Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(78)

She lowered her gaze. “Sasha gave me meds to help me sleep through it. I didn’t want to take a male. You know, since my parents had died the year before. It didn’t feel right.”

“And you are sure you want this, now?”

Her attention snapped up to him. “Yes.” She framed his face in her hands. “Since the run, my wolf is alive again. She’s with me now, pushing me to….”

“Cora, tell me,” he cooed.

She flushed again and lowered her lashes. Damn, he wanted to look into her beautiful sky-blue eyes, but he couldn’t push her. She had to come to him on her terms. “She wants me to accept the mating and bond with you.”

Fuck, yeah. He’d waited what seemed like a lifetime for this moment. Waited for her to come of age and make the choice.

He gathered her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. Laying her down on the mattress, he held her gaze. Pride swelled up as she tried to keep the eye contact for as long as she could before her submissive nature forced her to look away. She did manage to hold it longer than she had before.

Progress. His wolf howled. They were finally going to claim their mate.

“Mine.” He kissed her lips, her jaw, and then the sensitive part of her neck. When he licked the area, she shivered and let out a soft moan. “Always and forever.”

She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles together, closing the small gap between their bodies. The head of his cock slid into her. She gasped and dug her nails into his back. Still wet from her orgasm, she was ready for him.

“Relax,” he murmured as tenderly as he could in his lust haze.

He bit down on her throat where it met her shoulder, and she cried out. The slight distraction and the mix of pain and pleasure was enough, he hoped, to ease the pressure as he pushed deeper inside her.

When he stilled to allow her a moment to adjust to him, she started to move, making it impossible to keep hold over his control. He stared into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to bond with me? It’s a little permanent.”

She smiled at his teasing and nodded. “Yes. I open my heart and soul to you and will love you for the rest of my days.”

His heart swelled. He never thought he’d hear the words of her promise to him. “As I will also. I love you, Cora.”

She moaned softly and rotated her hips against him. “Tor, please. Move.”

He let out a low growl and did as she commanded. Each thrust faster and harder until they both scream out in release.

Yet the mating bond wasn’t there. What had he done wrong?

****

She stood in the forest surrounded by the foul smell of mutants. Her heart pounded as fear froze her in place. The smell was everywhere. There was no way for her to tell which direction they came from.

Leaves rustled on either side her, spiking her need to run. Her wolf whimpered and shook, too scared to release her claws and fight. A twig snapped behind her, and she whirled around to see nothing but trees, fallen leaves, and thinned underbrush.

Breathing became more difficult with each passing moment and at every sound in the forest. God, please help me.

Another snap of a twig followed by the crunch of leaves under foot came from the dark patch of brush in front of her. She swallowed and stepped to the side with hands fisted, her nails digging into her palms.

Suddenly, the largest mutant she had ever seen emerged from the shadows. Saliva dripped from his enormous fangs, and his eyes glowed an eerie blood-red. She screamed and darted to her right, but it was too late. They had her surrounded, she realized, as six others stepped forward circling her, trapping her. Each of the new monsters possessed the same color eyes and were equally as large as the first.

As a unit, they advanced on her, grabbing her arms and legs. She kicked and clawed, desperate to get away.

“Cora.”

Torin? Where was he?

“Cora! Wake up.”

She flung her eyes open and stared into the most beautiful silver gaze. Scanning her surroundings, she sagged in relief at the sight of Torin’s bedroom. A dream. It was only a dream.

“Hey.” He spoke in a hushed, cooing tone as he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Mutants….”

“They will never harm you, I’ll make sure of it.” Rolling to his side, he gathered her close, wrapping her in his arms.

Cora’s fear faded as she cuddled against Torin, absorbing his strength as her own. One day, she’d have to learn to chase her own nightmares away.

He pressed his lips against her temple, then her cheek, as he squeezed her tighter against him. “I will keep you safe, Cora. You must believe that. The Pack will keep you safe as it does all the submissives.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice to work with the onset of hiccupping sobs. “I’m so weak.”

He rose above her, forcing her to hold his gaze. “You are the strongest person I know. Strength comes from within, from the trials we lived through and the drive to become better. You have more passion and drive than anyone I know. That, my mate, is power.”

My mate.

Those two words should spark delight in her heart, but the truth was she couldn’t feel him as a mate should. Even though she accepted him into her heart and they spoke the words, the mating bond never snapped into place. She didn’t understand why. Usually it was up to the female to make the choice, and, once she committed wholeheartedly, it was done.