Cursed Wolf

Thorne brushed back his hair,looking in the mirror. He’d been waiting all day for this moment, and it was finally here. He couldn’t wait to go ice skating with Heather and to take her to dinner at the Captain’s Grotto.

Tonight could be the night where she opened up to him and allowed him in for the first time. She had a wall up, a wall he could completely understand. He had the same wall when it came to most people, including his brothers these days.

He was ready to move on from the curse that had kept him an animal for so many decades. He wanted to be his own man now, and that meant separating from his brothers.

It also meant connecting with Heather like he’d never bonded with anyone before. She was his mate, his fated one, the person meant for him. He wanted to experience every bright moment possible with the love of his life. Now that he had this chance, he didn’t want to screw it up.

He finished dressing and hurried down to his car. When he was out on the road, his mind started to race with all the possible disasters that could occur. What if she didn’t want him after all? What if she decided that he was really a lunatic who didn’t deserve the time of day?

He’d already made his decision. If he couldn’t have Heather, he’d go back home and confront the Snow Queen once and for all. He knew she would kill him. That was a given. One single shifter could never defeat a witch that strong. It would be worth it if he just got one bite in.

But he hoped things would work out. He’d never tell Heather about his plan. He didn’t want her to feel any more responsible for him than she already did. Needing to claim her to break the curse was bad enough.

But he needed to know he could give his life to something if he couldn’t have his mate. Nothing else in this world would ever replace her. Nothing could ever make the pain of an eternal curse go away. Confronting the Snow Queen was his only true option. There was nothing else for him in this life, other than Heather.

Which was what made tonight so important. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted to claim her and make her his, but he knew he had to go at her pace. He had to be the man she needed.

He hated the idea of acting or behaving like something other than he was. And the more he allowed the reality of his wolf into his humanity, the more integrated he felt as a man. He knew he had to be on his best behavior. He had to be a gentleman. Heather didn’t deserve anything less.

When he arrived at the skating rink, he saw her car was already parked outside. He pulled into the lot and parked beside her, a rush of anticipation washing over him.

Inside, cool air hit his nose, and laughter echoed off the far walls. He spotted her sitting on a bench near the ice, tying on her skates. He hurried over and sat beside her.

“You already rented your skates,” he said. He had wanted to pay for everything.

“Nah. I already owned a pair.”

“Oh. Great. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get a pair for myself.”

“I got you a hot chocolate,” she said, handing him a small paper cup with a plastic lid.

“Thank you.” He took a sip, enjoying the sweet flavor. It seemed the perfect treat for the occasion.

He rented a pair of skates from the counter and went back to sit beside her, hot chocolate in hand.

“This is really good,” he said, lifting the cup toward her.

He strapped on his skates and Heather stood up before him, steady on her feet. He grabbed the railing around the ice and lifted himself to his feet. He immediately felt off-balance. The hockey players had made it seem so easy.

“Are you ready?” she asked, starting off into the ice with a small push. She slid a few feet away from him, seeming so graceful on her skates.

“I’m getting there,” he said.

He copied her movements and pushed out onto the ice. For a moment, he was sliding freely over the ice. The next he was flailing wildly before he fell unceremoniously on his as*s. He smacked down with a loud oof, pain slicing up his posterior.

Heather stifled a giggle as she skated toward him. She bent down, patting his shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

“Fine. Fine.”

“Let me help you up.”

“I don’t want to pull you down with me.”

“Nonsense. I’m an Alaskan.”

“So am I.”

She laughed openly now, taking his hands and helping him right himself. He felt like a newborn fawn, with wobbly legs and watery eyes. He gritted his teeth at the sense of vulnerability.

Heather slowly explained how to effectively push himself without falling again and demonstrated the movements while he stood unsteadily, watching her.

She took his hand, and together they pushed off slowly and steadily. After a few minutes of careful practice, his animal grace and instinct kicked in. He suddenly understood exactly how to control his skates on the ice.

A smile crept over his l!ps, and he pushed off, charging across the ice. He carved a circle and turned back to face Heather. Her expression was a mixture of shock, pride, and humor. He raced back to her and took her in his arms when he reached her. They circled around, holding each other close in the cold air of the rink.

“That was amazing,” she said.

“You can’t be afraid to learn new things if you want to be human.”

“So true,” she said. “I came to the same conclusion earlier today.”

“Oh? How so?”

“I decided that I’m going to give this thing between us a chance.”

The words were like the most beautiful poetry to his ears. He pulled her closer and k!ssed her l!ps. The feeling of her against him was so overwhelming, he knew he couldn’t linger there, or it would get so hot it would melt the ice.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand.

They skated together around the rink, past the children and parents, past a young couple on their first date. He felt so alive and free it filled him with a kind of happiness he didn’t know he was even capable of feeling.

When they were both breathless and laughing, she suggested they go finish their hot chocolate. They slid to the bench and sat down with their cups.

“I can’t believe you learned how to skate like that so quickly.”

“I’m a fast learner,” he said with a wink.

She laughed and sipped her hot chocolate. “I’m glad we did this. It’s good to see you in a different context, away from all the stress.”

“I think so too.” He paused, wanting to understand her deeper. “What made you decide to give us a real chance?”

She pursed her l!ps and looked into the distance, then took another sip of hot chocolate.

“I was at the park with Maggie today, pushing her on the swing.” She looked back at him, her hazel eyes shining. “I kept thinking about how nice it would be for us to take her to the playground together. How nice it would be to have our own child.”

Thorne gulped. He’d wanted to hear her say those words more than anything. It was as if his prayers had been answered.

“Do you want more children?” he asked. “I know you are busy with your career.”

“I do. I want a big family. I love teaching, and I’ll be working on a grant for a research study on island mollusks. I don’t think that would interfere with my desire for a family. All that’s missing is the right man.”

“I could be that man for you,” he said in a low voice, taking her hand.

“I think maybe you could be,” she said, tilting her face up to him.

He captured her l!ps, k!ssing her gently. She smelled of flowers and honey, intoxicating his senses. He cupped her face and k!ssed her forehead.

“Thank you for saying that,” he whispered. “It means everything to me.”

She took his hand in hers and looked into his eyes. “I met Luna’s coven today.”

“Oh. How did that go?” Luna was one of the only witches he knew, and being his alpha’s mate, she was a force to be reckoned with on her own.

“They showed me some magic.” She sighed and looked down at the ice below her feet. “It could have just been a trick. A levitating table. Starting a fire with no source.”

“I see.”

“But I decided it was stupid to keep doubting when so many people are going out of their way to show me the truth.”

“I was going to suggest you meet the Snow Queen, but that might not be a great idea.”

“Ha. Maybe not.”

“Our dinner reservation is in a few minutes. You want to get going?”

After changing out of their skates, they pulled on their jackets and walked out into the dimming light of the coming sunset. They had driven different cars, but they were parked close in the lot.

“I’ll follow you there,” she said, standing beside her door. He walked to her and gave her one more k!ss before he climbed behind the wheel of his truck.