A/N: you guys are so sweet! Here's another chapter let me know what you liked of it !!

[25] Instincts

It was curiosity that drove Mia to the training grounds where Saurus instructed the werechildren at the usual time of day. Jasmine didn't join her today. The squabble she had with the kids the day prior made her frightened of interacting with them again. They didn't like her. Jasmine was a women who got them in trouble with Alpha and made their training longer. She made the running more tedious. Saurus or not, Jasmine was unwelcome, and for this reason she refused to come with the kids present.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Like yesterday, the werechildren noticed her arrival and waved upon seeing her. Samuel was momentarily frozen when he saw her, struck by her attire enough that his mouth dropped. His eyes followed after her in a thirsty stare. He hadn't looked at Jasmine that way when she wore the off-the-shoulder dress. It took Mia shooing the kids to pay attention for him to straighten out again, and even then it took him a moment to re-start where he left off. The kids were giggling at their Alpha. He had never seemed so distracted before.

Watching them train was enjoyable. Since they had their 'Luna' as spectator they wanted to impress her by winning the fights and doing the best moves. When practice ended they scattered off to play, but not before showing off a few moves to her. One of the little girls had even ran inside and returned with a shiny apple. She wasn't good in her moves yet, so she figured giving her Luna food would compensate. It was the cutest thing ever, and Mia was glad to have the apple as it kept her hands from wringing together in restlessness.

Unlike yesterday Samuel hadn't left. He was a few feet off observing the kids interact with her. He looked to be waiting for his own turn to have her attention to himself. 

The moment they were gone he prowled to her like a slick animal. Mia feigned ignorance to his approach by biting from the apple. It was sweet, a few drops of its juice trailed down her chin. Mia wiped it and looked up when he was directly in front of her.

"Hi," she said lightly.

Saurus didn't greet her in return. He continued to stare as she took another bite. Mia wished he said something already. The first thing Rex advised to do was to show up in front of him with this blouse—just as Sammie had wanted.  

"You want some?" She asked, joking. It was really just a way to hide her nervousness.

Samuel enveloped her hand in his. With deliberate slowness he brought the apple to his lips, biting it exactly where she had just bitten and leaving an even larger mark in its place. The deep indent exposed the apple's core, much like how she felt right now. Exposed. He did this while watching her, not letting his eyes stray from her face.

"I was... kidding." She faltered.

"Don't offer what you aren't willing to give me." His grip slid up her arm, landing decidedly around her neck as he walked closer to her. He nudged her face to his, enough that their breaths intermingled. "I'll take everything you give me."

Mia bit her lip. Wrong move. Now his eyes focused there. Though perhaps that could be seen as an advantage. With that distraction she could move on to the second thing Rex told her to do: gain his full attention, then run.

Pulling away from him she darted to the trees. The leaves crunched beneath her feet, the air whipped at her hair behind her in curly tendrils that beckoned him to come closer. She dared look back and gasped when she saw him running after her. Mia propelled to go faster, even though she knew no matter how fast she went he would eventually catch up to her.

He steadily inched closer and closer. Diminishing the distance between them with calculated grace. Mia knew he could have caught her already, but that would defeat the purpose of this. He was chasing her. Actively enjoying the thrill of pursuing what he wanted. Wolves didn't chase things if they didn't want them, and she had seen it in his eyes the fleeting moment she looked back—he was captivated.

Deciding to make it a little harder she sifted through the trees, going in no particular line but making it rather random or zigzagged. She laughed when she heard his growl. Peaking behind she saw him smile, Samuel was definitely amused. He was enjoying this, and she was too. This seemed so silly, and yet it was so fun. One moment she thought she was making actual leeway. The next Saurus ate up the distance in seconds and slammed her to a large tree. Air whooshed out of her. Her heart still hammered from the exertion. She could feel Samuel's own heart beating. His eyes swirled in warm amber, hot and full of impulse.

