Chapter 7
The wind whispered through the trees, sending a chill down Hayley”s spine as she stood outside her uncle’s old cabin. It was nestled in the heart of the Twisted Tail Pack territory, surrounded by dense forest and towering mountains that seemed to loom over her like silent sentinels. She hesitated, her fingers lingering on the rusted doorknob, when her wolf whined in her mind.
“Can we please go for a run?”Her animal begged.
Hayley paused, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and fear. She was technically trespassing on the Alpha’s land and wasn’t quite sure if that was allowed. But then again, Calder had told her to make herself at home and that she was free to roam the territory as she pleased. After the hours she had spent mingling with the pack, her wolf was more than ready to run free. Hayley knew she could no longer deny her animal’s greatest desire.
So, without giving it another thought, Hayley gave into her wolf and called forth the magic she was born with. The air around her thickened, cocooning her in a blanket of magic. Her human form melted away as fur sprouted across her body. She stretched out her limbs with a satisfied groan before dashing off into the forest, branches, and leaves whipping against her fur as she rocketed through the trees, feeling freer than she had in a long time. Puffs of fresh air filled her lungs, energizing her every step. She had forgotten how damn good it felt to be in her wolf form. Thoughts and emotions that had been weighing her down instantly lifted, clearing her mind and what felt like her soul. Giving into the magic of her wolf had shaken the near-constant turmoil that had been surrounding her since she’d received the letter from Calder.
Hayley howled into the night sky, the sound echoing through the trees like a call of freedom. With each footfall, she felt more invigorated until, eventually, all her worries evaporated in the night air. All that remained was an exhilarating sense of freedom as she ran wild through the forest, reveling in the feeling of being completely alive.
The hours flew by as she refamiliarized herself with the land she had once run as a pack member, and before she knew it, dawn was peeking over the horizon, and she was exhausted. Her wolf begged for one last burst of energy so that they could make it back to the cabin before sunrise, but Hayley refused. She wanted to savor this moment for just a few seconds longer, relishing in what would likely be her last bit of true freedom before returning to reality.
So, with one final glance at the rising sun, Hayley shifted back into her human form and trudged back toward home. As she stepped onto her uncle’s porch, she felt lighter than ever before - something inside of her had changed during that brief respite from reality, and it would stay with her forever.
Hayley turned when she heard a familiar truck pulling up in front of the cabin. She smiled as Jackson climbed out of the truck. His tool bag was slung across his broad shoulders. An unfamiliar heat raced through her body. “God, he is so damn sexy.” She thought. His boyish grin melted a few more of the layers she’d built up around her heart. His black shirt clung to him like a second skin. His jeans showcased his slender hips, showing off that sexy-as-fuck V that made her mouth water. It had been so damn long since she’d been with a man. Thoughts of him naked on his back flashed through her mind, sending the heat in her veins straight to her core.
“Hey, I didn’t think you’d be up this early,” he said with a surprised tone in his voice. His nose twitched. His eyes flashed from human to wolf and back again.
Hayley shrugged and gave him a wry smile, taking a step back. “Yeah. I didn’t think I would be either, but I didn’t sleep. After we got back last night, I ended up going for a run. Are you ready to get started working?” As much as she wanted the projects on the house to be done, she needed some rest before she could handle any type of physical labor. She was dead on her feet—even if her mind raced with naughty thoughts.
“Yeah, unless you’re too tired. I can always work around the outside if you need to catch up on some sleep before I get started with the inside.”
Exhaustion swept over Hayley once more. “Yeah, I should probably rest.” She swayed on her feet, feeling like she was about to pass out. She had forgotten how much energy she used up in wolf form.
“Easy does it,” Jackson quickly caught her before she lost her balance. “Yeah, you definitely need to lay down.” He scooped her up into his arms. “Where’s your bedroom?”
Hayley was too tired to protest as Jackson easily scooped her into his arms. His warmth enveloped her, reigniting the heat in her veins that had died down. She snuggled into him and pointed toward her bedroom. His scent filled her nose, making her feel safe and loved. Jackson gently carried her inside, laying her on the bed and pulling a blanket over her.
“Easy does it,” he said with a loving smile. “I’ll get started on the outside of the cabin. Don’t worry about me. I can keep myself busy. There’s plenty to do. Just get some rest.”
Hayley closed her eyes and smiled gratefully before drifting into a deep sleep.
When she awoke a few hours later, she felt surprisingly refreshed. She quickly changed into something more appropriate for helping with the repairs, grabbed a cup of coffee, and hurried outside to find Jackson hard at work on the porch.
“Hey! You’re up!” he called out as she approached, a warm smile spreading across his face. One that made her knees weaken.
