Lone Wolf (The Wulf Pack Book 1)

Willow was passing back and forth, in her suite, her mind racing, trying to get a grip on her thoughts and feelings.

Last night Fury had kissed her, shocking her at the unexpected actions. She hadn’t even realized he felt that way about her. She thought he was being a friend to her, her only friend here for the past few months. Yet she was mistaken, somehow, he had feelings for her that she didn’t even see. Then he kissed her and left, gone before she even woke up the next morning.

And then Rage... standing at the bottom of the staircase, shocking her heart, she thought she would faint the moment he said her name. This time though, she ran. She didn’t know what was going on. Why was he here? Did she want him here? Was she hoping he would come see her?

If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t know. The only thing that she was sure about was that seeing him made her heart pound. Her anxiety off the charts that even the sound of Shadow jumping on to a chair caused her to jump and let out a slight shriek.

Her nerves were shot. These Wulf boys were going to kill her, and not the way everyone thought they would.

Another shriek came from her when someone knocked on the door. Mentally scolding herself, it was only someone knocking at the door. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself, she caught the scent of who was on the other side of the door.

Her hand shook as she reached for the doorknob. She once more tried to calm herself with a deep breath, but her anxiety only spiked at the smell of the person outside the door.′

Rage stood on the other side of the door wearing a nervous look on his usual hard face. His tall frame hunched with, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Um... may I come in?” he asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice caused a strange feeling in her stomach.

Slowly she nodded, stepping aside to allow him to step passed her and into the room. She took this moment to take him in. His hair was longer than the last time she saw him, his face covered in a beard that he had not had before. It made her wonder what had made him let it grow out. He was different, he had changed, and not just the wild look he now sported.

As he turned to face her was when she noticed the emotions in his eyes. It was as if she could see into his soul as he looked at her. Her breath caught as he opened his mouth to speak only to close it once more. He couldn’t seem to find the right words to say to her.

“Willow...” he whispered so softly, her heart skipped and the fluttering feeling returning to her stomach.

She stayed still, taking in the sight of him, worried that this would be the last time she would see him. The thought made her heart ache.

“I... we... uh...” her nerves were on edge as he grasped for words, he didn’t know how to say what he wanted, what he was feeling. His eyes moved from roaming the room to land on her, he visibly gulped.

“Willow, when I came here... when we last saw each other... when we...” he gulped again, once more tangled in his words.

“When we had sex,” she finished his sentence in an effort push him forward.

“yeah... I was an ass,” He ran one hand through his hair as his eyes dropped to the ground.

“Rage, if you think I’m expecting you to take me as your mate because we had sex, well I’m not,” he sucked in a sharp breath before his eyes shot to hers. She was surprised that he would or could think she would do that.

“Willow...” she shook her head, cutting him off before he could say something stupid.

“No Rage, I knew what I was doing when I gave you my virginity. I knew what it meant, how everyone would see it, but I don’t care. I gave it to you, and I do not regret it and never will I,”

His eyes widened at her words, she could tell he had not expected this to be the way the conversation would go. What did he expect? For it to be like in a girly movie or something?

“Willow,” he whispered as he stepped forward. One step after another until he stood close enough she could feel the warmth coming off his body. She gasped as his warm hand cupped her cheek, raising her face to look him in the eyes, “what if it’s what I want?” she gasped again, her breath coming fast as she looked, into eyes filled with so much emotion and care.

“Rage...” She closed her eyes, trying to gain some composure for a moment, “I don’t want you to feel obligated...”

“Little wolf, look at me,” he cut her off, and she opened her brown doe eyes to look back up at him, “I was an ass, yes, I should not have taken your virginity, not like I did, not while I was drunk, and I most certainly should not have left,”

“Rage...” her heart clenched, but he shook his head and continued.

“Since that night, I have thought of nearly nothing but you, little wolf. Even if I wanted to walk away, choose someone else, let someone else claim you,” the small rumble in his chest surprised her as his lip rose in dislike, “My heart wouldn’t let me,”

She gasped, unable to find words to respond she just stared at him, into his eyes that showed so much emotion that she was sure, without a doubt, that he was telling her the truth.

“Really?” breathlessly she watched him smirk, only making her heart skip. He leaned down, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but he rested his forehead on hers.

“Yes Willow, I do, I want to claim you so badly,” he placed his hands on her hips pulling her against him, “I want you and only you, but...”

“But...?“She frown, there was a but... why must there always be a but…

“I want to claim you, but I am not ready to mark you yet,” shock washed over her at his words. Wasn’t that part of claiming?

“What?” her mind swirled, why wouldn’t he want to mark her? Was he leaving his options open?

He leaned down to cup her face in his hands, looking her in eye.

“There is so much going on right now, we don’t know what’s going to happen, once all of this is over...”

“Why? Why not now?” her chest hurt, first he wanted her to be his mate, now he doesn’t want to mark her.

“Willow, please don’t cry,” he whispered as tears began to stream down her face. How could he get her hopes up on something like this?

Slowly he lowered himself to his knees, his body still pressed against hers as he looked up at her.

“I want to be with you, for as long as I live, but...” he wiped some of the tears away, ignoring the ones that had landed on his face, “I’m worried that with everything that is going on, I’m not sure how long that will be,”

She set her hands on his shoulders, looking down at the male. Something in her liked the idea of him kneeling before her. She knew this powerful male wouldn’t kneel for just anyone.

“I don’t understand,” she hiccupped as she tried to stop herself from crying.

“There is something going on, kind of like a war of sorts,” she nodded, understanding washing over her.

“You don’t want to mark me in case something happens to you. I would forever bear the mark of a dead mate,” Her voice grew quieter, a lump in her throat at the thought of him dying.

He nodded and pulled away from her slightly. Digging around in his jeans pocket he pulled out something attached to a small gold chain.

“Willow, even though I feel like right now is not the right time to mark my claim,” her frown deepened as she watched his closed fist with the chain dangling from it, “if you will have me, I’d like to be your mate,” Her eyes grew wide as he opened his hand to reveal a gold rimmed stone pendant. The blue stone had a carving of howling wolf on it, with a moon behind it and the gold filament bordered the oval stone was beautiful and reminded her of the sun.

“Oh, my gods, it’s beautiful, Rage!” He smiled, reaching up to clasp the chain around her neck.

“This was my great grandmother’s,” he said as the pendent sat in the center of her chest, just above her cleavage, “I want you to wear it in place of my mark for now,”

Her fingers gripped the heavy pendant, running her thumb over the intricate carved design as she mulled over everything he said. Trying to decide if she really wanted this. To be his mate.

“Yes,” her heart won over as she realized how much she really wanted to be with him.

They both moved, Willow lifting herself onto her tiptoes and Rage lowing his head until their lips met. The kiss was soft at first, heating up as their lips parted and their tongues met.

She snaked her hands along his chest and shoulders, lacing her fingers behind his neck as his hands gripped her hips tightly. One of his warm hands slid under her t-shirt, caressing her side until he met the edge of her bra. She let out a small gasp at the tingling that was left in their wake.

Quickly he scooped her up and carried her into her bedroom. Carefully laying her on the bed. He was going to show her exactly what being his meant.