Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)(22)

But she wanted answers. Had to have them or she’d go crazy. She’d been nursing her hatred for so many years, it was damned difficult to let it go. However, even she could see that things were not what she’d always believed where Nick was concerned.

She’d bide her time. And eventually she’d get what she wanted—her mate and the truth.

Five

Uncomfortable talking about her father, Selene changed the subject.

“Do you have two bedrooms?”

“Just one, but I’ll take the sofa. No argument,” he said when she opened her mouth to protest.

“All right.”

“Do you have clothes somewhere?”

“I’ve been staying at a motel in town. My bags are there.”

“We’ll go for a drive later and pick them up.”

“That’s fine. What do we do now?”

“Want to go for a run, let our wolves out for a bit? Mine is ready to let off some tension, and I’m betting yours is going stir crazy from being cooped up in that cell. Besides, we’ve got a while before dinner and nothing better to do.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

In truth, her she-wolf was dying to see him in action again, with his big, sleek form covered in ebony fur. The grace of his limbs and his incredible wolf scent. She recalled how he’d placed himself between her and his Pack, fangs bared, and a shiver of delight traveled unbidden down her spine.

That had been sexy as hell. She could deny a lot of things about this new mating, but one that defied any sort of denial whatsoever was the simple fact that she wanted him.

She wanted his body on top of her. Inside her, taking what only her mate had the right to. And she wanted to be on top of him, too, grinding her hips and ass into him—

“Hey, where’d you go?”

Shaking her head, she looked at him and grinned. “Just thinking about that run. I’m ready when you are.”

Following him through the hallways, she made direct eye contact with each person she encountered, not willing to show the slightest weakness. These shifters needed to know that she didn’t fear them, or care about their scorn. She didn’t crave their acceptance. The only thing she cared about was finding the truth and making her father own up to his part in the destruction of her life.

As she watched her mate’s fine ass swaying in his jeans, she was forced to admit perhaps revenge wasn’t all she was looking forward to. Since it was her right to take it, why not enjoy?

Outside, he led her to the edge of the forest, then a few yards down the path into the undergrowth. There, he began to shed his clothing, and she took another long look at the man who was now hers. He was absolutely gorgeous.

Having no modesty, she got rid of her clothes as well and laid them over a log. Zan studied her in kind, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at the flare of heat in his eyes. He obviously liked what he saw, and her wolf practically whined at the attention.

“How fast is your wolf?”

“Pretty fast,” she answered. “Yours?”

“Why don’t you find out?” He threw it out as a challenge, a twinkle in his brown eyes, then shifted. In seconds his gorgeous black wolf stood before her, waiting eagerly.

Not about to start out behind, she let the change flow over herself also. It always happened fast, and in moments she was next to him, a white wolf next to his ebony. She thought they must make a striking visual.

Zan took off with a bark, paws churning the earth. She dashed off after him. Stretching her muscles felt damned good after being cooped up in that stupid cell. She was glad he’d suggested this, because her wolf needed it.

She tore across the forest floor, jumping dead trees and dodging rocks, hot on his heels. He was fast; she’d give him that. But she was holding back a bit. He’d challenged a born wolf to a race, and she was determined to win.

But he’d been holding back as well. Just as she started to pass him, he put on a burst of speed that left her eating his dust again. Crap! He pulled several yards ahead, jumped a small creek, then skidded to a halt on the other side and spun, his wolf panting, tongue lolling, his expression looking like a big smile.

Jumping the creek, she barreled into him, taking him to the ground with a playful growl. Together they rolled over and over, nipping and yapping, and it was . . . fun. When was the last time she’d experienced this with one of her clan? Specifically, a lover? Never.

After their play, they lay panting, side by side. Gradually, the high of their tussle began to settle into an awareness of each other she’d never felt with anyone else. The feeling was heat and fire. Arousal.

And not just any arousal, but the kind that took that fire and melted her bones. Pulsed inside with every beat of her heart. Her blood pounded in her veins, and she shifted smoothly to human form, rolling to crouch on her knees. She was aware of him staring at her naked form. Lust shone in his eyes.

“I want you,” she said simply.

He shifted too and sat back with one leg straight on the ground, one leg cocked with his knee up, arm resting on it. His c**k jutted proudly to the sky, and his smile was feral.

“Then come and get me.”

She crawled to him and pounced. Their mouths met with a clash of lips and teeth, and she tasted a bit of blood. This wouldn’t be a gentle mating, but a coming together of two primal souls. Two wolf mates, taking what belonged to them.