Hey readers,

Short note for you guys just to thank you all for the support, hope you like the chapter and sorry for any errors but I only wrote it this morning as I was still half asleep.

Lots of love

XXX

Hunters Pov

Running beside my mate was thrilling to say the least, her side brushing against mine as I made sure to keep her in sight at all times. I hadn’t yet spoken to her out of wolf form so I had no idea what was going through that pretty head of hers, hell it could be anything and even though I hated to admit it I was worried she would run off again.

Shaking my head I couldn’t help but nuzzle my nose in the pelt of her fur, my muzzle pressing against her neck as we continued to run. She smelt so good to my wolf, her musky female essence making it even harder to fight back on the urge to claim her like both me and my wolf wanted to. I wouldn’t push her though; I loved her too much for that.

It was with that thought I nearly lost my footing, did I love her? I knew as soon as I tried to deny it that it was true, she meant everything to me and I knew that even if our kind didn’t have mates I would have still fallen for her sooner or later. She was everything in a girl that I wanted, she was sweet, funny, sexy of course but she also protective, smart and honest. All traits which should be present in an alpha female and I couldn’t have been more thankful that the spirits had destined her to belong to me as I did her.

Heading in the direction of the pack house I turned a sharp right only for Zoe to slowly slow from the run we had been in to a trot, making me frown before quickly dashing back to her side. It was times like these the fact our minds weren’t connected was a real pain, but again I wasn’t going to force her to mate with me if she wasn’t ready, I would wait even if it would take a lot of control to hold back my wolf since he was more than ready to be bound to her for eternity.

I let a whine escape my muzzle as I trotted towards her, trying to portray my confusion over what she was up to. She seemed to think it over for a few moments before she took off in the opposite direction, my worst fears becoming a reality as I shot after her as quick as a bullet. Why was she running away from me? She seemed fine before, so what had changed?

My wolf howled and snarled in protest though, not taking note that the direction she was going was actually to the school and that she wasn’t  just running off somewhere in the woods. No I didn’t realise this until my claws had dug into the soft grass underneath me, my hind legs pushing me off the ground as I pounced on my escaping mate with such power that it caused us both to tumble to the ground harshly.

Her high pitched whine quickly had me springing to action though, removing my large body from hers as soon as possible when I took note of the awkward angle she was lying under me in. Oh shit….

Shifting back into human form, the fact I was naked for all to see not bothering me as I quickly moved towards my mate with a pained and regretful expression. I hadn’t meant to be so rough with her, but the thought that she was running from me had caused my wolf to momentarily take control as he followed his instincts to calm his wolf. It was due to us not being mated, since in the animal world she would still be considered up for grabs which was why my wolf was so possessive of her.  He didn’t want to lose her, and neither did I.

“Shit, are you already baby?” I asked with worry when she hadn’t moved for a while, seemingly stunned before she jumped to her feet while shaking out her fur. She seemed to look at me curiously; her head tilted to the side before she used her nose to bump my ankle, trying to avoid looking at the junction between my legs were my member laid. I couldn’t help but smirk, such an innocent little girl I thought with a grin.

“Oh shit, you were going to get your clothes?” I asked guiltily when I realised she was gesturing to the outfit I had tied to my right leg, feeling bad for tackling her when I thought she was trying to run from me. She must have been running back to the academy to get her clothes, though I had a feeling that one of the pack members may have already taken them back to the pack house so the journey would have been pointless.

Hearing her bark in agreement I quickly bent down to unstrap the thin shirt I had attached to my leg, not wanting to let her out of my sights while the threat of her parents wanting to punish her was still out in the open. Just the thought that they had the nerve to even think that I would ever do such a thing was vile, a male would never punish their mate, ever! So the simple realisation that they thought I was going to was purely naïve and stupid of them, bloody bastards!

“Here” I gestured as I held out my shirt for her, it would be long enough to cover all of her goods, unfortunately. But then again it would help with the whole not claiming her yet, I could only hope that she would be ready soon since I didn’t know how much longer I could hold my wolf back from getting what he wanted. Alpha wolves were stronger after all, I was born to lead and I was born to do it with a mate by my side. That mate was Zoe.

