Page 45 of Unforgivable Fate
He focused on his wolf, on sinking back inside himself and letting his other half take control. It always hurt when he shifted. Always. It didn’t matter that he was a born shifter. The breaking of bones and reshaping of his body into his animal was always painful. This time was no exception in that, the only difference was just how quickly it all happened.
Just like when he’d been watching Nova, one moment he was human and then, before he knew it, he was on all fours peering out through golden eyes that saw everything perfectly clear despite the darkness.
He didn’t have time to consider how much easier the transformation had been now that he was mated to Nova. He didn’t have time to think about how the bond might allow them to draw from one another’s strength to ease the transition. Because almost the moment his paws hit the ground, his wolf caught sight of Nova’s and the mating heat rushed through his animal body, making him growl.
Nova’s wolf spun in a quick circle, clearly eager to play. Griffin’s wolf lowered his head and scuffed the ground with his paws. And then they were off, racing through the trees, Nova’s wolf leaping over fallen logs and darting around massive bushes while Griffin’s wolf gave chase.
It was clear that Nova’s wolf knew the woods far better than his own, which was no surprise since he hadn’t shifted to let his wolf run and learn them since he arrived. He’d been too worried the big brute would go straight to Nova and maul her. He’d kept his animal under lock and key but now he was free and he was happier than Griffin could ever remember him being.
He could feel the animal’s excitement as they chased Nova’s wolf. Not just because he knew at the end of this chase he would get to sink his teeth into his mate either. He was happy to be free to run and Griffin thought maybe that was because this was the first time since they were children that his wolf was on land that felt as though it were home. He knew that once the wolf sealed the mating bond, the circle would be complete and he would become a Crescent wolf for good.
It had been so long since his wolf had been part of a pack, so long since he’d felt the connection to others like him, that he knew it would be a big change. But his wolf wanted it just as much as he did. He wanted to belong here, with her, and to make this place their home.
That was why, when Nova’s wolf slowed enough for him to catch her, his wolf didn’t hesitate.
He leaped on Nova’s wolf, sending them rolling. It was a tangle of legs and writhing animal bodies and sharp fanged teeth. Nova’s wolf was smaller than his own but strong. She put up a little bit of resistance, no doubt to establish that she wasn’t weak, but without too much of a fight she let his wolf pin her down and sink his fangs into her shoulder.
This mating was rougher than their human one had been. The wolves scrambled and clawed at one another. Nova’s wolf bit him in return as his wolf mounted her. The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than a few minutes but inside Griffin’s mind, inside the man who was beneath the wolf’s skin, he felt every single electric charge as it moved through him and new connections sizzled into place.
Eventually their wolves wore themselves out and lay down together, nuzzling and licking at one another’s bite marks. Soothing one another. The bond between them firmly in place by the time they gave up control back to their human counterparts.
The shift back into his human skin happened so easily, Griffin barely noticed it. He went from being curled up as a wolf next to Nova to wrapped his arms around her small body and pulling her against him just like they’d been laying in the clearing after making love. Only this time, everything inside of him had changed.
Nova nuzzled the mark on his neck where she’d bitten him twice now. It had healed already but he knew without looking there would be a white scar in a crescent shape that marked him as a mated wolf. He felt Nova’s smile against his skin and tightened his hold on her, grinning up at the sky as happiness bubbled inside of him.
“How do you feel?” She spoke softly, continuing to nuzzle at the mark she’d put on him.
“I feel….” He paused, trying to think of the right words, “Like a Crescent wolf.”
Nova giggled, pulling back enough to look down at him, “Well, duh. You’re one of us now.”
He grinned back at her, “I can feel the pack. I can sense them without even trying. It’s like there’s a radar in the back of my mind and I know without even thinking about it exactly where Leo is. I can feel his presence even though he’s not here.”
Nova crinkled her nose, “That’s because he’s your Pack Alpha now. No doubt he felt it the moment your wolf bonded to mine and became part of his pack too. But let’s make a rule, huh? No talking about my brother when we’re naked? It gives me the heebie jeebies.”
Griffin chuckled but tugged her close again, brushing his lips over hers, “Deal.”
“You’re still smiling.” Nova kissed him back between her whispered words.
“I’m happy.” He admitted.
“I can see that.” She rocked her soft body against him and he groaned, fully aware that despite all the mating they’d done tonight that his cock was still more than ready to go another round.
“Don’t be a tease.” He chuckled, smacking her behind lightly before settling his hand there and holding her against him. “I want you. I want you all the time. I’ve been in this state since the moment I ran into you but I was wearing clothes and you were carefully not looking at me.”
“You’ve been suffering with a hard on all this time?” She looked both amused and slightly horrified when he nodded. “I had no idea the mating heat did that. I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t apologize. You weren’t ready and I respect that. It’s just an erection. It wasn’t going to kill me.” He laughed. “I had a few uncomfortable run ins with Bear at the house when I was trying to take the problem in hand, if you will, but nothing that won’t eventually be a funny story.”
Nova buried her face against his neck and laughed, “Oh God, he caught you…”
“Jerking off. Yeah.” Griffin smiled against the top of her head.
“Well, I don’t know that it’s quite the same but, it might make you feel better to know that I tried to scratch the itch as well.”
His eyebrows winged up, “You did?”
“I have a vibrator. He’s never failed me before.” Nova shrugged, “But Bunny just reminded me that my body didn’t want to simply get off, it wanted you.”