"For my prize I want a kiss." He declared.

"P-Prize?"

Rex had not informed her of this part! She didn't know him catching her also entitled him to a reward of his choosing.

"Yes," he said huskily, before covering her mouth with his.

Mia's blood spiked as their lips crashed. They move against hers, hard and demanding, pushing against her barriers without restraint. Mia's reserves fell to the wayside with each millisecond his mouth continued, coaxing her grant him entrance. Mia yielded to him, her own desires overwhelming the last shred of inhibition. Their tongues intertwined in heated passion way too long withheld. She felt it now. The fondness and ardor Rex had spoken about. Samuel pushed his body further against hers. He left no inch of space between them while his hands trailed up her waist in feverish need. Mia's arms went around his shoulders, he smelled of woods and tasted of apples. Her senses were dizzy with his indulgent touch.

Their kiss was so prolonged Mia had to pull away to catch her breath — but Samuel didn't. His hot breath moved to the sensitive area behind her ear. He trailed down the length of her neck and lingered on the soft curve. There, his teeth nipped in warning. Mia blushed, her legs became weak at the implications.

"Samuel, why did you..." she became breathless as his nips turned into full on sucking.

Her entire being fluttered. Letting him do this would leave a bruise, yet she couldn't help but close her eyes and enjoy the pleasurable sensation. When he pulled back he stared into her eyes, hungry and yearning for more.

"I want to mate you." He kissed her again, this time more softly. He wanted her to give him answer. He found her hand and interlaced their fingers, much like how his tongue interlaced with hers. "Mia." He whispered, urging a response.

But how could she think properly when he had her on cloud nine? "I...don't know."

He nipped her ear. "When will you know?"

She didn't know the answer to that either. "I need some time. Just a little."

He stopped kissing her and breathed deeply. His lids closed to hide his eyes, he was trying to regain his control. When he opened them again they were black. "You've never worn this before." His fingers grazed the bare skin of her neck and shoulders.

"Sammie made me," she responded, shy.

He nodded slowly. "Why did you run?"

"I wanted to see if you would chase me." Mia timidly looked down. His questions were so straight to the point she could not avoid admitting her intentions. 

Much like the night before, he lifted her chin to face him directly. "Now you know that I would. I want you, Mia. I've wanted you for a very long time."

"But you've hated me for a long time too. I don't understand how you could feel this way."

His came to her, lowering so that his lips stopped just a hairsbreadth away from her own. He gave her a smoldering look that warmed her insides. Impulsively she leaned into him, but just as she was about to kiss him, he withdrew.

"Am I the only one who feels this way?"

It took her a moment to connect his actions with the question. He spoke for her.

"You want me too." He kissed her jaw. This time he was asking for a request. "I want you to think about us being together. You know now I am more than willing. I have been for years, hiding it behind my rage when really I've only wanted to be yours. Until a few days ago I never thought I had a chance with you." He caressed her cheek tenderly. "You would make me the happiest wolfman by saying yes. You're lovely in every way."

He looked at her like she was everything he wanted. As though among countless young women and beautiful she-wolves, he would still pick her. His chosen one. Mia thought a new moon would make him stronger by honing him to his natural strength. Instead, she found he was vulnerable to her. He wa attentive her expressions and played with her hair like a man bewitched.

"I do have feelings for you," she admitted. "I need a little time to come to terms with this."

If she told Samuel yes there would be no holding him back. She wanted to sort through her feelings first to make sure this was truly what she wanted. Wolfmen mated for life. They didn't believe in divorce or separation. To do so went against their nature and had serious repercussions. Mia squeezed his hand to help alleviated his downcast expression.

Almost regretfully, she led him to her neck so he could heal the hickey he left. His resistance was palpable with each stroke of his tongue on the bruise. He hated removing his imprint on her. The tree behind her groaned in protest as his hands squeezed the bark of its strength, he left ragged indents in its wake. She should've sorted through her own feelings before trying to figure out his. 

