Sandy
I had a plan in mind. I did. I was going to spend a few hours with Belle to get to know her, but more importantly, I wanted her to know me. The man I am, the Wolf I am, how dedicated I was to my Pack. Everything.
I hoped she’d relax and allow our mating bond to strengthen and then maybe she’d recognize it for what it was. My plans went out the window five minutes after we’d left the cabin.
Sensing a whole range of emotions rolling from her, mostly mistrust with a good dollop of distress, made me change tactics. As Beta, I had some abilities that the rest of the Pack did not, and one I prided myself on was knowing how to read people and adjust my actions accordingly.
My beautiful Belle needed to relax and let go of whatever it was holding her back from me, herself, and our mating bond.
The easiest way to give that a good chance of happening was to force her Wolf to surface. My own beast felt hers, they already knew what was happening and I sensed the anxiety in hers because its human didn’t seem to understand what was going on.
In Wolf form we would, hopefully, break through and enlighten her.
That’s my plan anyway and I just hope it works.
Belle’s scent was already ingrained in me. It had been since the airport. The very moment her sweet and tangy aroma hit my nostrils I’d known.
I couldn’t help but grab her hand, wrapping my fingers with hers settling my beast as peace permeated every cell of my being, man and Wolf.
Her walls were still up but I was going to break through and make her understand one thing: she was mine as I was hers.
When she slowed down I knew why. It didn’t take a genius to work out she was worried about us stripping off our clothes. I halted, tugging her hand so she faced me and looked down into those chocolate eyes that were filled with apprehension. “I said tae relax.” I lowered my voice, trying to put her at ease but my own reaction to staring at her beauty almost had me kissing her then and there.
I managed to hold back, not wishing to cause her any more distress as she replied softly, “I’m trying.”
I couldn’t stop myself from running a finger down the side of her face, noticing she moved into my touch, albeit hesitantly. “You are a beauty, Belle. Stunning.”
Her eyes widened and a blush crept up her face. Damn. The sight of her flushed skin making me want to devour her lips all the more. Then she jumped back, her head spinning away.
“Hi, Belle.”
I swiveled toward the voice, my beast eager to fend off any threat to our mate. The men walking out of the trees appeared to be friendly as Belle gave them a smile.
“Hi, Dante, Hugo, what’ve you guys been up to?” she asked, trying to tug her hand free but I held on tight.
No man nor beast would have any doubt she was mine.
One man was dark, everything about him, his hair, eyes, skin, and with the power I could feel emanating from him I suspected he was Beta. The other was just as tall, with brown eyes and hair, but with golden streaks through it. His vibe was completely different.
It was this one that I eyed warily.
“We’re just checking for any rogues,” the dark man said. “We’ve had reports that there’s some back in the area.”
Belle nodded, then as the two men stared expectantly at me, her free hand shot to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m being rude. This is Sandy, he’s Wyatt’s guest. Sandy, this is Dante, the Pack’s Second, and Hugo, our Enforcer.”
Dante smiled as he held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I kept my grip on Belle and shook with my free hand. “Thanks.”
Hugo eyed me up and down, obviously sizing me up, then his eyes slid to Belle’s hand, the one I held tightly. “Welcome to the Pack. Are you here for the scenting ceremony?”
He’d raised an eyebrow and Belle immediately tensed. Why? I’d find out soon enough. I planned on discovering everything about her.
“Aye.” I inclined my head at the Enforcer, but kept eye contact. He may be the Pack’s guardian but I was no threat to them, and I was Beta. I submitted to no-one other than my own Alpha. Other Alphas got my respect, if they deserved it, but not my submission.
Hugo gave a nod to let me know he understood, but then he turned to Belle and the look he gave her caused my entire being to tense. I allowed a low growl to rumble in my chest, a warning, which I hoped he heeded. If not then I was going to do what Grant had warned me against: causing an international incident.
