A Wolf's Pride Read online

  “Yes it is. You’re a werewolf, my father and my brothers told me all about you. I know exactly what you want to do to me.”

  “They lied,” he growled. The reminder of what her family was angered him greatly and he released her from his embrace, grabbing her arm and guiding her to the other side of the car. Throwing the door open, he forced her inside, buckling the seatbelt around her body. “Chloe, I don’t care if you’re angry, wear a damn seatbelt. If the car had actually crashed you couldn’t just get up and walk away, you might die or don’t you care?”

  “Of course I do, I want to live.”

  “Good.” He slammed the door, entered the car and started to drive. “Chloe, I’m not what your family would have you think of me and one day you’ll see that.”

  Ignoring him, she watched the scenery pass by as he easily reclaimed the few miles she had put between them and his home. Minutes passed by before she gathered the courage to ask him about his condition.

  “So how old were you when you were bitten?”

  “Bitten? By who?”

  “My father used to tell me that werewolves bit humans and turned them into wild, savage beasts.” What he forgot to mention was that they would be arrogant as well.

  “I wasn’t bitten.”

  “Then how are you what you are?”

  “I was born this way, all werewolves are.”

  “My dad says that you become a werewolf by being bitten.”

  “Seeing as I’m the werewolf here, don’t you think that you should believe me?”

  “Why would dad think that you bit humans then?”

  “How am I meant to know how the mind of a psychopath works?”

  “Don’t talk about my dad that way,” she snapped.

  “It’s true,” he responded simply. She turned away from him, once again subjecting him to silence and he cursed his stupidity. They had only known each other a day, she had no reason to trust him over her family. But soon she will. He reassured himself. “It’s not exactly a myth that werewolves bite people,” he began, watching her from the corner of his eyes. She shifted, turning towards him slightly and he continued. “We did it thousands of years ago. When our males found human mates, they would bite them and change them into what we are.”

  “You said I was your mate, are you going to bite me? Oh god, you want to turn me into a werewolf! No, no, I don’t want it.”

  “Calm down Chloe, I can’t change you into a werewolf.”

  “But you just said…”

  “I said it happened thousands of years ago, we don’t have the ability to do that anymore.”

  “Why?” she asked, genuinely interested in what he had to say so long as he wasn’t entertaining ideas of changing her into what he was.

  “I have a wolf in my head, we share each others thoughts, feelings, desires, everything. But because we share everything, I also have to deal with its instincts. My wolf isn’t constrained by reason; it’s an animal in the truest sense of the word. It wants what it wants, consequences be damned. We have to grow with our wolves to learn how to deal with the urges. It takes us about seventy years to grow from a child into an adult. Those that were changed from human to wolf didn’t have that time and were driven mad. They became the wild, savage animals of myth and legend. We aren’t like that.”

  “I still don’t understand why you can’t change people into wolves anymore.”

  “The instinct is what guides us, it’s how we evolve to survive. If something happens that threatens our existence then the instinct changes and so do we. The mates that went through the transformation process ended up getting themselves killed.”

  “And how does that threaten the existence of your species?”

  “We only get one mate and wherever she goes, a male will follow without hesitation. If you died right now, I would find a way to join you.”

  “You can’t be serious,” she scoffed.

  “I am Chloe. You and I are meant to be together, in life and in death. Soon you’ll see that too.”

  “And what if I don’t?”

  “We’ve got forever to make you love me Chloe. I know that you’re mad at me now, but you can’t stay angry forever.”

  “You might have forever but there is an end point to my lifespan.”

  He laughed, “Do you think that I would let you die? Trust me Chloe, that isn’t going to be an issue.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I never said I wasn’t going to bite you love.” He grinned, baring his elongated canines. “I am. Don’t worry it won’t turn you into a werewolf, you’ll stay exactly as you are, but you’ll live as long as I do. So we will have all the time in the world to deal with your trust issues.”

  “I don’t like you,” she stated adamantly.

  “Is that so?” he purred and she felt her treacherous body responding to him. His hand landed on her knee and began lightly tracing patterns against her bare flesh. Her body was instantly flooded with heat from his simple touch. His hand moved slowly up her thigh, but it was all the more potent for its measured seduction. Her breath hitched in response as he began caressing her inner thighs and she unconsciously moved to give him more room. “I don’t think that’s quite right Chloe, I think that you find me attractive.” As any mate should. “I’m willing to work from that shared common ground, like will come after.” His voice deepened in tone as he became caught in his own web of desire. Stopping the car in the middle of the road, he reached across the small distance that separated them. Cupping the nape of her neck with his hand, he pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers.

  The feel of his lips on hers, sent a bolt of electricity straight through her and Chloe gasped instinctively, frightened by her body’s extreme response to his. His mouth was blistering against hers, sending waves of heat through her before it settled at her breasts and between her thighs. Her breasts felt heavy, the nipples tight and sensitive while she could feel her body readying for him as she became increasingly wet. His tongue slipped through her parted lips with practiced ease, meeting her own and drawing it into his mouth. He groaned in pleasured torment, unable to fulfil the demands of his raging body. Pulling her closer, he proceeded to taste her more fully, his slick tongue leaving no corner of her mouth unexplored. The exquisite scent of his mate’s arousal had his wolf stirring with interest.