I watched as she seemed to hesitate for a moment, her gaze glancing from the shirt in my hand before moving to my eyes. After what seemed like only minutes she gently took the clothing I was offering her into her mouth before dashing into the forest, my hearing picking up on how she only went a few feet as to change in private. I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved that she was making it easier for me to resist pouncing and mounting her right there and then.

It was when she came out of the forest and into the clearing where I stood half-dressed that I felt my breath catch in my throat, having slipped on a pair of shorts when she was gone as not to make her uncomfortable. I had nothing wrong against being in the nude since I was more than adequate size wise even for a werewolf, but I didn’t want to scare her off if she thought I was expecting something more from her than her love and company. Sex could wait as far as I was concerned.

Saying that though I couldn’t help but take in the sight in front of me, my mate, my very sexy and nervous looking mate shifting from foot to foot wearing nothing other than my shirt. It glided off her curves in a manner which made me want to purr, she looked so good…

“Hunter!” she snapped amused gaining my attention, a sheepish smile forming on my lips as she rolled her eyes but approached me anyway. She still seemed nervous I found, as if she thought I would be angry or disappointed that she had hidden something so life-changing from me. I couldn’t find it in me to be angry with her though, she was my mate not to mention I was too happy to even think of telling her off about it.

“I’m not angry baby” I smiled as I pulled her into my arms, trying to ignore how delectable she felt against me as I wrapped my arms around her waist. I couldn’t resist pulling her flush against me, my nose buried in her neck as I breathed in that all to delicious scent of hers. How did she always seem to smell so good to me? It was addicting!

“Why?” she asked quietly, as if she couldn’t understand my reaction to learning about her precious secret.

“What you did Zoe was courageous of you, you revealed your well-kept secret to us to protect the pack and for that reason I can be anything but angry with you” I murmured honestly, pressing my lips to the flesh of her neck. I stayed clear of where I wanted to mark her though, not knowing if I would be able to control my wolf and the last thing I wanted was a momentarily lapse in judgement.

“Thank you” she said so softly that I wasn’t sure whether she meant for me to hear it or not. Even so I did and it filled me with so much warmth that I couldn’t help but tilt her head up my hand and press my lips gently to hers, relishing in everything about my mate from her taste to her smell. She was perfect, so perfect.

“You have nothing to be thankful for baby, I should be the one thanking you” I mumbled against her lips, growling slightly in pleasure when I felt her arms wrap around my neck in an intimate gesture which had both of us panting. I loved how responsive to my touch she was, how much I affected her as she affected me. She was mine, she was made for me and I would never be letting her go.

“You have no idea how lucky I feel Hunter, no idea at all” I heard her whisper to herself, even with my sensitive hearing I found it difficult to pick it up leading me to the conclusion that the last thing she had expected was for me to hear it. I couldn’t help but grin though, deepening the kiss after pulling her lips back to mine as I let my own tongue explore her mouth in a gentle and loving manner.

It was when I heard her moan against me, pressing her breasts against my bare chest that she soon found her back pressed roughly up against the bark of a tree. Our kisses grew deeper and more frenzied, our breathing sharper and more uneven as we only pulled away to breath before crashing our lips together in another passionate embrace.

We were snapped out of it when a howl could be heard from the pack house, a sigh falling from my bruised and swollen lips as I recognised it as Collin’s. I suppose he had expected us back a lot sooner, but it was hardly my fault that we got distracted and started making out heavily against a tree. Even though it wasn’t what I expected for our first time I wouldn’t have complained, hell no but I knew that she deserved better than that.

With that thought I reluctantly pulled away, her legs somehow having wrapped themselves around my waist and with the sudden knowledge of how close our sexes were I knew we had to find another position before I couldn’t control myself.

