maybe they have a truck that could pull me out. I really don’t think it would take much, just one good tug.
Grabbing the basket, I slip from my car, putting my hood back over my head. I make it about halfway down when I start to hear the crackle of sticks. Someone is walking through the woods, crushing them beneath their feet. I stop and try to see what’s making the noise, but with the sun gone and the dark clouds, I can’t make out much.
I hear a growl to my right, followed by another snapping twig, making my heart jump in my chest. When the howl sounds from my left, panic truly sets in, and I start running for the house. My heart pounds in my chest, and I look behind me as I run, seeing a white wolf on my tail. It makes me run faster than I ever thought I could, and as I hit the front porch, I pray the door is unlocked. Relief hits me when I grab the handle. It turns. I burst through, nearly falling inside. I manage to turn, slamming it behind me and pressing myself against the door.
Suddenly, I hear the sound of a lock latching into place from the outside. I slowly turn and test the knob. It moves, but a deadbolt is holding the door shut. I see the lock all the way at the top of the door. Who puts a deadbolt that high, and why would you lock someone into your home and not out of it?
Another growl sounds, and this time it’s from inside the house, making me freeze in place. I drop the basket from my hand.
“I’m sorry, Ruby, we had no choice,” I hear Gwen’s voice from outside.
“Gwen! There’s a wolf out there!” I shout to her.
That’s when I realize there’s one in here too.
Chapter Eight
Dominic
Mine.
I watch as Ruby slowly turns around and faces me, her red cape covering some of her face, but I’d know her scent anywhere. The mating moon is full, and it’s time I claimed my mate.
Having her near me calms my beast, and I’m able to think clearly. I remember Gwen drugging me, and I have flashes of Stone bringing me here to my home. I must have slept for a few hours because when I woke, it was nighttime, and I could smell Ruby was near. I began pacing the room, hearing her come closer and closer. I could feel the other wolves outside, Gwen and Stone leading her to me, so I waited for her to come. Now that I have her with me, we can mate, and I can mark her fully as mine.
I take a step towards her, still in my wolf form. Our wolves are larger than the average wolf, about triple the size of a normal one. I move slowly so she sees my intentions, and I watch for her reaction.
I can hear her heart beating rapidly, but I don’t smell fear. She must recognize my eyes because they glow the brightest silver when I’m fully shifted. When I get to about a foot away from her, I bow my head low, showing her I won’t hurt her. I need for my mate to trust me and let her body realize what I am to her.
After a moment of hesitation, I feel her fingers in the thick gray fur on the back of my neck.
“Dominic?” she whispers, and my wolf lets off a soft growl of pleasure, leaning in to her touch.
Her other hand joins the first and she rubs my neck, feeling my body. I press my face against her, feeling her warmth embrace me. The mating heat is taking over, and I smell the beginning of her desire.
“Dominic, what’s happening?” She doesn’t sound afraid, just overwhelmed. “What’s going on with me?”
I step away from her touch, and she follows me. We are in the middle of the cabin living room, but someone must have moved the furniture out as a precaution. There are big thick blankets laid out on the floor and a fire going in the fireplace. The only light is the orange glow coming from the hot embers, making the room feel like a cave.
Once we are near the fire, I hold my wolf and begin to shift. The only reason he’s letting me do this is because we want to mate her, and I have to be in human form to do it. I’ll still have him in