"Hey Mia, do you mind if I talk to you for a bit?"

"Sure."

Mia joined Jasmine on the couch. The plush seating hugged her form, the plasma screen buzzed from a corny reality TV show. The blue-eyed woman looked too disconcerted to pay attention. The living room had been Jasmine's go-to place when she wasn't in her room.

"Oh, that's a nice blouse," she said, suddenly noticing Mia's attire.

Mia's hand self-consciously went to her neck, the exact place Samuel had left a hickey before he healed it. She quickly removed her hand and cleared her throat.

The inquiry in Jasmine's eye was unmistakable. And similar to when Samuel had asked of her outfit she penned the blame on her best-friend. "Sammie made me wear it."

She nodded in understanding. "She really likes you a lot. Sammie, I mean. I can tell you guys are very close."

And she was not.

That was the underlying message to her tone. But it was her own fault, for he hardly gave much attention to the she-wolf when Saurus was present.

"Our relationship is years in the making. I consider her my sister at this point."

A faraway look came on Jasmine's face, as though she were thinking back on something. "I wish I was connected with this pack that way you are. You're so close to Sammie and the kids adore you. With a shirt like that I'm sure many wolfmen have approached you by now."

Mia laughed nervously. It was the opposite. No one had approached her. This top was certainly an invitation to ask her out on a date, but with so many years of Saurus instilling in his men she was off-limits they didn't dare. It was common knowledge Mia was not to be approached for romantic intentions.

"No, no one from the pack has approached me."

Except Samuel.

Jasmine's eyebrows shot up in shock. "But you're so pretty!"

Before she could respond a shuffle of footsteps entered their trajectory. Lisa passed by them, jeans and a soil stained T-shirt. Since her date with John she no longer cared to dress up anymore on a daily basis. What would be the point? She no longer cared to impress Saurus on the few moments of interaction. Her heart was set on someone else now, and she couldn't be any happier.

"Hey Mia!" she said, passing by them. "Do you know if Saurus is in his study? I'm not sure if he's training the kids or not."

"Yes, he's in there. He finished training them not too long ago."

"Awesome." She waved a packet in front of her. "Guess what? The merridin plants are really blooming! In two weeks we'll be able to catch up with the demand."

The werewoman went on about the plotting technique they were using, and how Mia's advice to stop using fertilizer was heaven-sent. She described how darker the plant was now, and how it actually made it more potent. Many of the things she said were already told to Mia by Saurus, but it was enjoyable to watch Lisa ramble about her passion.

Jasmine wanted to join in their conversation. "Wow that's such good news. I didn't know you guys had problems like that."

Lisa paused. Her eyebrows raised minutely. It like she suddenly realized there was another person in the room. And she did not look one bit pleased. "Oh. It's you again."

She turned away from Jasmine as though she were insignificant and finished telling Mia the report. It was strange, she was layering her with pertinent information as though Mia had just as much right to know about all of her plans the way Saurus did.

"I think she still doesn't like me." Jasmine said.

Lisa had parted ways without another glance to the blue-eyed woman. Mia had at one point been at the receiving end of her catty attitude, but having returned her fire with actual kindness by joining her with John she was now exempt from that side of her.

"Its okay. At one point she didn't like me either."

"She doesn't like me because I used to date Saurus. She's really in love with him, a lot of women are. Whenever I bump into her I'm nice, but otherwise I try to stay away." Jasmine told her this as though Mia were ignorant of all these things. "It was so uncomfortable. I brought it up to Saurus one time and he spoke with her to leave me alone..."

Mia nodded patiently as Jasmine expressed her woes. It was quite like Sammie said: this woman was the type to evade facing problems head-on and often delegated the job to someone else. She was sweet and couldn't handle rejection, the idea of someone not liking her bothered her immensely. Criticism was met with utmost sadness. She was used to people liking her on the spot, of their compliments regarding her beauty and soft-disposition.