“Come on” I smiled, loving it when she whimpered when I pulled away. I couldn’t help but shake my head amused, though the smirk on her own swollen lips had me groaning as she grinded herself against me in a teasing manner which had my back arching and a animalistic growl falling from my lips. God, what was she doing to me?

“Cock blocker” I swore I heard her mutter as she jumped from my arms, her bare feet touching the ground with a slight thud as I felt my jaw go slack with her comment. Did she seriously just say that? But the look of smugness and amusement on her face told me that I had in fact heard her correctly, my little mate just had the cheek to call me a cock-blocker.

“Oh, I’ll show you cock-blocker” I growled playfully causing her to giggle, the sound making me smile despite myself as she spun around me in a childish manner which had my wolf purring at the sight of joy on her face. I was again reminded of my previous thoughts on her; she really was a free spirit.

“So why are we in a rush back?” she asked curiously as she continued to dance around me, my eyes trained on her bare legs as she moved on the fresh grass with grace. She really was gorgeous I found myself thinking, her thick locks messy around her face as she seemed to glow in the sun’s rays which shone down upon us. Yep, she was a vision and I loved that I could call her my own.

Her question brought me back to reality though, my hands clenching at my sides as I thought about the conversation we were going to have when we got back. I hated that it would ruin the good mood we both seemed to have been in, I hated how she might jump to conclusions and I hated how I knew she wouldn’t move in with me if her parents were there. Basically, this whole situation sucked.

“Your parents-“ I started in a harsh tone but she cut me off, her tone both soft and firm as she did so.

“Don’t call them that Hunter, please” she breathed causing me to nod, quickly reaching out to bring her back into my arms. I turned her so her back was firmly against my chest, my muscular arms wrapped gently around her waist as I pressed my face into her thick curls as I took a deep breath of her natural aroma to try and calm myself.

“Sorry baby, I apologise” I said honestly, not having meant to dampen her good mood with my comment. I was stupid enough to open my big mouth, of course she didn’t want to be reminded of who those people were to her.

“It’s fine Hunter, it’s just I have never thought of them as anything other than two people who have hated my guts for as long as I can remember. They were never my parents, I hate them with everything I hold dear to me” she said softly as she seemed to daze off in thought, my grip on her tightening reassuringly as breathed in her scent. Her tone was so strong, so honest that I knew she meant every word. It wasn’t a surprise to me for her to admit how much she loathed them, I knew Jack felt the same but Zoe just had more of a reason to hate them. Much more of a reason.

“I know, I’m sorry it just slipped out” I smiled, seeing the forgiveness in those amazing eyes of hers as she shot me a wink.

“Back to the subject at hand, spill” she demanded playfully with a twinkle in her eye, though I knew better than to think of lying or passing it off as nothing. It concerned her after all, I wouldn’t keep anything from her if I didn’t have to.

“They want to move in to see to Stacy’s recovery” I stated, watching confusion cross her before a light bulb seemed to go off in her head as she started to pull away from me. I wouldn’t loosen my grip though; I didn’t want her running from me.

“Let go!” she snapped wildly, her feet kicking out as I continued to try and hold her in place. I could only hope she didn’t try and shift with me so near to her, the last thing I wanted was to end up as a managed mess on the forest floor.

“Calm down Zoe, I’m not going to say yes to them!” I growled out when I felt her wiggling increase, only for her to go slack in my arms when she heard my comment. She clearly hadn’t expected it and it pained me that she thought I would’ve let them stay.

“Really?” she asked hopefully, it was clear that while she didn’t live there yet she liked to spend her time there when we hung out together. She loved the pack as if they were her family, it was enough for them all to see her as the alpha female she was destined to be as she stood by my side as we led it together.

“Of course Zoe, I don’t want them there as much as you do” I stated, though confusion seemed to cross her features before her eyes widened in realisation. What she realised though I had no idea, until her next comment made my blood run cold and the colour to drain from my face instantly. Shit.

(So was it worth the wait? I put it up quicker than I expected but you all did take the time to vote and comment so it was worth taking the time to knuckle down and get typing. So what does Zoe say to make him panic, any guesses?)