Page 28 of Wulf’s Pack

Chapter

Thirteen

The plane takes off, and I hold my breath as the ground falls out from underneath us.

I don’t realize how tense I am until Skylar rests her hand on my arm and releases some of her power.

I welcome the soothing feeling and allow it to calm my nerves.

She watches me a moment, and slowly her concerned brow smooths out. “Better?” she asks.

“Thanks.” I give her a sheepish grin and take her hand. “I’m not a flier.”

She smiles at me with a hint of amusement that lights up her eyes. “The famous Wulf Winters, afraid of flying?”

My smile turns wry. “ Afraid is a strong word.”

She smiles wide, flashing teeth. “And here I thought you were worried about going to visit the most dangerous underworlder in Denver.”

“Nah. Nothing unnerving about showing up to a vampire mobster’s home unannounced, hoping to bargain with the man for my mate’s safety and bringing news of a plot against his clan.”

Skylar’s smile droops. It was a horrible joke, but I’m more nervous than I’m letting on.

Not that I can fool her when she feels my anxiety.

“This plan will work,” she says softly. “It’s a volatile situation, but I know Samuel.

If we go in strong, but still respectful, he’ll make the deal.

He might want me, but he’ll want Victor’s name more. He’s both prideful and vengeful.”

It’s impossible not to admire this woman.

I must stare at her a little too long, because she blushes and looks at her lap.

I know she’s shy about us, but I’m getting desperate to form a connection with her.

I place my finger under her chin and gently lift her gaze to mine.

In the crowded space, it brings our faces just inches apart.

Her breath hitches, and her eyes search mine.

Part of me yearns to close the distance between us, but I want more than a kiss.

I want to get to know her. “Your courage is so attractive,” I murmur.

She tries to look away again, but I refuse to release her chin.

“A lot of people mistake confidence for courage, but they’re not the same thing.

Courage is the absence of confidence, but the determination to go forward despite fear. It’s admirable.”

I let go of her chin and graze my fingertips across her cheek.

She swallows hard and wets her lips. My gaze drops to her mouth, but I don’t give in to the temptation.

“Your courage was the first thing I noticed about you when you walked into the club. You looked ready to crawl out of your skin with anxiety, but even all the way across the room I could see your resolve. You were terrified, but you had a purpose, and you were going to achieve it. It was beautiful. You captivated me instantly.”

Skylar’s eyes bounce between mine. She gulps again.

“You captivated me too,” she says shyly.

She leans back, breaking the trance we were in, and wrings her hands in her lap.

“I watched you for hours. I wanted to get a feel for you before I approached you. Victor and his pack are the only alpha males I’ve ever known.

I didn’t want to end up in a situation similar to the one I’d just escaped.

But it only took me a minute to see that you were different.

You smiled and laughed with everyone who approached you.

You were friendly.” She wrinkles her nose in the cutest little scrunched up way. “Well, except for with that she-wolf.”

I chuckle. “One of my many faults.”

She cracks a small grin and keeps going. “But after you fought those rogues, you were back to your cheerful self. You were kind, fun, and just…happy.” She blushes again, but dips into that deep well of courage and admits, “You were mesmerizing. I’ve never met anyone so genuine.”

I grin again. She’s adorable. “I’ve never met anyone so beautiful.”

A small snort escapes the lioness sitting on my other side and she mutters, “I’ve never met a bigger flirt.”

I’d forgotten Bree was even here, but I chuckle at the dry amusement in her tone. I can appreciate sarcastic humor.

Skylar’s eyes widen, and she looks so horrified that Bree called me out that I burst into laughter. “A horrible habit, I’m afraid.” I take Skylar’s hand again and bring it to my lips. “But I promise, from now on, I’ll try my best to save all my flirting for you.”

“You might kill her if you do that,” Bree quips.

I shake my head, but my eyes stay locked on Skylar. “Nah. She likes it.”

Skylar’s face turns bright red. I tug on her hand, forcing her to lean toward me again. I pull her so close her nose bumps into mine. “Can I kiss you?” I ask.

Skylar’s eyes bulge, and she jerks back, looking all around us. “Now? Here?”

She’s so cute. I tug her back to me. “Bree doesn’t mind.”

