Inside, my mate’s scent is stronger, and I make my way to the basement door. It’s locked, but it only takes me a second to get it open. I roll my eyes. This dinky lock isn’t going to keep any shifter in or out.
I take the steps quietly. As I travel down farther, I pick up only the scent of my mate. When I’m at the bottom of the stairs, I round the corner and see a cage. Inside it is the biggest black wolf I’ve ever seen. I know it’s him because just like his human form, his wolf form is massive.
My mate.
I run to the bars but stop short when he charges the cage, shifting to human faster than I knew was possible. He must be more in tune with his wolf than most, or has spent a lot of time in that form to shift so easily back and forth and with such fluid movements.
His big arms reach through the bars, grabbing my face and pulling me towards him. I moan at the contact as he presses against my body as much as he can. His hard cock digs into me, and my body feels like it’s buzzing with awareness.
“Mine,” he whispers, his voice so low I almost don’t hear him. He repeats it over and over. If I wasn’t pressed so close to him, I wouldn’t be able to hear him chanting the word. He rubs his face against me as best as he can, and I can see he’s still part-wolf. He looks so familiar, but I can’t seem to place him.
As he keeps rubbing me, I can’t help the moans that pour from my mouth at his touches. Wolves run in packs by nature. We are touchers and huggers but I’ve never felt anything like this. His gentleness surprises me. Then I realize what he’s doing. He’s trying to get my scent on him and his on me. I push into him, wanting the same thing, until he suddenly pulls back from me. This time it’s me who grabs through the bars, trying to get him back.
“Someone’s coming,” he growls. I hear the distant sound of tires on gravel. He’s right. We don’t have much time. A whine slips past my lips, and his eyes shoot back to mine. “They won’t keep you from me.” He reaches for the bars and pulls. They grind and screech as he starts to rip them from the concrete floor, sending shards of cement flying.
“Holy shit.” I step back, giving him room, completely shocked at what he’s doing.
I watch with wide eyes, and then suddenly he’s on me. Flipping me over his shoulder, he runs up the stairs with me.
“That way.” I point over his shoulder and he sprints in that direction. In half a second, I feel cool air on my cheeks as he runs us through the woods.
“I can run on my own.”
He slides me down his chest, and I think he’s going to put me down, but he just cradles me in his arms.
“No,” he grunts, like his word is final.
“We can move faster if I run myself,” I try to protest, but he just pulls me closer to him, his intent clear. A spark of anger flares inside me, but his words wash it away instantly.
“I know how to care for my mate. I can make everything perfect for you. You’ll never want to leave me. I’ll never be alone again.”
I let my body mold into his, resting my head on his shoulder as he continues to run. I breathe in his scent, and it finally soothes the ache inside me.
After about twenty minutes and no sign of him slowing down and the last of daylight fading away, I try again. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
Ruby said he lived in the woods. I’m all about being with my mate, but I don’t think I can live in the woods. A few days maybe, but living there full time? Not so much.
“Where is home?”
“I built you a new home. If you don’t like it, I’ll rip it down and start over and make it however you like.” His voice is filled with so much pride that I can’t bring myself to ask if it’s a cave or something.
“I’m sure it’s perfect.”
“Almost. I just need to get you inside it.”
Chapter Seven
Xavier
Once we near the clearing, I feel my mate tense. She must scent we’re close. “Just through these trees,” I confirm, answering her silent question.
I carry her so carefully, holding her close and wanting to protect her, but not too tightly as I’m afraid my strength could harm her and her soft skin. When I step through the thick leaves and branches, she lets out a gasp. I look down at her, wondering if a stray branch has caught her long hair, but I know I was careful and took the brunt of the tree limbs on my back.
“What’s wrong, mate? Are you harmed?” The worry that I let something happen to her is thick in my voice. I’ve lost one family before, one I failed to protect. I won’t lose her. Not a hair on her head will ever be harmed while I breathe.
“It’s…” I watch her expression and see her face light up, her bright blue eyes shining brighter as she sees the cabin I’ve built for her. “It’s beyond anything I dreamed of. It’s like something from a fairy tale.”
My chest swells with pride as I walk her to the house and up the stairs of the porch. I’m happy my mate likes the home I have made for her. It’s where we will raise our family. I will keep her happy here, and she’ll never want to leave. I’ll be the perfect mate for her.
“I thought maybe you lived in a cave or something.” Gwen says the words as if in wonder, looking around the place. I remember the conversation I had with Dom about how I needed to make a good home for my mate and pups. He was right, and I’m glad I worked so hard for her.