If she doesn't grow tough skin she'll always be easily offended. Mia thought tersely.

How could someone live like that? In life there will always be someone who doesn't like you, someone who you can't be friends with no matter how hard you try. There are so many differing personalities that it's impossible to please everyone.

"...and that's why I was hoping you could tell me the best way to apologize to Saurus that way he would forgive me. Breaking up with him is the worst thing I ever did. He didn't come back for me and I never got over him. Now that I want things to work again he doesn't believe me. You've known him longer, what do you think I should do?"

Mia was struck. Jasmine was so self-conscious she didn't fathom the reason Samuel refused to be with her had nothing to do with her method of apology, but because he genuinely didn't like her. Changing her apology would not alter the outcome. Mia wanted to give her sound advice without outright telling her she was talking to the very person Samuel was smitten with.

"Jasmine, I think you're overthinking things. Saurus already forgave you. When we were in Everglades he spoke nothing but nice things of you, so trust me, he doesn't hold a grudge over you leaving him for someone else." Jasmine winced at the last sentence, as though the remembrance of her actions pained her. Mia touched her shoulder. "I think it's best if you get over him. I know what it's like to be left by someone you care about; my own university boy-friend left me and is happily living his single life. Breakups can be a good thing. You don't want to be with someone who isn't given to you."

"He said nice things about me? What did he say?"

Astounding.  Out of everything Mia said her focus was on that one verse. "That you're very kind? That you're sweet? Healthy looking? That's not the point. Don't you remember all the reasons you originally left him for? Something must have driven you to come to that decision. If you were convinced before, I don't understand how—"

"You don't think he'd get back together with me?" Her voice was aghast.

Well, it was time to break it to her in simple terms. "To be honest, no. He won't get back together with you because he doesn't love y—"

"No!" Jasmine shot up from her seat and ran. It seemed all the liked to do was run away from the truth.

Mia pressed a tired hand to her forehead. She felt bad for her and at the same time wanted her to go. Perhaps letting this woman come here was not the best idea after all.

Warm water blazed down Mia's back in thrumming cascades. It whisked away all the dirt and sweat she accumulated during the run with Sammie today.

Her best-friend returned from her business at the mall with an expression belying joy and stress. She was very happy with the shop she would open, at the same time it was taking out a lot of her.

Saurus was not helping her this time. As an adult he wanted her to branch out independently and do things on her own. He trusted her work ethic and knew Sammie was more than capable. As much as the process tired her best-friend, Mia saw it was instilling a sense of confidence.

Nevertheless, the stress had to be extinguished somehow, and when she return they switched into workout outfits and went outside. Mia found it cute that Samuel pulled his blinds down, as though watching her run would was enough to incite him again (and maybe it was).

Sammie expectedly picked a harder trail inside the woods. The result left Mia with small nicks and scratches all throughout her leg. The track was layered with jutting rocks and splintered branches. She should've worn leggings but seeing Jasmine in shorts earlier inspired a competitiveness.

I really have no reason to be.

Samuel wanted her. Badly. He announced his desire to mate her and that required no further transparency.

Rinsing the soapy suds away Mia turned the handle. The flowing water stopped and she stepped out of the tub and into her awaiting sandals. Her curly ringlets reached past her chest, weighed down by the water's wetness. She pat her body dry and wrapped another towel over her dripping hair as she entering her room.

She was just removing it from her mane when the view of a figure made her squeak in surprise, her towel tumbling to the floor. She held a hand to her chest. Thank goodness the one wrapped around her body was secure.

Never did she expect to find Samuel in her room. And worse in her half-naked state. He sat over her bed with his legs spread apart, watching her enter with heated eyes that were rather come-hither.

"Well, it's about time," he said.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! :D

What did you think of the chase? Was it too childish? More of his instincts in Part 2. Please comment and vote! If you do I promise to finish the next chapter by Friday/Saturday night!