Nakedness came as natural to werewolves as breathing. Our pack was always shifting into wolf forms growing up, and clothes shredded when we’d shift. It was customary to see others naked. The only time it was considered sexual was when we’d be entertaining our primal desires.
It was safe to say I’d never had anyone react to my naked body the way the little witch had. I doubted she’d been with anyone before. She was alone in the forest, and after her reaction to me... My tongue darted out to wet my lips. So fucking pure. I couldn’t wait to corrupt her, and I’d take great fucking pleasure in doing so.
Groaning, I leaned my head back on the worn-down pillow. I was a douche. I was just thinking of Olivia and still needed to avenge her death—but here I was salivating at the thought of Harlow. But Harlow was my mate too, so was it wrong to want her?
Fuck. I didn’t know.
A purple glow emanated from above me, and I rubbed my eyes, blinking a few times to make sure I hadn’t gone crazy. It was sappy as hell but honest-to-Fates the prettiest glow of light I’d ever witnessed.
Different hues of purple came together like stardust creating a star. As the smaller glows united into one violet glow, Harlow appeared, hovering in front of me with her hair floating like she was underwater. Her eyes fluttered open and sent a bolt of lightning straight to my heart.
She gasped as the glow disappeared. She fell from the air and landed on top of me with an umph.
Her small hands pressed off my chest as she straightened up, legs parted, straddling me. A rush of blood went straight to my dick—but it couldn’t be helped. How could I not get an erection with this ethereal goddess pinning me down when only a blanket and her panties separated us?
“What’re you doing here?” She reached up and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, struggling to maintain eye contact. Her gaze would flicker down to my chest every other second.
I smirked. “Enjoying the view?”
“Dodging the question?” Her voice came out breathless, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever heard.
“You’re my mate, Harlow. I couldn’t just leave.” I reached up, twirling a piece of her velvet-like hair around my finger. “I don’t know what the fuck to do, but I can’t leave.”
Her eyes closed as she sighed. “But I thought you didn’t want me.”
My jaw clamped tight. Moving quickly, I cupped her cheek and gripped her thigh with my other hand. I pulled her down to where her face was inches from mine. “I never fucking said that,” I growled.
Wide lavender eyes shot open, and she squirmed, eliciting a low moan from the back of my throat. She glanced down as if just realizing our position before scrambling off me like I was made of hellfire, or whatever the fuck witches were scared of.
“What the heck was that?” She held her head in her hands, taking shallow breaths. “And are you naked again?”
I shrugged lazily. “Maybe, but you’re the one that landed on me.”
“I was trying to land on my bed. Not a… a… monster!” Her hands moved frantically as she spoke.
“I’m a werewolf, sweetheart. Not a monster.”
“Same thing!”
I flinched as if she’d hit me, and then it all clicked into place. It was the reason she was so scared of me when we first met. The way she kept the distance when I talked to her, and the way her body trembled right now.
The little witch was scared of wolves. But why?
I opened my mouth then snapped it shut. It was better not to push her just yet.
“You need to leave, Xavier.” She crossed her arms and straightened her posture. “You were right to run away when you figured out I was your mate.”
My heart twisted in my chest when she said that. “I was wrong to run away. I can’t run away from my mate. From you.”
“So, now you’re sure I’m your mate? At first, you thought I put you under some love spell.”
“I was wrong. You can’t fake a matebond.” I shook my head. “These feelings I have for you are too strong.”
“I can’t,” she whispered so low I wouldn’t have been able to hear her without my enhanced senses.
“Why the hell not?” I hauled my ass up and strode towards her until her back hit the wall, and I planted my hands on either side of her head.
Her bottom lip quivered as she locked her eyes on mine. “Werewolves can’t be trusted. You’re all monsters.”
“Don’t judge the pack for one’s mistake.”
“Mistake?” Anger combusted out of her as she shoved her finger into my chest and walked me backward. “Senseless slaughter is not a mistake!”
A growl rumbled in my chest, echoing in the room, as I grabbed her wrist mid-poke. “I have never senselessly slaughtered anyone. You cannot blame me for what another werewolf did. Just as I could not blame you for what another witch had done.”
Jerking her wrist away, she narrowed her eyes. “Put some clothes on. I bought some sweats that should fit you. I dropped the bag by the bed when I teleported in.”
With that, she stomped out of her cottage and flicked her wrist, slamming the door shut behind her.
My wolf roared inside me. I’d never had anyone treat me differently because of my species. Granted, I grew up in a pack of others just like me.
But fuck, did it sting—especially when the one doing harm was my mate.
The only notion keeping me somewhat sane was that she didn’t kick me out… yet. And I hadn’t missed the arousal that came through the matebond from her. I wanted her. I needed to make her trust me like a mate was designed to, but I couldn’t unless I found out what happened to her
