Page 32 of Mating Season

Gritting my teeth against the deep-seated ache of unfulfilled need, I extracted myself from the bed. Aspen crashed hard on her come down. I was still waiting for her to wake up as the moonlight filtered through the small screenless window at the back of her nest.

Something was wrong.

It wasn’t just the howls outside confirming my fears. My beast crossed a line, interrupting with his own intense demand to taste Aspen when the scent of her desire filled the room. I’d planned to play out the scene a while longer and test her limits, but he’d forced himself through and wasn’t the slightest bit apologetic.

I’m planning to do it again.

I refused to lose control like that, especially around my intended mate. This was innocent enough, but it could have been worse.

We need to seal the bond.

I won’t claim her against her will.

Her wolf is ready.

The human is not.

I stepped outside into the crisp night air where the moon shone overhead. The clouds rolledin, but they did little to hide the bright glow of an almost full moon taunting me as it drew on my primitive nature to lead.

I’m going to mark the territory first,my wolf grumbled as he took over the shift. He knew what we needed to do even if it was the last thing he wanted.

“Everything alright, Alpha?”Beau trotted behind as my wolf lifted his leg on every tree he could find surrounding Aspen’s nest.

“Stay here and guard her. If she wakes, let me know,”I told Beau, hesitating at my wolf’s incessant growl,“and if anything happens, get her to Foster and Jones.”

Beau’s wolf whined as he bared his neck.“I won’t fail you again.”

I knew he wouldn’t and told him as much with a nudge to his rear flank, sending him back up the hill to stand guard at Aspen’s nest.

She wants to bear our mark.My wolf continued to argue with me as he raced through the woods. As much as I wished he would understand, it was too complicated for the beast.

I tried anyway.She needs more time.

And we were running out of it.

She’s not ready.He let out a mournful howl, leaping over dead brush and scrambling up rocks as we followed our sister’s scent.

Howls in the distance seemed to echo ours, but they raged for another reason.

It isn’t safe.

I know.

We came to a clearing where Fallon’s nest sat. I was about to call her when the doors creaked open and she stepped outside. She was wrapped in a blanket with mascara rimming her eyes like smudged coal. John’s scent was faded and cold.

“Did he hurt you?” I growled, shifting into my human form. My claws and fangs were slow to retract.

Fallon smirked as fresh tears filled her eyes. “I wish. That would make this easier.”

“Then what?” Even my beast was confused.

“Tell me you don’t hear them.” She motioned with her chin to the valley looming below.

I did and I wished I hadn’t.

The howls of frustration and desire were growing louder as a sense of urgency sharpened the colors of the night. Even the moon was shining brighter despite not being entirely full.

“Where’s John?” I looked over my shoulder to the nest I’d left behind. I couldn’t see it in the distance, but I could sense it like true north.