I lay in bed alone, missing the warmth of Carter, but needing space to allow myself to think. I feel as if Carter has thrown my life in a blender and pushed the speed button, grinding everything up inside me.

Wolves. He wants to bite me and make me one forever. For hundreds of years. Carter seems so sure that I’m the one for him, but how on earth can he know that he won’t get sick of me in ten years and push me away?

I’ve seen many divorces and bad breakups. He says it’s for life, but that’s what marriage vows say, too. That doesn’t mean that people don’t go their separate ways every day.

My feelings for Carter have grown so strong over the week, and having him away from me just this short amount of time is tearing at my insides. It’s as if there is a magical cord connecting us, and the longer we’re apart, the stronger it tries to tether us together. It’s creating an ache in me so deep that I don’t know how to handle it. If I go to him, will this go away? Is this a sign that I’m supposed to be his mate and become a wolf?

Scratching comes to my door, but I ignore it.

It comes again. And again. And again.

Finally having enough, I fling the covers off and open the door to see my black wolf—Carter—sitting there.

With a heavy sigh, I tell him, “Come on, boy.”

He follows me into the room as I climb back into bed. He perches himself on the side of the bed, our faces aligned. He’s a gorgeous animal.

He lays his head on the cushion of the bed, and I reach over to pet him.

“I can’t believe you’re a wolf, Carter.”

The animal whines. No, my Carter whines.

“Carter, change please,” I whisper, and instantly the wolf recedes and a very naked Carter stands before me, going down to his knees.

“I couldn’t stay away.” He reaches out to brush the hair away from my face. The touch is so gentle, and I feel those cords pulling us together tightly. “Do you feel that?” he asks.

“What?”

“Don’t deny it, please,” this big, strong man pleads with me.

I can’t deny this or him. “I feel it.”

“That’s the start of the bond between us. It’s only going to get stronger as the days go on. Imagine what this will feel like in a year, ten, or a hundred. I want this with you. You by my side, me by yours, until our dying days.”

“That’s one hell of a marriage proposal, Carter.”

He smiles, taking my breath away. “I’m down on my knees, baby.”

My heart squeezes and those strings get tighter. I want to be with him. Even as strange as all of this is, I want this.

“Come here, Carter.”

“Izzy, if I get on that bed with you, I’m not going to be able to control myself. Now that you know, I want you now more than ever.”

Without a second thought, I respond, “Come and take me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Carter. Make me yours.”

His lips devour mine, the connection between us building with each pass. I get lost in the sensations, passion, and the all-consuming bond we have forming. It’s like those invisible strings are twisting and turning together with each kiss we set on each other’s lips.

The build is swift as he moves his hands up my shirt, pulling it off in one swipe.

“No panties. Let’s make this a rule from now on.” He doesn’t allow me to answer, his tongue already inside my mouth, doing delicious things to me.

Carter pulls away and flips me on my front. “Need to claim you, then we’ll go nice and slow.”

Trepidation hits as second thoughts cross my mind. Do I really want to be a wolf? Do I want to live forever? Do I want to be tied to this man for the rest of my days? Yes, I do.

At that thought, the worry floats away.

On my hands and knees, he massages my ass. His grip is strong and demanding.

Two fingers dip into my core while his thumb circles my clit, hard, rough, and controlling. Then a finger or a thumb enters my backside, sending a new trill of sensations through me.

He plunges in and out, and I thrust back on his hand, fucking myself hard. His fingers easily move through my wet folds.

While part of me expects him to continue to play, I’m surprised when he proves me wrong by removing his fingers then plunging his cock inside of me in one deep, long stroke, touching parts of me he has yet to claim. He’s definitely going to claim them tonight. I fall forward on my elbows from the force, my head falling down.

He’s so deep inside me. I can feel him everywhere. Something sharp grips my hips, but I can only focus on the in and out thrusts of Carter inside of me. He’s so powerful and intense.

Carter wraps his hand around my hair and pulls me all the way up so my back is to his front as he continues his brutal thrusts. In this position, I feel him in other ways, hitting new spots and sending me so close to the edge. His hips are like pistons, moving so fast that the bed shakes.

I don’t just feel him in my body. I feel him in my heart, as well.

“Rub yourself. You need to come.” His voice is rough and sexy as all hell.

I reach down and do what he asks, sending off a series of shocks. It hits hard and fast. I keep rubbing my clit, continuing the orgasm.

As I ride the wave, I feel his teeth sink into my flesh at my collarbone, causing another orgasm to crash through me. This one is different. This one, I don’t just feel euphoric from it. No, this one is magical. That connection I’ve felt with Carter solidifies, and I can feel everything about him: the thump of his heartbeat, the intakes of his breath—all of it. It’s like there are wires connecting Carter and I. Bonds that can never be broken.