She nodded. “Yeah, I feel much better now. What do you need me to do?” A short nap was just what she needed to recharge. Something about being out in the mountain air was just plain reinvigorating for Hayley.
Jackson handed her a hammer and a few nails. ”Just help me with these boards for now,” he said, pointing to a pile of wooden planks beside him. ”We need to replace the rotten ones before we can start on the inside.”
Hayley nodded, grateful for the distraction. As she hammered away at the boards, she felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her. It was nice to be doing something productive, something that involved getting her hands dirty and working up a sweat. She also hoped that it would keep her mind off the emotions being home had stirred deep in her being. Emotions that left her feeling off-kilter.
They worked through the afternoon and into the early evening, taking a break only for a light snack and a drink. By the time they finished replacing the last of the deck boards, the sun was beginning to set, and Hayley was covered in sweat and sawdust. Her muscles were sore, but her mind was clear from the hours of manual labor.
”Thanks for your help,” Jackson said as they sat on the porch steps to catch their breath. ”It would’ve taken me twice as long without you.”
Hayley smiled, feeling a sense of pride in what they had accomplished. ”Of course, I”m happy to help. It”s actually been kind of therapeutic.”
Jackson chuckled, casting a sidelong glance in her direction. ”Yeah, I know what you mean. I”ve always found working with my hands to be pretty cathartic. Helps me clear my head.”
Hayley nodded in agreement. A connection with Jackson that went beyond mere physical attraction began to form within her, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.
When she first decided to make the journey to Twisted Tail, she’d had no intention of getting mixed up with the locals, let alone finding her supposed mate or someone she was wildly attracted to. But there was something about him. Something about the way he carried himself, the easy way he joked and laughed, made her feel safe and comfortable in a way she had never experienced before. And then there were the feelings her wolf had toward him. After all, they were supposed to be fated mates. Whatever that meant. Hayley wasn’t sure whether she had ever really believed in the legend or not, yet there was no denying something was happening between her and Jackson.
As they sat there in the warm sun, a comfortable silence fell between them. Hayley glanced up to find Jackson watching her with a soft smile on his lips. She felt her cheeks flush with heat and quickly looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious, covered in dried sweat and sawdust.
Great!She thought.
”You know, you”re pretty amazing,” he said, breaking the silence.
Hayley”s eyes widened in surprise. ”What? Why do you say that? I’m literally a hot mess right now.”
Jackson shrugged. ”I don”t know. You just have this way of making everything seem easy, even when it”s not. I know that coming back here hasn’t been easy for you. I think you’re really brave for taking a chance and returning to Twisted Tail…considering your history with the pack.”
Hayley grinned, feeling a rush of warmth spread through her chest. ”Thanks. I don”t know about brave, though. More like stupid.” Though she no longer felt quite like she did when she’d first gotten the letter from Calder. The fear she had felt was mostly gone, but the hate she had toward Griffin would likely remain until her dying day.
Jackson shook his head. ”No, definitely brave. And I like that about you.”
Hayley felt her heart skip a beat at his words, her body responding with a sudden flush of heat. She turned to glance at him, studying his face for a moment before speaking. She didn’t know what the hell she was suddenly feeling, or what was happening, or why, but whatever this was with him felt right. Heat surged through her body. Her wolf whined in her mind. All the nights she’d spent alone in her bed, wishing she’d had a partner to share her life with, came rushing back.
In front of her, she had a good man who was sexy-as-hell sitting in front of her. There was no doubt that he was interested in her, yet she’d been playing cat and mouse with him, knowing damn well she was just as interested—no matter how hard she’d tried to deny it in her mind.
”I like spending time with you, Jackson,” she said softly, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her mind screamed for her to shut the hell up. All the while, her heart raced, wanting to feel every touch Jackson had to offer. Though she had no idea what the future held for her or if she would stay at Twisted Tail, none of that mattered at that moment. She wanted Jackson more than her next breath. She pushed her worries aside, wanting to live in the moment.
Jackson”s eyes widened in surprise before a slow smile spread across his lips. ”I like spending time with you too, Hayley,” he replied, his voice low and husky. He moved closer to her. Their faces were just a few short inches apart. His breath fanned across her face, sending shivers down her spine. His voice was thick with lust, and her body responded with an almost electric buzz. She leaned in closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body mingling with her own. God, it had been so long since she”d been with a man.
Without another word, Jackson leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft and warm against hers, sending goosebumps racing across her skin. Hayley responded eagerly, her body melting into his as they kissed with a hunger that left them both breathless. Her fingers twisted through his messy hair, pulling him closer, loving how his heat enveloped her. She had forgotten how good it felt to be in the arms of a man. But then again, she couldn’t remember any man that she had ever been with making her feel quite like this.
“Get him, girl!”her wolf cheered in her mind.
“Hush!”