  Mark her. The wolf demanded and he couldn’t resist complying with the request.

  He could feel her lungs beginning to burn due to the lack of oxygen and he pulled his mouth away, smiling gently at her before beginning to place a string of kisses along her jaw. Chloe’s body trembled slightly in response, her body pliant beneath his questing fingers. “Good mate,” he purred at her ear. Taking her earlobe into his mouth, Ryan bit gently at the soft flesh, smiling as Chloe trembled beneath his talented mouth. Sensitive little love, that’s good.

  The short blonde strands of her hair were easily moved to expose the creamy skin of her neck and he kissed his way along the silky smooth column. His shaft was harder than he could recall it ever being but he was trying valiantly to suppress the demands of his body. Not here, not in this place. Even if I could, I wouldn’t, she deserves better. But I must mark her. His tongue swept out of his mouth, licking her skin as he prepared her for his mark. His already sharp canines became even more so and as he ran them gently over her skin, her hands rose to grip tightly on his forearms, silently urging him to continue his exploration.

  Her breaths were now coming short and fast and the hot air against him was making his body even more heated, threatening to snap his tenuous control. There’s no more time. He decided before pressing his fangs firmly against her neck, Chloe moaned loudly at the sensation and he smirked against her skin, immeasurably pleased that his mate was enjoying his attentions. He was careful not to press too hard lest he break the skin, that would happen at another time, but his mark was now firmly in place. The visible mark would fade before he gave her the more permanent one, but the invisible sign
would always remain. His scent was now firmly embedded on her skin telling all of his kind who would come looking for retribution should anything happen to her. He kept his fangs entrenched in her skin for a few additional seconds, reluctant to end this moment. His tongue moved firmly against her, soothing the abused flesh before he pulled away from her.

  “I think that you and I will work out perfectly Chloe.”

  Snapping out of her lust induced daze, Chloe quickly pulled the hem of her skirt down, pressed her hands together tightly so that the trembling wouldn’t be so obvious and turned to look out of the window. “Just because you can make my body react to you, it doesn’t mean that anything between us is going to change.”

  “We’ll see,” Ryan crooned before turning the engine back on and continuing the long drive to their destination.

  Chapter Eight

  The car had stopped working and Ryan couldn’t understand why. He had been driving along the road determined to reach the safety of the clans as soon as possible when the car had slowly ground to a halt. He had checked the tyres, they were still full of air. He had checked the engine, which to his eyes looked fine, nothing was smoking and yet when he turned the key to start the car he didn’t receive a response. The car’s failure only served to reinforce his dislike of technology that was trying to replace actions that he, as a wolf, could do better. It was mandatory for wolves to be taught the basic necessities of the human world outside of the clans so that when they ventured out, they could fit in. He had never particularly enjoyed the lessons and had forgotten them as soon as he was able. Grumbling about the failings of human technologies, Ryan had stepped out of the car and pushed it to the side of the road.

  Chloe had watched Ryan as he attempted to discover what was wrong with the car, amazed that he was overlooking such a basic piece of information. He knew how to drive so she had just assumed that he would understand why the car had stopped but as he moved the car with ease, reminding her of his great strength, she finally understood that he wasn’t going to realise what had happened unless she told him. She pursed her lips, determined not to say a word. Maybe he’ll just give up and leave me here. Her hopes were quickly dashed as he rounded the car after gathering her small suitcase and opened her door.

  “Come on love, the car’s broken down so we’re going to walk to the next city and get a new one. After that it shouldn’t take us more than a few hours to get to the clans.” If it were just me and I were running alone I could probably make it there within the hour. He mused but chose to keep that fact to himself, his mate was already afraid of him, there was no need to scare her further.

  “What?” She looked around at the long road ahead of them and the bare tracks of land either side of it, astounded that he wanted to walk. “The next town must be miles away, we can’t walk that far.”

  “We don’t have much of a choice love, we need to get back to the clans and the stupid car won’t work.” He reached across her and unbuckled her seatbelt before pulling her from the comfort of the car.

  “Are you just going to leave that here?” she demanded, eying the expensive car as he pulled her further and further away from it.

  “It’s broken, we have no need for it if it’s not going to work.”

  “It isn’t broken you idiot! It’s run out of gas. How stupid can you get?”

  “Chloe, don’t insult me,” he growled and she immediately shrunk away from him, remembering the tremendous strength that was hidden in his arms. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me either,” he crooned, gently rubbing her cheek.

  She didn’t lean into his touch but she didn’t pull away either and Ryan supposed that he would have to be content with that. More would come later.