Dante stepped forward, his hand on Hugo’s shoulder. “Stop it,” he snarled viciously.
Belle’s breathing had picked up, her heart hammering in her chest and I could feel her hand turn clammy. “Hugo.” She shook her head before turning into my body, one hand on my chest.
“It’s all right, Sandy.” Her soft words calming my beast, but not quite so much the man. “Hugo doesn’t mean anything, right?”
I desperately wanted to look down at Belle but I refused to take my eyes from the threat. Dante pulled the Enforcer back, apologizing as he did. “I’m sorry, Sandy, Hugo can be an ass at times.”
Hugo on the other hand didn’t look sorry at all. He huffed before stomping off, another glance at Belle as he did so. My Wolf snarled inside me, wanting to prowl after Hugo and show him exactly who Belle belonged to.
Dante watched Hugo go before facing us again. “I’ll have a word with him, Belle.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled. That one word telling me how upset she was.
“I’ll see you later.” Dante moved to pat Belle’s shoulder then thought better of it, looking to me and nodding before leaving.
“Who’s the twat?” I asked as soon as I could.
“What?” she asked, frowning.
“That eejit, Hugo, who is he?”
Belle shrugged, attempting to make light of the encounter with the Enforcer but I could feel the stress inside her. “Nobody special.”
“Didn’t look like that to me, but I won’t press you. If you want to tell me you will, in your own time.” I leaned down, kissing the top of her head to try and ease the tension that had sprung up between us. “I hope you’re not upset with me?”
Belle’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “What? No, why would I be?”
“I growled at your friend.” I smirked. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help it.”
“Tell me about it.” She laughed breaking the tension and causing her eyes to light up mischievously.
“Can we continue?” I asked softly, knowing she’d been worried about our destination only moments before. “My beast is playing havoc in my head and wants to meet yours.”
Her skin flushed again and this time I didn’t hold back, I wrapped my arms around her luscious body and pulled her against me. “You are the most gorgeous lassie I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Her heart sped up and I lowered my head, brushing her lips with mine. She didn’t resist, didn’t push me away, but opened her mouth to mine. My heart soared at the welcome, my tongue darting inside to tangle with hers. The sweet taste of my mate, the most exquisite experience I’d ever encountered.
I didn’t want to scare her away, not with her just opening to my advances, so I grudgingly pulled away. The glassy look in her eyes was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“Now, that’s how a guy should kiss a gal,” she sighed with the cheekiest look on her face, her chocolate eyes hooded with desire.
“Aye. You are sexy as hell, Belle, and if we don’t move, I think I might explode right here.”
I wiggled my hips, knowing she would feel my hardness against her and hoping it didn’t have her scooting away from me. It didn’t.
“Can’t have that now can we?” She reached up and ran a finger across my lips, resulting in my cock hardening even more in my jeans.
“Maybe now you’ll relax?”
“Not sure relaxing is on the cards, but let’s go for a run.” She moved quick as lightning and darted off toward the trees.
The way her hips swayed drew me forward, desperate to catch up. A vision of her lying naked before me as I brought her to orgasm flashed in my mind and I couldn’t wait to see her respond to my touching her most intimate of places.
I didn’t notice our surroundings, or the beauty of the area, no, my total focus was on Belle. Catching, and keeping, my mate were the only order of business for me as I raced after her. The sound of her laughter had me grinning like an idiot as I chased her down.
I could easily catch her, but I allowed her to play the game, and only put a spurt of speed on as she neared the trees. Rushing up behind her I wrapped my arms around her waist and swung her around, laughing.
Belle giggled sweetly, the sound like tinkling glass as I spun her quicker and quicker, before finally placing her on her feet. I tugged her around, clasping her face between my hands before lowering my lips to hers. This time there was no hesitancy as her mouth opened beneath mine and met my kiss full of longing and desire.
Bliss. My beast howled with glee as we both partook of the sublime pleasure only a soul-mate could give.