Page 72 of Wanted

My wolf proclaims. Not for the first time, I don’t argue with him. He’s right. Emery is ours.

But that causes the question to arise whether or not she feels the same about me? Now that she knows about me, according to Ms. Elsie.

My brokenness.

Is that why she ran away?

Again, I push those thoughts aside. Now is not the time to think about my defaults.

About two miles out from our pack’s compound I raise my snout and sniff the air. My nostrils fill with the sweetest most enticing scent I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Mate.

She’s close. I sniff at the ground, scenting the overturned rocks and stones along one of the trails. The stronger her scent becomes, the faster my paws move. It’s as if she’s calling me with her smell alone.

The trail is windy. Though it’s miles out from our compound, I’m familiar with it. It’s a trail I’ve followed many times in my years on different runs.

After about ten minutes, I arrive at a familiar opening. About fifty meters down the trail is a cave opening. It’s not quite visible from this distance given the shape and scope of the shrubbery and mountains, but I know it’s there.

My wolf senses her inside of the cave. I let him lead the way, bringing me closer to her.

It’s dark as I enter, but my wolf sight allows me to see clearly. My eyes land on the far wall.

There she is. Her back is to me, as she looks over the writings on the cave walls. As soon as I step one paw inside of the cave, she turns to me. I want to go to her, but the last time she saw me in my wolf form, she became terrified.

She might know a little more about who and what I am, but I still don’t want to frighten her. Especially, if the reason she ranaway in the first place is because she found out the truth about me.

“Chance?” Her lips form my name.

My wolf lets out a howl. He aches for something we can’t have. To hear her voice. He, just as badly as me, wants to know every note.

But hearing is a luxury we don’t possess.

Emery, though, doesn’t back away. The fear that invaded her eyes the last time I presented myself in this form in front of her, isn’t there.

Encouraged, I step closer until I’m close enough to run my nose against her leg. I sniff making sure there aren’t any injuries.

She’s not hurt.

Mate!

The only word my wolf can come up with.

But it’s the only word he needs when she reaches down and brushes her hand over the top of my head. A whine pours out of my mouth and I nudge her leg with my nose.

She gives me exactly what I want and does it again and again.

Shivers run throughout my body from her touch. And when she lowers herself to eye level, while stroking her hands through my fur, I feel freer than at any point in my life.

“You’re so soft,” I read the words on her lips.

My wolf whines and purrs again before licking her hands and then nudging closer to her to lick her cheek. She grins widely and her neck vibrates in what I can assume means she’s laughing.

We’re making her laugh.

My wolf sniffs every part of her, stopping until our nose reaches her belly. He can sense it.

Her wolf.