Wild (Wolf Ranch 2)

An anvil-like weight settled down on my chest. “Fuck if I know,” I admitted.

Boyd opened his mouth, but Rob held up a hand, and he instantly fell silent at our alpha’s command. “Let him talk it through, Boyd.”

Him meant me. Well, fuck.

That meant Rob expected me to arrive at the right decision on my own. Marina was my mate, so he wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to tell me anything. Even a directive from an alpha might not take with a male if it concerned his mate. Especially one with some moon madness in him.

Mark her, my wolf growled.

But Boyd and Rob were standing there as my judges and jury. Was it the right thing to do? Change the course of a young human’s life before she’d even had a chance to figure out what she wanted for herself?

What about college? Her degree? Was I going to ask her to give that up for me, especially with only one year left? For what? To be a military wife on base? To be my little ranch wife here in Cooper Valley? Was either option fair to her?

Fuck.

It took all my effort, but I shoved my wolf’s mounting agitation down. He wanted her claimed and made mine immediately. No, he’d wanted it done the night before.

I swallowed hard over the invisible band closing around my throat. “I have to wait.” The words nearly made me sick to say. “Until she’s done with school. Maybe re-up to keep me from going fucking nuts, although that’ll be a fucking cluster. I’m struggling with the need to shift and run, and it’s not going to ease up. It’ll probably only get worse.” I shrugged.

“You’re saying not bite and claim her? That’s insane. You’ll rage through and kill the enemy single handedly,” Rob commented drily.

“I could retire, stay here to run off the pressure while she finishes her last year,” I added. I liked that idea a bit better. It was safer for everyone, except me. She’d probably come here to visit Audrey, who I imagined would soon be knocked up, if she wasn’t already. Shit, that wouldn’t make it any easier.

Rob nodded. “That sounds reasonable.” He looked to Boyd, who also grudgingly nodded. “Maybe you should claim her now, though, to take the pressure off.”

“No fucking way,” Boyd snapped. “She’s barely an adult! You can’t saddle her with a lifetime commitment at her age. It’s not fair. She doesn’t even know what you are.”

A growl filled the room. It took me a minute to realize it was coming from me. From my wolf. Both my brothers tensed, like I was about to go feral and attack them.

“What do you think?” Rob asked, eyeing me, keeping his voice neutral. I knew I was being handled by him, and it pissed me the fuck off, but it also worked. Him forcing me to make the right decision ensured I would do it. And would take away any pissing contest between me and the two of them.

That didn’t mean the growling stopped. In fact, I went to speak and had to clear my throat to get words out.

“It’s fucking impossible not to bite her. But I won’t. I can’t do it. Maybe when she gets closer to graduation. Next year.”

Fuck, my wolf wanted to rip my throat out at what I was suggesting.

“Makes sense,” Rob rumbled. “But completely unrealistic. There’s no way you’ll survive. Having her here, fucking her, then letting her go? Impossible.”

“Yeah, there’s no way.” Fucking Boyd.

“It’s not up to you,” I snarled, suddenly ready for that fight.

Rob stepped between us. “He’s just looking out for Audrey and what’s important to her.” He looked to me. “You have to let her go. Now. The full moon’s tomorrow night. Taking her again is risky, at best.”

The idea of not sinking into her soft body made me clench my fists. I hated what Rob was saying, but he was right. I was struggling now. What would I do tomorrow? I’d claim her and ruin everything. My wolf disagreed, thought it would make everything right.

“Fuck!” I shouted. I wanted Marina. I could scent her on me. Taste her. She was in my fucking bed right now. “I won’t touch her. Fine. It was a fling. at least that’s what she’ll think. It’s what she was looking for anyway.”

The words tasted like poison in my mouth. I was lying to myself, and I’d have to lie to her.

“Jesus, brother. You might save lives in the army, but this? You’re a fucking martyr,” Rob said, shaking his head.

I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck. Paced. “I’m doing it for my mate.”

Boyd looked to Rob and laughed. “Fifty bucks says he makes it a day.”

Rob nodded.

They were taking bets I wouldn’t be able to hold out. The fuckers. I had to hold off. Biting her now wasn’t an option. College. Life. It had to happen for her. I could hold off.