Blind Wolf (A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance #1)(27)

“I’ll still fight,” Kyle said. He stepped forward in front of Katherine.

“Brave wolf,” Damien said. He pressed his lips together.

“I’m sorry, Damien,” Katherine said. “I know I’m promised to you. I’m sorry. I’ll leave the pack. I’ll stay. Whatever you want. Just don’t fight him. Please don’t.” She ran and knelt in front of Damien, pressing her face to his knees in a posture of submission. “Please, please.”

A growl came from Kyle’s throat, and Damien raised his hand.

“Don’t, boy,” he said. “Katherine is right. This will only end badly.”

“You can’t have her,” Kyle said, but his voice was uncertain.

Damien reached down and took Katherine’s hand, pulling her to her feet. She stood in front of him bravely, although he could feel her fingers trembling in his hand. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

“You’re more loyal than he is,” Damien said. “But you feel the Calling too, don’t you?”

Katherine nodded, a sob escaping her throat.

“You both feel it?” The question was directed at Kyle.

“Y-yes,” Kyle said. “Ever since she became ready to mate. I didn’t want to tell you because I know—”

“It’s alright,” Damien said kindly. “I won’t fight you. You’re not ready for that yet. And the past few days have seen too much blood on my hands already.”

“Will we...will we have to leave the pack?” Katherine asked, choking back her tears.

Damien reached out and wiped the tears from her cheek gently.

“No,” he said. “You shouldn’t go.”

“I won’t leave her,” Kyle said.

“You don’t have to,” Damien said, clearing his throat. “Lucky for you, I’ve found my mate as well.”

“Who?” Katherine asked. “Not—the girl at the lake?”

Damien nodded.

“So you’ll let me stay with Katherine?” Kyle asked. All of the fight had gone out of his voice, and he stepped forward meekly.

“You have my blessing,” Damien said, waiting while Katherine threw herself into Kyle’s embrace. Then he spoke louder and more firmly. “But if you disobey me again, fur will fly. Make no mistake.”

“Yes, sir,” Kyle said.

“We have a lot to do in the coming weeks,” Damien said. “I’ve bought a place here and we’ll need to make it livable. You two won’t let your love get in the way of work, I hope.”

“No, of course not,” Katherine said, breathless with happiness. Damien could hear the smile in her voice, and he had to struggle not to grin himself. Young love was wonderful to behold.

“Then take the rest of the night off,” Damien said. “We start settling down tomorrow.”

Before they could say anything else, he turned and walked back toward the hotel parking lot. Tomorrow he would begin his life with Julia. His mate, his one true love. He couldn’t wait.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Julia

The next morning Julia spent an extra ten minutes putting on a dress and tying her hair back, trying to tame the frizz. Granny Dee caught her for breakfast with the guests, and by the time she had extricated herself from the dining room table and gone out to the field, Damien was waiting for her. She didn't see him until she was close, and when she caught the sight of his figure leaning against the tree, she started back with a gasp.

"If this shape frightens you now, I don't know what you'll do when I have to shift," Damien said with a grin, his glasses masking his eyes. Julia ran the few steps to him and threw her arms around his neck. He caught her up in a hug, swinging her around before setting her gently back on the ground. She laughed with happiness, something she hadn't done in a long, long while.

"You'd better be careful," Damien said, pulling back with a wary expression.

"Oh?" Julia said, arching her eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"A beautiful young girl out alone in the middle of the forest..." Damien said. He brought his hands up and cupped her cheeks, framing her face. Julia's lips turned up in a half-smile.

"Dangerous for me to be out here, is it?" she said.

"So far away from grandmother's house?" Damien said, in mock solemnity. "Why, who knows what kinds of creatures you might encounter in the woods?"

He let his hands drop to her waist, and Julia let out a gasp as he pulled her close into a kiss. Her hands came up to his shoulders, but she didn't want to push him away.

"You mean a creature like you?" Julia asked. "I think I can handle that."

"Really?" Damien teased. "You're not afraid of the big bad wolf?"

"Oh my," Julia said, playing along, "what large arms you have!" Her hands smoothed the fabric over his muscles. His skin was emanating heat and her body instinctively drew closer to him.

"All the better to hold you with, my dear," Damien said, pulling her against his chest. He grinned, his teeth gleaming in the light of dawn.

"What great white teeth you have!" Julia said, tilting her head back.

"The better to nibble you with, my dear," Damien said, pretending to snap at her neck. Julia held up her hands in mock surrender, looking up into his face. She reached up and took off his glasses. In the light of day his eyes did not glow nearly as much, but the power and sheer lust in their golden hue still made her shudder in delight.