  Entwining their fingers, Ryan led her along the road, remembering the nearest city wasn’t very far away and hoping that his mate wouldn’t be too exhausted by the journey. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Chloe gathered the courage to speak. It’s probably in my best interests to make sure that he likes me, she decided. If he likes me, then he’s less likely to hurt me.

  “I can’t believe that you didn’t realise that the car was out of gas,” she grumbled.

  “What was that?”

  Her voice now clearer, she repeated what she had just said. “I said, I can’t believe that you didn’t realise the car was out of gas. It was the most obvious thing to look for.”

  “It didn’t seem that obvious to me.”

  “I don’t understand. You can drive just fine so you clearly took lessons and that means someone must have explained that without gas, cars don’t work.”

  “I learned to drive in a different time Chloe, when cars were new and haven’t had to make much use of the skill in recent years. I’ve brushed up on how the things work, but if I’m honest, which I’ll always be with you, I don’t like them, so I don’t use them.”

  “When cars were new?” she questioned confused. “Just how old are you?”

  “Two hundred and four.”

  “You’re kidding,” she laughed nervously. “Right?”

  “No, us werewolves have amazing longevity, if nothing tries to kill us, we can live forever.”

  “Wow, you’re so old you should be living in a museum.”

  He laughed, “I don’t think that I would like to live in one of those. I much prefer the wild outdoors. Cities make me feel trapped, like I’m in a cage.”

  “Is that just you or do all werewolves feel like that?”

  “Most that I’ve spoken to don’t like cities either. They’re too noisy and it feels as though you’re living on top of one another.”

  “So I’m guessing that you guys don’t live together, more the lone wolf thing right?”

  “Wrong. We live in clans and everyone within them is very close to each other but not so close that we feel suffocated by the presence of others. The clans themselves are fairly spaced out so that we have even more space.”

  “I thought you didn’t like cars, how do you get from a to b?”

  “It’s much faster for us to simply run.”

  “Why don’t you just run now? Why even bother with cars if you don’t like them?”

  “You aren’t a wolf Chloe, you couldn’t run like me and there isn’t enough trust between us for me to leave you and come back and collect you later. Even if there were, I’d be reluctant to leave you. The world isn’t a safe place and I can’t have anything happen to you.”

  Darkness was beginning to fall and she had to strain her eyes to see exactly where they were going. Ryan had silently directed them away from the well-established path the road had provided and the terrain beneath her feet was becoming increasingly treacherous. Her eyes downcast to survey the rocky ground, she started another round of questions. “Why? Why are you so insistent that nothing happens to me? You don’t know me.”

  “You’re my mate,” he replied simply as though his short statement was self-explanatory and answered her question.

  “I still don’t get it.”

  He sighed. “The fact that you’re my mate means that you’re the perfect woman for me, the only one that my wolf will truly accept, the other half of me and I personally think that you’re the better half.”

  “You don’t know me Ryan, how can you be so sure.”

  “The instinct is never wrong. It guides us to the one that will bring us the most happiness in our long lifetime. Eternity is just another world for hell when you have to spend it alone. With you by my side the possibilities are endless, everything seems brighter now that I have you in my life.”

  “Even though I’ve attacked you and done nothing but try and run away from you? You are crazy.”

  “Yes, even your attempts at rebellion please me. Wolves like nothing better than the thrill of a run, the adrenaline that courses through us during a chase and you Chloe are giving me the high of my life.”

  “I still don’t understand how you can feel this way about a stranger.”

  “We won’t be str
angers for much longer love.”

  Unsure of how to respond to his accurate statement, Chloe decided it was best not to say anything and continued walking. Her poor night vision however was increasingly problematic as she stumbled continuously. Cursing the terrain, she refused Ryan’s hand of assistance determined to walk under her own steam. Her stubborn determination however was her literal downfall. Her feet tripped over a large protruding rock and the ground rushed up to meet her. She twisted instinctively but as pain shot through her leg she realised that it had probably been an unwise decision to do so.

  “Chloe, are you ok?” Ryan demanded, immediately at her side, trying to help her to her feet.

  “I’m fine,” she shooed, standing. Her legs buckled beneath her as pain once again speared her and she couldn’t prevent a hiss from leaving her lips as her ankle throbbed painfully.

  “Liar,” he scolded though his voice was filled with concern. Crouching at her side, he ran his fingers gently over her legs, applying pressure periodically and noting when she winced. “It’s not broken,” he declared. “Just twisted.”

  “So you’re a doctor then?”

  “No, but I’ve lived a long time and I know the basics of how to treat an injury, besides, I’ve had lots of broken, sprained and twisted bones in my life. I know how to identify which is which. It will get better soon, I want to take you to the clans and have someone look you over though.”

  “How are we going to manage that? I can’t walk.”

  “I’m going to carry you of course.”

  “From wherever we are now all the way to your home?” she snorted in disbelief. “You’ll give yourself a hernia.”

  “This derisive attitude you have towards yourself has got to stop Chloe. You’re perfect and I’m going to convince you of that someday.”

  “If that’s what you think then fine, you’re entitled to your own opinion just as I’m entitled to mine.”