He shoves his cock inside me, stilling, as he growls his release.

We stay there for long moments, both of us needing a reprieve.

He smooths his tongue over the bite as I fall to the bed, out of breath and out of energy. Carter falls next to me as his come drips out of my body.

“I don’t feel any different,” I tell him, still out of breath, but still me.

“You’ll start to go in heat. That’ll last for a few days before your wolf will show.”

“Heat?” As soon as I ask the question, I know exactly what he means, because my body throbs, aching with the need to come. It’s a burning desire that is almost painful.

“Yeah, heat.” He kisses me, already knowing exactly what I’m going through.

He takes me again … and again … and again, until I finally pass out from exhaustion.

* * *

The ache goes away for a brief amount of time, and then comes back with a vengeance. It’s as if the world is playing a very cruel joke on me—giving me the best sex of my life, yet causing me pain, as well. I’m all for a little pain with pleasure, but this is just ridiculous.

I get off on Carter’s cock, and not five minutes later, I want to be back on it. No, I need to be back on it because the burn becomes too much.

Carter tells me not to fight it and that he’s at my disposal, which is nice in some twisted, fucked up way.

Each time I come, something inside me shifts and changes. Every time Carter and I come together, our connection grows. It’s more than marriage. It’s inside us, building and structuring itself into an unbreakable bond. I’m starting to understand what Carter said about never getting a divorce. With the way I’m feeling, I could never imagine not having the man beside me in my life.

We’ve been at this sex thing for three days now. I never in my life thought I’d say this, but I need a break from the sex. Problem is, I can’t. The changes happening inside of me are preventing it. Sleep is a luxury right now that only happens when I pass out. Carter, though, he’s always ready to go. Always there doing what he needs to. Taking care of me. Loving me. That’s what matters.

He matters.

My body aches in need, but looking at Carter’s sleeping form, I roll away from him in bed. The man has been giving me everything, so five minutes won’t kill me.

Making my way down to the kitchen, I fill a glass of water and chug it back.

Arousal warms my lower half, and I have to hang on to the countertop to balance myself. Breathing through it dulls the pain a bit, but not by much. Never would I have imagined that my life would consist of me changing into a sex-crazed wolf. The thing is, all I ever wanted was to be happy and with Carter, and now I am.

I can’t help being curious about what my life will be like on four legs instead of two, or running in the woods. Will my senses be heightened? I’ve always heard that animals have a great sense of smell and eye sight. Hopefully that will get passed on to me.

There are so many questions. I probably should have asked before agreeing to be Carter’s mate, but when it comes down to it, the pull to him is too strong. There really wasn’t a choice in the matter. He is it, and my gut knows that. It just took my mind a bit longer to catch up.

As I think of Carter, my mate, the bite mark on my neck tingles, and my need drives me once again.

The burn intensifies to the point of pain. My knees buckle, and I fall hard to the floor. With a groan, I rest my overheated body on the kitchen floor, loving the cold tile as it helps lessen the heat thumping through my body. I roll my forehead along the floor, hoping for some relief there, as well.

I should have listened to Carter instead of coming down here, but hell, it feels like I’ve woken the man up every few minutes. This has really been the first time we slept. However, as I lie here on the floor, groaning, I wish I had. I wish I would’ve nudged him so he could help me take care of this. Now I’m all the way in the kitchen, and I’m not sure I’ll make it up the stairs to get to him.

My breathing increases as my insides contract and release, each time harder than the one before. Sweat pours from my face onto the floor as I wrap my arms around my waist. This is surreal—being in this much pain because of an orgasm. And it doesn’t stop. Carter reassures me it will, but that moment isn’t now.

Footfalls come from the stairs.

“Izzy?” Carter calls.

“Here.” I hate that my voice is so damn pained, but there’s no masking it.

The steps become louder.

“Shit.” Carter scoops me up into his arms, the tightness of his hold providing a small bit of comfort. “Told you to wake me up, baby.”

“You were sleeping.”

“Hence the wake me up part of the conversation.”

“It hurts,” I groan out as he sits on the couch and moves me to straddle his lap, my core burning. He was right about the no panties and how they’d get in the way. Luckily, I listened to this bit of advice; therefore, he slides right inside of me and the pain instantly dulls.

“I think we’ll just stay exactly like this until it passes.”

Carter chuckles, but I find nothing about this funny.

When he grips my hips, picks me up, and slams me back down, all thoughts dissipate. The only thing I can do is feel. And Carter makes me do that, repeatedly.