Chapter 46
Evie
I swallow. “Can a wolf defeat a skinwalker?” I ask so softly, I can barely hear myself.
Gentle hands on my shoulders turn me around to face him. “Yes. My wolf can and will defend you against any threat. My wolf is an alpha wolf and is incredibly powerful. He will tear to shreds anyone or anything that is a threat to you.”
The violence in his voice should make me afraid, and yet, for the first time since that awful night in the woods, I don’t feel so afraid. “Can I see your wolf?” I whisper.
He tips my head up, so he can see my eyes. “Are you sure?”
I nod, even though my body is shaking. I can see the uncertainty in his eyes. “I want to; I’m just scared.”
He closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them, they’re full of pain. “Baby, I don’t want you to ever be scared of me or my wolf. I’d rather hurt myself than cause you fear.”
I take a deep breath, trying to find my courage. I pull away from him, and his hands drop to his sides. I lift my chin. “Show me.”
The pain in his eyes disappears, and in its place comes something else. He nods. “Okay. Just remember, my wolf would die for you. He won’t hurt you. Ever.”
He takes a few steps away from me. “Shift back,” he says to Reid in a voice that’s almost harsh and so different than how he talks to me. “Don’t look, Evie. He’ll be naked.” I squeak and spin away.
“You can look now,” Reid says from close to me.
I turn around slowly and stare at the wolf that’s standing where Zane was standing just moments ago.
I suck in a breath because the wolf standing in front of me sucks the oxygen from my lungs.
If I thought Reid’s wolf was beautiful, he’s got nothing on Zane’s wolf.
He’s absolutely gorgeous with soft dark gray fur.
His eyes are the same piercing shade of green that I would recognize anywhere.
I feel something stir deep within me, drawing me forward.
Before I fully realize it, I move forward.
I stop right in front of the terrifying wolf.
Yet, somehow, I feel no fear. I reach out a shaky hand but don’t make contact with it.
The wolf moves forward, pushing his big head against my hand.
I suck in a breath but don’t pull away. His fur is so soft.
I run my hand over its head tentatively, and the wolf lets out a sort of whining sound. I go still.
“It’s okay,” Reid says from a few steps away. “That’s a sign he’s content; it’s a form of affection.”
The wolf lifts its head towards Reid and growls, taking a step forward. I stumble back. “What’s happening?” I ask.
“He doesn’t want me anywhere around you,” Reid says, not sounding worried.
“Why not?” I ask, not taking my eye off the wolf.
“Because you're his mate.”
There’s that word again. “Will he hurt you?”
“If I were a threat to you, absolutely.”
“But you’re his friend,” I protest.
“Doesn’t matter.” It’s quiet, and I don’t know what to say. “I’m going to go back inside,” Reid says quietly. “If you need us, just call. We’ll hear you.” He starts to go back inside.
“Wait. Are all of you...” I pause, looking for the right words.
“Wolf shifters? Yes.”
Without another word, he steps back inside and closes the sliding door.
I’m left alone with the huge wolf that’s eyeing me.
I step over to him tentatively and run my hand over his head.
He makes that sound again, the one Reid said was contentment.
There’s a small sound from the trees behind the house, and the wolf’s head jerks that way.
I watch as he stares into the trees, his body tense.
There’s something about it that’s beautiful and yet terrifying.
I know instinctively that this animal is a predator, a very dangerous animal; and yet, I feel no fear.
A sense of calm descends over me as I realize that I don’t have to fear anything.
Zane kept telling me I was safe, that I had nothing to fear.
The reality of that stands in front of me.
Suddenly, I’m exhausted. I drop to the ground next to Zane’s wolf.
“Is it okay if I sit next to you?” I ask, running my hands through its fur.
It makes that contented sound again. “You’ll keep me safe, right?
” The wolf snorts, and I smile. I run my hands through its fur; the motion calming and centering me.
Sometime later, Zane’s wolf growls low in its chest. I open my eyes and realize I’m fully reclined against the wolf.
“I’m just bringing your mate a blanket.” I recognize Quint’s voice, but my eyes are too heavy to open them all the way.
The blanket settles over me, and I relax against Zane’s wolf.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I should move inside; but I’m warm and safe and don’t want to move.
My pillow moves, and I shift, trying to get comfortable.
When my pillow moves again, I pry open my eyes.
I frown when I see the sky above me instead of the ceiling in my dorm.
Everything comes flooding back, and I jerk upright and turn my head to stare at the massive wolf behind me.
It's green eyes, eyes that definitely belong to Zane, peer back at me. When it stands, I follow its lead. I don’t know what time it is, but it’s definitely time to get back inside.
It’s not sunrise yet, but it looks like it’s not far off.
Zane’s wolf nudges me towards the door, and I open it.
When I look back at him, he nudges me again.
He watches me expectantly, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do.
It nods its head at me once more, but I still don’t get it.
Then he shifts back into Zane, and I squeak when a naked Zane stands in front of me. I whirl around, heart pounding.
