Chapter 5 #2
Aeolus let out a low chuckle. “I grew up in places like this. I know where to go when I don’t want to be found.”
Candy hummed. “Sounds awfully convenient for a man on the run.”
His blue eyes flicked toward her, unreadable. “I’m not running. I’m making sure no one takes what’s mine.”
Heat curled low in her stomach at the quiet intensity in his voice.
She masked it with a smirk, stepping closer, arms still crossed. “And what exactly am I supposed to do while you go all survivalist on me?”
Aeolus took his time looking her over, his gaze slow, appreciative.
Then, with a completely straight face, he said, “Stay put and try not to get eaten.”
Candy burst out laughing. “I swear to god, you’re impossible.”
He smirked, pleased with himself. “And yet, here you are.”
She shook her head, stepping toward the fire as he struck a match, the flames flickering to life between them.
The warmth from the fire should have been enough, but as the night air wrapped around them, she knew she’d end up pressed against him before the night was over.
And judging by the way Aeolus was watching her, so did he.
* * *
The forest was alive with sound—the whisper of the wind through the towering redwoods, the distant call of an owl, the rustle of unseen creatures moving through the underbrush. But Candy barely noticed any of it.
Because in front of her, towering, massive, and absolutely ridiculous, stood a wolf the size of a damn horse.
She gawked at Aeolus’s new form, her brain short-circuiting as she took him in.
He was huge—thick golden fur gleaming under the moonlight, his muscles rippling beneath the surface as he shifted his weight.
His paws were the size of her damn head, and his blue eyes—Aeolus’s eyes—watched her with the same annoyed amusement he always had.
Candy slowly tilted her head, rubbing her arms as she looked him over. “So, uh…” She wet her lips, trying not to laugh because this was serious, right? “Is this the part where you eat me?”
The giant wolf huffed at her, a puff of warm breath blasting against her skin. Then, without warning, he shoved his massive head against her stomach, knocking her off balance.
“Hey!” Candy stumbled back, barely catching herself before she landed on her ass. She gaped at him. “Did you just—did you just shove me? You big furry menace!”
Aeolus—who had once been a six-foot-four wall of muscle in human form—huffed again and proceeded to nuzzle against her, his fur shockingly soft beneath her fingertips.
“Oh my god.” Candy snorted, running her hand down his thick neck. “You are so soft. What the hell? Is this a wolf thing? Or do you secretly condition your fur when nobody’s looking?”
Aeolus grumbled, stepping even closer, pressing his massive weight into her.
Candy squeaked. “Oh, okay, we’re just doing this now? Just full-on cuddling in the middle of the woods?”
The wolf let out a pleased rumble.
Candy giggled and scratched behind his ears. “This is weird. I just need to say that. This is objectively a weird experience.”
Aeolus ignored her, clearly thriving under the attention.
Then, before she could stop herself, the words slipped out.
“You know, you kinda look like that big wolf from Twilight.”
Silence.
The wolf froze.
The rumbling stopped.
The air around them changed.
Candy barely had time to process it before a low, deeply offended growl rumbled from Aeolus’s chest.
She wheeze-laughed so hard she nearly bent over.
“OH MY GOD,” she gasped, clutching her stomach. “Did that—did that actually piss you off?!”
Aeolus snapped his jaws together once, like he was seriously contemplating biting her.
Which only made Candy laugh harder.
She staggered back, wiping tears from her eyes. “This is amazing. Big bad alpha wolf, but you’re mad I compared you to a movie?”
Aeolus let out another gruff snort, his huge tail flicking in utter disgust.
Candy was dying.
“Oh no,” she cackled, gasping between laughs. “Should I be worried? Are you gonna go full Edward Cullen on me? Stalk me in my sleep? Watch me from the trees?”
The wolf let out a sharp exhale, his breath blasting her in the face, and it was so dramatic that it made her wheeze all over again.
“Okay, okay! I take it back!” She giggled uncontrollably, holding up her hands in surrender. “You’re way hotter than Jacob Black.”
The wolf grumbled, clearly still insulted, but the way his tail twitched made her think he wasn’t that mad.
Candy wiped at her eyes, still grinning like an idiot, and reached up to scratch behind his ears again. “Okay, seriously, though? You’re kinda adorable like this.”
Aeolus glared at her.
Candy smirked. “Like, big scary alpha wolf, but secretly a giant cuddle monster?”
He let out a low, warning growl.
Candy, being the menace she was, booped his giant snout.
Aeolus froze again.
The tension in the air shifted.
Then, with absolutely zero warning, Aeolus swung his giant head and bodyslammed her.
Candy let out a yelp as she toppled to the ground, laughing uncontrollably.
“You absolute menace!” she shrieked, sprawled on her back as the giant wolf loomed over her.
Aeolus’s big, smug face hovered just above hers, his hot breath fanning over her skin.
Candy grinned up at him, completely unbothered. “Wow. Look at this. So dramatic.”
The wolf rolled his eyes.
Then, with a final huff, he turned and trotted toward the trees, clearly done with her antics.
Candy sat up, still grinning as she dusted herself off. “Okay, but for real—should I be expecting you to do the whole ‘climb through my window and watch me sleep’ thing?”
Aeolus vanished into the trees.
Candy’s giggles slowly faded as she watched him go, shaking her head in amusement.
Her mate was ridiculous.
And she was completely obsessed.
* * *
Betsy Laurent had never been a damsel.
She hadn’t had the luxury.