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I snap and sink my teeth into his neck.
I don’t stop.
My wolf turns wild.
I lose control.
Chapter seven
Eliana
Ice Meadow
Ahugewhitewolfcollides into the side of the beast on top of me, the force enough to get my teeth to unlatch. I can’t roll over to get to my paws before another heavy body lands on top of me.
“Eliana, stop. Don’t hurt him.” Tristan transforms with his thought, pinning me down with his hands to my chest. “It’s okay. It was a misunderstanding. You broke the window and scared everyone.”
My whole body trembles and I wriggle beneath him, unable to transform back into my human self just yet. “He’s keeping you from me. He didn’t want you to know I was here.”
Tristan frowns, his features softening. “Is that true?” His words aren’t intended for me.
My hurt from him questioning me at all stings on a deep-seated level. Have I overestimated our connection? We made a promise to each other, but I guess promises get broken all the time. Why I thought things could be different...? I’m so naive.
Growling, Tristan flares his nostrils, his wolf peeking through with a flash of gold in his blue eyes. His features sharpen with his wave of anger, turning his relaxed surfer boy appearance into something darker, deadlier. And it’s hot. Protective. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until now.
“Slater, you better have one helluva good reason for instilling doubt in Eliana’s mind. You don’t feel what I feel. She is losing trust in me. I need you to be honest.” Tristan tilts his chin down, staring deep into my eyes. He scratches his fingers into the fur beneath my ear, his anger fizzling out as he captures my gaze. “Please, Eliana. Don’t think like that. My promise still stands. It’s Slater I’m questioning, not you. I know you’re being truthful, and I’ve never doubted you for a second.”
“Settle down, Tristan. I have my reasons. I didn’t want you to carry the burden of seeing Eliana like she is now and blame yourself for everything she has gone through. I needed her to have a moment to clear her head and to know that she was safe. The last thing I wanted was for her wild emotions to get to you. You would have done something rash. It is in your nature now to protect and destroy any possible threats. You’re part of Ice Meadow. We are one of the strongest packs around, but we are also the most vulnerable. Our loyalty and love toward each other not only lift us up but can also destroy us. Please, forgive me. I see now that I was wrong.” Slater steps forward and offers his hand out to Tristan. “Why don’t you take Eliana to your room and help her prepare for dinner? But please, mind your mouth. She is not part of our pack. I trust you to think and speak cautiously.”
I expect Tristan to argue, but all he does is nod his head and get off me. I still remain in my wolf form, unsure of how to trigger myself to change back into my human form. Without a threat, it seems a bit impossible. Being a wolf is far too natural for me. The inability scares me. What if I don’t change back right away?
Tristan scrubs his fingers into the fur of my chest. “You’ll change back, Eliana. Let’s just get you inside. I don’t care whether you are a woman or a wolf. Let me take care of you. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you for a second.”
Without warning, Tristan slides his arms under my wolf body and lifts me off the ground, cradling me like a damn puppy. I can’t stop myself from thrashing, feeling utterly weak and exposed in this position. Tristan holds tighter and refuses to let me down. Maybe he’s afraid of me bolting away, and maybe I might. I just don’t know. Everything about the situation is confusing. I should want to leave. I should want to make my way back to Sunset Pointe, but how can I? How can I ask Tristan to leave with me?
If he hears my thoughts, he doesn’t comment or react. Instead, he props me on his shoulders, holding me like a small child even in my wolf form. I bet it’s the most ridiculous sight in the world, but my wolf finally settles down, and I rest my snout on the crook of his neck and inhale a couple breaths of his scent.
“That’s a good little badass,” he whispers, the words teasing in my ear. “Adam wouldn’t expect less.”
I release a whimper, my tongue shooting out of my mouth to lick the side of his throat. He chuckles and picks up his speed. I stare behind him at the wolves gathering outside the open back door. Slater meets my gaze, his mouth tight and his muscles rippling. I wish I could hear what was going through his mind. He’s been kind, but in this moment, he acts as if I could possibly be an enemy. Maybe he’s right.
Tristan carries me down a set of stairs and to another level of the massive cabin. I can’t see exactly where we’re headed, but I count three doors on the right and one on the left before he stops and pushes open the last door at the end of the hallway.
His fragrant scent engulfs me, clinging to everything in this massive room. Wood walls keep the warmth in, and a flannel comforter covers the king-sized bed. A dark wood dresser, TV stand, and desk are the only other pieces of furniture in the room. It’s the strangest thing. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I have so many questions.
Tristan sets my damp body right on his bed, not even caring that I’m dripping with muddy water from the melted snow. He holds his finger out to me, silently commanding me to stay, and I growl but I don’t leave the bed. I watch as he strolls into the gigantic bathroom, the view of the spa tub and the walk-in shower reminding me of the kind of luxurious life I’ve been missing out on. What I wouldn’t give for a bubble bath right now.
Tristan flicks on the water to the tub and turns his gaze toward me. “You don’t have to give anything to me. I would do anything for a soak with you, Eliana. You have no idea.”
The damn appendage on my ass chooses now to wag. It surprises me, and I yelp and get to my paws, nearly falling off the tall bed. “Then you better teach me how to transform back, because I’m not taking a bath in my wolf form with you. That’s just weird.”
Tristan chuckles at my telepathic comment. “You just have to really want it. Imagine what it’s like to be a woman again. Imagine all of the things we could do...”
My body spasms, his breathy voice and boner triggering me into transforming. Of course, it’s his sexy body and hot desire that gets me. I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. Because right now, all I want to do is fling my arms around Tristan and hug him. I want to kiss him a dozen times and feel the heat of his body pressing against mine. There has been so much bullshit and strife in our life that this small moment means so much to me. I’m afraid that it might be the only chance I ever have again to be with him. Fate has put us on different paths and in different packs. But right now? We are together, and that’s what is most important.
Tristan stands at the edge of the bed, staring down at me with heavy lidded eyes. I hadn’t even seen him move from the bathroom, my mind barely catching up with the rest of my body. His muscles ripple, and he rests his palms on the mattress, leaning forward as I lie on my back, propping myself up on my elbows. I realize that my knees are bent and I’m exposing my body to him, and I don’t even care. All I want is for him to join me right now.
He releases a throaty noise, hearing my thoughts, and he grabs me by my ankles and yanks me to him to the edge of the bed. I’m in his arms a moment later. Crashing my mouth to his, I kiss him fervently, passionately, kissing him as if this is our first and last kiss, and it very well might be.
