air between us, her scent still so sweet and pleased. No sign of distress. Only pure desire.

She takes a few steps back, and more of the ropes snap. I fight every instinct to stay still until she tells me to follow.

When she gets to the edge of the clearing, she looks over her shoulder at me with a smirk. “What are you waiting for? I said I wanted all of you.”

She did. The realization that it’s been at least a few minutes since I felt the magic of the collar influence me hits me deep in my chest. I haven’t been staying still because of a command, but because I could do it on my own.

With a grunt, I stand, the ropes falling to the ground in tatters, my body priming for the deepest instinct a werewolf can have.

The need to chase, rut, and breed my mate.

“Time to run, little devil.”

Finally.

My body lights up at Nathan’s growled words, and I run faster than I have in my life, my hair streaming behind me and a joyful laugh spilling from my lips as I dart between the trees. Branches whip against my wings and naked skin, but I don’t feel the sting because this is perfect.

Nathan howls, but this time there’s none of the melancholy of before. No, his howl sounds free. A celebration of finally letting go.

It echoes inside me, shaking loose the tightness in my chest that’s been there for as long as I can remember. The constant vigilance. The barrier to keep people out. The clinging shame of being used so many times when I didn’t want it. The coercion and gaslighting and violation that I convinced myself was my fault.

For the first time, I’m not running out of fear or a need to protect myself.

I’m running because I want to.

Because I’m free and happy.

I want him to catch me and make me his forever.

“You can do better than that,” Nathan rumbles, his breath hot on my back.

Dodging to the side with a flap of my wings right before he swipes out at me, I laugh again and dart forward as he growls in frustration.

My legs and lungs burn from the exertion, but I keep going, wishing that my wings were more functional so I could make the chase more challenging. I can tell he’s toying with me. He could’ve caught me a few times already, and his pace behind me is measured rather than a full sprint.

He wants to wear me out before he strikes.

More slippery wetness coats my thighs at the thought, something base in me wanting to be helpless to the monster.

Arousal distracts me, and I yelp as I almost run straight into a low branch, but I’m tumbled to the side and down to the ground as Nathan leaps out from the darkness. I barely feel the impact, his massive body positioned to cushion me from the fall.