“Sorry, I was trying to get you to go inside,” he says, his voice full of amusement. A second later, I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind. “Thank you,” he breathes against my hair.
“Are you still naked?” I ask, my voice a little high-pitched.
His hand strokes my side. “Do you want me to be?” he asks in a low voice.
“No!”
He chuckles. “Someday, you will.”
I don’t bother answering that, but I'm pretty sure my red cheeks tell the full story. “So, just to clarify, you’re not naked.”
“No, Baby. I’m not.” I turn in his arms and stare up at him. His eyes stare into mine. “So, you slept against my wolf. I take that as a sign you’re not afraid of him, right?”
His face takes on a look I’ve never seen before on him—vulnerable. I reach up and take his strong jaw in my hands like he’s done so many times to me. “No. Not at all. I can’t believe I fell asleep like that and slept outside.”
“You were exhausted. Come on, let’s go inside.” We step inside, and he closes the door behind us. “Did you want to go back to bed for a few hours? It’s still early.”
I stretch, working out the kinks in my back from sleeping outside. “I don’t think I’ll be able to, now that I’m fully awake.” When I lift my gaze to his, his eyes are heated.
“Did I mention I really like you wearing my clothes?”
I grin at him. “Only once or twice.”
He steps close, taking me in his arms. “Well, then let me state it for the record. I love seeing you in my clothes.”
“Well, that’s good because I’m pretty sure I’m never giving you this shirt back.”
“Keep it.” His hands drop to my waist. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” My voice is a little breathless.
“Want to help me make breakfast?”
That lights me up. “Yes.” I use the scrunchie on my wrist to pull my hair into a messy bun. “Okay, put me to work. Zane?” I prompt when he doesn’t answer.
“Did I mention I really like you in my clothes?”
I pat his chest. “Yes. Now, what are we making for breakfast?”
He sighs and walks over to the fridge. Meanwhile, I start opening cupboards to see what they have. I see a box of pancake mix and grin. I reach up on my tiptoes to get it but can’t reach it. “Who puts pancake mix on the top shelf?” I mutter to myself.
A strong body leans against my back, and I catch my breath. “I did specifically for moments like this,” he says next to my ear. When he finally grabs the mix and hands it to me and steps away from me, I put my hand on my hip.
“Did you really?”
He smirks. “No, but you better believe, I will now. I’m putting everything on the highest shelf.”
“You’d better not.”
He grins at me and turns back to the stove. I start rummaging through his cabinets again, surprised when I find both vanilla and cinnamon. “I’m shocked this bachelor’s kitchen has some of this stuff.”
“My mom stops by once in a while and stocks the cabinets with what she thinks we won’t have,” he says wryly, but I hear the affection in his voice.
“Well, thank you to your mom.” I snag the eggs, butter, and milk from the fridge.
I whip up a huge batch of pancakes. This, thankfully, is something I know how to do. We always had store bought boxes of pancake mix on hand when I was growing up. It was cheap and easy. “Do you have a griddle?”
He looks around the kitchen. “I don’t think so.”
“Okay. I’ll just look for a skillet.” I start looking through the cupboards. When I turn back around, he shakes his head. I lift an eyebrow. “Is this going to work?”
“I’ll focus,” he grumbles. When I walk past him, he snags my hand and pulls me close.
“But I can’t tell you how hard it is to focus when you’re anywhere near me.
Then add to that you’re in my clothes, and you spent the night curled up against my wolf?
You'd better be glad I haven’t thrown you over my shoulder and taken you to my room. ”
I can’t help my grin; he makes me so happy. “Is that something you think about often?”
“Every moment of every day.” He’s so serious. I throw my head back and laugh; I can’t help it. “Are you laughing at me?”
I try to tamp down my laughter. “Only because I really like you.” The words slip out before I even think about it, and I freeze. Zane goes still, and his eyes intensify.
Zane stalks towards me. “You’re thinking of taking back those words, aren’t you?”
I lift my head, so I can meet his gaze. “No...” I put my hands on his chest and give him a soft smile.
“I mean how could I not really like you? You’ve made it impossible not to.
” He stares down at me, like he doesn’t believe me.
I lift my arms and run them up his chest and up to his shoulders.
“You mean the world to me, Zane. I—” I don’t get the words out before his lips are on mine.
His hands find my hips and tug me close as he slides his lips over mine again and again.
I stand on my tiptoes and push my fingers through the hair at the back of his head and tug his head down.
He growls low in his chest and pulls me closer, all but consuming me.
Heat rushes through me, and I return his kisses with the same passion.
He lifts me a moment later, setting me on the counter and putting my face closer to his level.
His lips are back on mine a moment later.
He reaches up and tugs the scrunchie from my hair, and my hair falls down around us.
He groans his approval and threads his fingers through my hair, gripping it and tugging my head to get a better angle.
“You mean so much to me, Evie,” he says in between kisses. His lips trail down my neck and to my collarbone. I shiver at his onslaught, but I can’t wipe the smile from my face. I tug his face back to mine and kiss him again.
“So, I take it she accepted your wolf.”