Thirsty (Black Wolf Pack 1)

It was weird how easily things had seemed to click into place after all this, as if the confusion just melted away, because in the grand scheme of things, this wasn’t anything bad. It was the priorities and the realization that life was what we made of it.

This wasn't something I had to fight.

I just had to accept this could be the very best thing in my life.

9

Mia

I was happy Tucker insisted on walking me home when I told him I was ready to head back to my cabin for the night. After the “excitement” of the evening, I suddenly felt so drained, and all the people still congregating and partying was continuously sucking the energy from me.

So when Tucker said—demanded—he’d walk me home, that he didn’t want me to be alone, I smiled and thanked him and kept the fact that my pussy tingled to myself.

So here we were, walking side by side on the stone pathway, the village quiet where we were, because everyone was still enjoying the festivities.

I let him lead the way, and when he veered off the path that would take us to my cabin, I didn’t question him. I wanted to break away from the clatter and confusion I currently felt. I wanted to feel something else, and I wanted to feel that with Tucker.

He looked at me continuously, maybe thinking I’d dart, change my mind, or agree with how my father originally felt. I wouldn’t. Not on any of those points.

“I meant what I said.” My voice was soft, barely carrying in the breeze. Although he heard every word I’d uttered at the longhouse, I felt the need to reiterate again.

“I know. I scented your determination and the truth.” He took a step closer. “It turned me on like nothing before.” His voice was this raspy tenor that had a shiver working its way through me.

I licked my lips and nodded, the chemistry between us never dimming during this entire situation. Not even when tensions were high did my desire for my mate lessen. In fact, it grew.

The very idea that he would have fought for me—for the right to claim me, even going up against the Alpha—had me so ready to be with Tucker that it was hard to breathe.

I was very aware of Tucker’s big body, of how good he smelled, like wild spice and potent male. I was hypersensitive to his very presence, that he was all male, and I was his female.

I didn’t know how long we walked, but he held my hand the whole time, his thumb stroking over my skin, the touch so gentle, yet it was electrifying to me. I was embarrassingly wet between my thighs, my panties soaked and sticking to my intimate lips. And I knew he could smell my arousal, but he didn’t point it out, thank God. He controlled himself enough that although I was very aware of my reaction to him, he didn’t blatantly call me out on the lack of control.

Before I knew it, we were standing in a clearing, one that I knew some of the younger wolves in the village frequented to drink beers because they thought nobody knew or would find out. But no harm, no foul—just some adolescent shifters letting off steam because there was nothing else to do in the pack village.

But here we were, just the two of us, all alone with the trees creating this natural yet almost artificial circle. And within that ring, the grass was tall and almost wispy, the dandelions thick and casting spots of yellow throughout the green and brown. The moon shone above through the large break in the branches, the silvery glow that made everything a little fantastical, as if I were living in a fantasy.

But this wasn’t a book or a movie. This was my life. It was reality. I was standing in front of my mate, all my senses rapidly firing back and forth, and a little voice in my head repeating the same thing.

Just give yourself over. Ease the ache between your thighs. Let your mate claim you, and you’ll know what pleasure really feels like.

And it was so easy just to give in to that voice, to my emotions and desires. But I was afraid, nervous, and inexperienced, and I had no idea what to do or where to start. I was a virgin, the same as he was, my libido dormant—nonexistent—this entire time. Just like every unmated shifter.

Tucker lifted his hand and cupped my face, and instantly I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes when he moved his thumb across my cheek, his touch so soft… yet so very sexual at the same time. If anything, this gentleness and sweetness from Tucker turned me on even more, because I knew I got the masculine and possessive side of Tucker, but also this tender mate part that had me melting in the best of ways.