Page 4 of Wolf Reborn

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. I’d gone out of my way to find out about her after seeing her at the temple, but I’d only done that so that I could be sure to avoid her.

I didn’t want a mate—even one as lovely as Natalie. What I wanted, more than anything, was to be left alone. Loving again wasn’t something I could bear—never again! Not when I’d destroyed the last woman who loved me.

The power surging through my veins—a power that I had to keep in check at all times—was already being thrown off balance because of Natalie. Because of the onslaught of emotions overwhelming me.

I’d been happy as I was, mateless and alone. But now she was here, making me aware of an emptiness I hadn’t felt in centuries. Or ever, if I was being honest. It was as if everything else paled in comparison to my need to have her.

I looked down at my hands and took deep breaths to calm myself.

Images from my past pushed their way to the forefront of my mind and once again, I saw the face of the one I loved while on Earth. The one I’d been forced to kill.

I growled and began pacing.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t known where Natalie lived, or I would have avoided the area. And though I was thankful I’d been there to save her, it meant that things were now set in motion. I couldn’t stay away from her now. Which meant she was at greater risk.

Everyone knew that Enchanteds were not as strong as normal werewolves, so they were at a higher risk of dying from a rejection. Of course, a rejection didn’t mean an automatic death. But the loss and physical pain of enduring it drove many wolves to take their own lives. It was said that being rejected made a wolf feel as if a part of his or her soul was being ripped away.

I didn’t want to risk Natalie’s afterlife, but I already had. I should have approached her at the temple and rejected her there and then, putting an end to the bond between us the moment it snapped into place.

But doing that to her in front of so many other wolves would have been cruel. It was also possible that in my surprise at finding her, I might not have been able to reject her but could have marked her instead.

My claws dug into my palm as my breathing grew erratic. Her scent was so strong. I couldn’t take a breath without smelling her, and it was making my thoughts foggy.

I had to reject her! But could I?

If I rejected her, she might die. And dying in the God Realm meant ceasing to exist. A soul was erased after dying twice because there was nothing beyond the afterlife. This was the end of the road. So I could never do that to her.

My plan had been to stay away from her and not give our bond the chance to grow. But just being here was already too much.

How could I reject her now? But how could I not?

I’d been taking a walk, breathing in the fresh air to try and ground myself when I’d heard the fight between her and the gorgalian. And when I picked up on her scent, I couldn’t just walk away.

Seeing the scratches on her body, knowing how close she’d come to dying a soul-death tore through my soul. I didn’t know her—all I knew of her was that she was a Blackwood and my mate—but the panic I’d felt, seeing her so close to death, shocked me to the core.

I held onto the ring around my neck and closed my eyes, torn between what I should do—reject her—and what I wanted to do—finally embrace the one made for me.

I had to find a way to undo this mess and fast.

* * *

Natalie

Icaught myself staring at the scars on his chest again. There was nothing soft about this man. He was roguish, a mountain of muscle, and had an intimidating glare that he was using in full force. But I wasn’t about to buckle under.

We sat quietly for a time. Though I’d been the one to invite him over to talk, I had no idea where to begin.

Thankfully, he broke the silence first.

“I was wrong to speak to you the way I had in the forest. It was uncalled for,” he said, focusing his attention on the abstract painting on the wall across the room. “When I saw you on the ground, hurt, my temper got the better of me.”

Then he finally looked my way, and the corner of his mouth curved with a slight smile. It was small, but it changed his face so much. I wasn't going to deny that he was a gorgeous man. He was hot—extremely hot—and his smile only made him that much harder to resist.

"We got off on the wrong foot, Natalie. Could we start over?” He got to his feet, curled his fist, and rested it over his heart. "It's nice to meet you, Natalie Blackwood. I’m Lucian Wolfborn.”

I nodded, and stood up as well, my curled fist over my heart. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucian Wolfborn.”

Werewolves were creatures of honor, and since Lucian saved me he deserved my respect, whether he was my mate or not. And even if he had made a horrible first impression. I took a good look at him. He was acting very differently than he had in the forest. And though there was still a hardness to his face, his eyes had softened.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com