As they broke apart for air, Jackson’s hands wandered over her body with a careful but possessive touch. Hayley”s skin tingled at the sensations racing through her limbs, her body reacting with a desperate need for more.
”Let”s go inside,” she whispered, her voice low and throaty. Her self-control was at an all-time low.
Jackson nodded, his hooded eyes darkening with desire. Without another word, he stood up and pulled Hayley to her feet. Their bodies pressed tightly together as they stumbled into the cabin, their hands all over one another.
As soon as they were inside, Jackson kicked the door shut behind them, his lips finding Hayley”s once again as they staggered toward the bedroom. Clothes were discarded in a frenzied rush…their bodies flush with one another as they explored each other with a feverish need.
”Let”s continue this in the shower,” Hayley suggested as she pulled Jackson into the master bath.
Jackson grinned, his eyes filling with lust as he followed her into the steamy shower. The hot water cascaded over their bodies, heightening their senses as they continued to explore each other with abandon.
Hayley felt a wave of pleasure wash over her as Jackson”s hands roamed over her, teasing and caressing her breasts before trailing down her body. She gasped as his fingers found her core, his touch sending sparks of heat through her veins.
”God, you”re so beautiful,” he whispered against her lips as he pressed her against the shower wall.
Hayley moaned in response, unable to form any coherent words as she gave herself over to the sensations coursing through her body. Jackson”s touch was electric, igniting a fire within her that she had never felt before. She loved every single touch, no matter how soft and light.
Jackson”s fingers found her center, his touch sending her into a fury of desire. His fingers parted her lips, sliding gently into her heat. Pumping them in and out of her, covering his fingers in her honey. Several sweet moans flew from her lips. She reached for him, her nails digging into his skin as he took her higher and higher, his mouth hot and demanding against hers.
“Oh!” She cried out as he pumped his fingers in and out of her core, her legs quaking beneath her. He kissed and nipped at her neck before moving further down her body. Hayley was bombarded with a blur of sensations, each touch more powerful than the last. She felt her body tense, her core tightening as a wave of heat and pleasure swept over her. She moaned loudly as she came, her body shuddering with a force unlike any other.
As she relaxed, Jackson pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply, an endless warmth radiating from his body that left her breathless. She slipped her hands underneath his arms and pulled him closer, the electric current between them crackling with barely contained lust.
Though he’d just brought her to an epic climax, it hadn’t been nearly enough to satiate the need coursing through her.
She kissed him hungrily, her body on fire as she felt his hands roam over every inch of her, teasing and caressing her before finally settling on her breasts. Hayley”s nipples hardened in response, a jolt of pleasure shooting through her body and straight to her core. She groaned as Jackson”s fingers moved lower, teasing and caressing her until she was once again on the brink of ecstasy.
With a soft moan, Jackson spun Hayley around and pushed her against the shower wall. Hayley moaned as his fingers slipped back inside her, his touch sending quakes of pleasure through her body. As he moved in and out of her, Hayley groaned with pleasure, her hands clutching the shower wall as he took her higher and higher.
She felt the world spin around her as he brought her to the threshold of another climax. Her body tensed as a jolt of electric pleasure pulsed through her, sending her into a frenzy of lust and desire.
”I need more,” the words came out in a needy growl. She wanted to feel his cock pounding in and out of her heat.
Quickly finishing up under the spray of the shower, they toweled off and headed straight for her bedroom. Jackson swept her off her feet and placed her gently on the bed. Crawling up between her legs, he kissed a path up her inner thigh to her core. Her back arched the second the heat from his mouth landed on her clit, her body humming with pent-up energy.
“I love the way you taste. The sweetness of your honey on my tongue. So fucking good,” he growled.
“Please,” Hayley begged, not knowing how much more teasing she could take. It had been forever since she had been with a man, and while she loved every movement of Jackson’s tongue, it wasn’t what she wanted or needed at that particular moment. She needed to feel his length sliding into her soaked core before pulling out and slamming back in.
Jackson shifted positions quicker than Hayley had thought possible and lined the head of his cock up with her entrance.
“Yes!” she cried out as she felt him shove slowly inside, her inner walls stretching to accommodate his thickness.
“Damn, baby. So good. So fucking good,” Jackson groaned.
Hayley wrapped her legs around his waist, her fingers tunneling through his thick hair as he pulled out and slammed back into her, knocking the headboard against the wall.
“Oh!” She cried out, loving the raw pleasure racing through every inch of her body.
Twisting his hips, he slammed in and out of her until her back arched off the bed, her climax surging through her.
As her body relaxed, she felt Jackson release her and pull her into his arms, his touch gentle and soothing. Hayley felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, and she leaned into his embrace, content to rest in his arms for the rest of her life—and that was the scariest thing she’d had to face yet.