45. Nick
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
NICK
Izzy’s cute when she’s nervous. She has no reason to be—I would never let anything happen to her—but it’s cute, nonetheless.
So is the nervous chattering. She’s never done that before. But I can understand the need to fill the space with noise when in a new situation.
“Nick!” she exclaims, gripping me so hard I swear she’s going to pull some of my fur out.
Calm down, Izzy. You’re safe, I tell her. But to her, it just sounds like snuffles and woofs. I wonder if she’ll be able to understand me once we mate.
She leans down, her body instinctively leaning her weight forward to keep her balanced. She may not be aware of it, but her body instinctively knows what to do.
Atta girl.
I catch up with Georgie and Dane quickly, matching their pace as we make our way through the trees. They’re going slowly to accommodate for Izzy’s first time with us, but I know that won’t last forever.
The desire to let loose and really run will take over soon enough.
Do you two want to go ahead? Give her some time to get comfortable? I ask them. We can catch up.
Dane dips his head, leaping forward. He’s being oddly quiet tonight, starting with how cautious he was around Izzy when he arrived.
I think he’s jealous, Georgie says, as if she read my mind. Not that he wants Izzy or anything, but you know, out of the three of us, he’s the one who’s had the most hope he’d find his mate. I think he’s jealous you got there first.
I hadn’t considered that, but it does make sense. Keep an eye on him?
Always. With that, she runs off after him.
I think a large part of Dane was hoping Georgie would be his mate when we were kids, but that was less about her specifically and more about finding his person.
“Were you all talking just then?” Izzy asks from astride my back. “You can talk to each other in wolfy form?”
I nod, continuing to trot along the way Georgie and Dane went.
“That’s so cool,” she murmurs, the sound barely audible above the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees.
I’m glad you think so, petite copine, I reply, despite knowing she won’t understand.
I’m glad you aren’t running from me. I’m happy I’ve somehow convinced you that I’m not going to let you down.
That I’m a man who can give you the love you deserve.
I’m glad you’ve given me the opportunity to know you. I’m glad you’re mine.
She lowers her head until she can rest fully on me, arms wrapping around as much of my wolf chest as she can. “I don’t know what you just said, but I do know that it was sweet.”
I rumble my chest so she can feel it, and her arms squeeze tighter. Have I ever felt more at peace than in this moment?
I don’t think so.
I pick up the pace just a little, tear into the mossy dirt with my claws just a little rougher since she’s got a better grip on me. The scent of the ground rises with each forward motion, mixing with her sweetness.
“Okay, this is faster!” she says, thighs clenching around me.
Those goddamn thighs. I never thought I was a man of many words, but I swear I could write poetry about those thighs.
Thick and perfect for biting.
I’m not letting her out of my house for a full day after this. The event may be in a week, but I need my mouth on those legs more than this town needs a party.
My need for her spurs me forward until the trees blur beside me. The sounds of the forest blend in time with my heartbeat as I truly run.
“Fuck, this is cool!” Izzy’s voice rings above the noise, cutting clear like a knife through butter. “We have to do this again!”
If it’s up to me, Isabella Gregory, we’ll do this every single month for the rest of my life.
We run for hours, mostly keeping away from Dane and Georgie. If he is jealous, I don’t want to rub Izzy in his face. He’ll feel better tomorrow when the wolf blood isn’t pumping so fiercely in his veins, when he can meet her as Dane the man and not in his most vulnerable state.
Eventually, Izzy falls asleep on my back, and I start the slow walk home so as not to disturb her.
There’s a serenity in my head and a fullness in my chest. As the moon descends over the tops of the trees and I feel the pull of the goddess dull, I can honestly say this is the best full moon I’ve had since my family was alive.