Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry. Did you just say you’re a...a...a werewolf?” I sputtered.
“No.” My sigh of relief abruptly ended when he continued, “We prefer to be called wolf shifters. There are too many negative connotations with the term werewolf.”
“Negative connotations?” I echoed softly, scooting deeper into the cushion at my back.
“Yeah, popular culture got so many things wrong, and it’s a big part of the reason we keep our animal sides hidden from humans.” I was close to hyperventilating, but he didn’t seem to notice how freaked out I was. “We don’t turn other people into shifters by biting them. We’re born this way. And it isn’t just during the full moon that we change. Our animal side is just as much a part of us as our human halves. We can shift whenever we want.”
I shook my head, back to thinking the coma explanation made sense. Then I came up with another possibility. “Seriously? That’s the story you’re going to try to tell me to get into my panties?”
“It isn’t a story,” he insisted, his hand tightening around my leg as I tried to scramble off the couch.
“Oh, yeah?” I huffed. “Then prove it. If you don’t need to wait until the next full moon, show me how you can shift into a wolf. Right now.”
5
Zeke
My gorgeous mate was already fair skinned, but the news I had just dropped on her had made her even paler. Her skin looked almost translucent in contrast to her long, dark hair and brown eyes. Her curvy body looked so small as she tried to curl up in the corner of my couch. I wanted to cuddle her on my lap until she wasn’t scared of me anymore. This was the first time I resented the animal side of my nature because it was frightening her.
I had never told a human that shifters existed—not only was Timber Ridge an all shifter town, but we also had rules about not sharing information about our existence without a damn good reason—but I figured her shock was to be expected. “Are you sure you're ready to see my wolf?”
She nodded. “Yup, totally ready.”
Her tone made it more than obvious that she didn't believe a word I was saying, and I wanted to howl in frustration. I had hoped to introduce Allegra to the other side of my nature under better circumstances, but if this was what it took to convince her I was telling the truth, then it had to be done. I couldn't risk losing my mate when it was easy to prove I was telling the truth.
I glided my hand down her leg, wrapping my fingers around her ankle for a moment because I was loathe to let go of her. I savored the feel of her beneath my palm—even with her jeans between us—and inhaled her scent deep into my lungs. It helped soothe my beast as I stood from the couch and stripped my shirt over my head.
“Um...wait...why are you taking your clothes off?” she asked. Her dark eyes were locked on my bare chest, and she was biting her bottom lip with a hungry look on her beautiful face.
“I only leave them on when I’m in a rush. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything to wear.” My lips curved up in a smug grin when her gaze followed my hands down to my jeans and her eyes widened as I popped the snap open before lowering the zipper. She gasped and her cheeks pinkened when I dropped my jeans to the floor after kicking off my boots. My cock strained against my boxers, and I was sorely tempted to let them fall to the floor too. But then shifting would be the last thing on my mind, and I needed to focus on proving to my mate that shifters were real—and that she’d been born to be mine.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Uh-huh.” Her answer was distracted, but the sensual fog cleared from her eyes when I called my wolf forward. Fur swelled under my skin as my muscles rippled. Cracking and popping sounds filled the room as my human form retreated, allowing the wolf to come out. Landing on all fours, I padded closer to Allegra.
“Oh, my gosh! You’re a wolf,” she gasped. Her hand shook as she reached out, and I rubbed my muzzle against it. Her fingers dug into my fur as she ran her hand across my back. “And you’re gorgeous.”
I let out a soft bark of appreciation and carefully set my paws on either side of her body to climb up and give her chin a lick.
“Ah! Why is your tongue so cold?” she cried, scrubbing her hand over the spot to dry it off. “I think that might take some getting used to.”
I gave her another lick—just because I could—and then I rubbed my fur against her. I felt a driving urge to mark Allegra with my scent. Any shifter who came near needed to know she was my mate. Mine.