“I will, if you stick your tongue down her throat.”

Skylar chokes.

I chuckle again. I like Bree.

I brush my thumb over Skylar’s lips. “Just a quick taste.” I cup her cheek and guide her mouth to mine.

I move slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away, and I thank the moon goddess when she doesn’t.

I give her a soft, gentle kiss. It’s quick and polite, little more than a peck, but it’s enough to sate my desire for the time being.

When I pull back, she licks her lips as if they’re tingling or she’s trying to get one last taste of my mouth on hers.

The smallest smile forms on her face. I can’t help matching her grin.

We’re like a couple of teens experiencing our first relationship.

It’s strange. I’ve never had such an innocent connection with a woman before.

I’m a one-night kind of guy. I burn hot and fast. This is different.

I’m enjoying taking my time. For the first time, I’m looking forward to playing the long game.

“When we get home, I’m going to take you on a date. ”

Her smile lifts until she beams at me. “I’d like that.”

“What would you like to do?”

She thinks about it, then shrugs in this I have no idea way. “What kinds of things can you do on a date?”

My brows climb my forehead. “You ask that like you’ve never been on one.”

She shrugs again, but this time it’s more a way to downplay the answer to my unspoken question.

“I haven’t. I was trapped with vampires until Victor took me at fourteen.

He liked dressing me up like a doll and taking me to dinner in the fancy restaurant at the ski resort, but that was hardly dating.

I was to be seen and not heard while he had dinner with business associates.

I was a showpiece or a powerplay. I was a tool. ”

I grit my teeth, but try my best not to get angry.

I don’t want to ruin the mood right now over something I can’t change.

I hate her past, but I can fix her future.

“Well, then, I definitely need to take you on a date. A real one. Dinner, a movie, a picnic, the theater, bowling, a sports game, fishing or boating, hiking, dancing, ice skating, a comedy club, museums, golfing, the Eastern Market…anything you can think of. What kinds of things do you like to do?”

I get another clueless shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve never done any of those things.”

She’s a blank slate. I hate that and I love it. She’s missed out on so much, but I’ll get to be most of her firsts. We’ll get to experience life together. “Then we’ll do it all. I’m off Mondays and Tuesdays from the club. We’ll have a weekly date night, starting with this Monday.”

“ This Monday? But Victor’s still out there.”

I shake my head and take her hand again.

“I know that. But chances are, there will always be some degree of danger for us. You’re an omega.

That’s a rare gift that desperate people will do desperate things to get hold of.

We’ll be as safe as we can, but we can’t shut ourselves away out of fear.

We need to live our lives. And you and I especially need to spend time building our relationship.

The stronger the bond between the alpha pair, the stronger the pack.

Plus.” I soften my voice. “We’re fated. The moon goddess blessed us.

She gave us a gift. We can’t take that for granted. ”

Skylar swallows hard, and her eyes mist over.

She doesn’t say anything for a long minute.

I don’t want to see her cry, but I know she’s choked up because she’s happy.

Or maybe it’s relief. Either way, I’m glad I’m able to give her something to look forward to.

She’s been living a nightmare long enough.

She needs to start dreaming of good things.

Finally, she whispers, “I think the moon goddess got it right.”

Damn right, she did. In all my years, in all my dreams, I never imagined I’d find a mate who was so exactly what I need, but Skylar seems to be just that. “I think she got it right too.”

The rest of the flight goes by with easy conversation.

Bree chimes in occasionally, but for the most part she gives Skylar and me the chance to get to know each other.

We do a sort of twenty questions thing. Skylar doesn’t know a lot about herself.

She’s never been given the chance to make her own choices.

She’s been denied the basic freedoms that allow a person to discover themselves.

I do most of the talking. I tell her about the world she’s missed out on.

I tell her about what normal packs are like.

Even though I’m a lone wolf, I still spent my first 45 years in a healthy, strong pack.

It wasn’t for me, but I still experienced it.

I tell Skylar all about my life. What it was like growing up as the alpha’s son and training to be Rook’s second.

I tell her all kinds of stories about the trouble Rook and I got into as teenagers and then some of the trouble I managed to get myself into after leaving the pack.

I tell her some of the things I’ve seen working at the club.

There are plenty of stories to choose from.