Page 41 of Wulf’s Pack

My brows shoot up. I open my mouth to say something, but I have no idea what. I hadn’t expected that. She still won’t look at me, so I gently lift her chin. With effort, her eyes meet mine. “Is that what you want?” I ask carefully.

She swallows and wets her lips. I wait her out while she gathers her thoughts. “What happens?” she asks. “What do we have to do? Victor never explained, he just bit me and waited like something was supposed to happen.”

Every time I hear something new about Victor, I only want to destroy him more.

Leaving her ignorant was cruel. We haven’t had any real time to dissect what she knows and what she doesn’t.

She seems well-versed on her gifts and how to use them, but I don’t think she knows much about wolf shifters as a species.

Our culture, our lore, our needs and instincts…

All she knows is the greed and cruelty of her former pack.

Sighing, I tuck her hair behind her ear.

“A mate bond is a beautiful thing. Think of how connected you feel to me right now. How we’re drawn to one another.

We can sense each other’s emotions. I assume our connection will be much more intense once we complete the bond.

People describe it as two souls fusing together to become one.

Our hearts will beat in sync. Our emotions will be so deeply connected that our moods will influence one another.

It will be hard to be away from each other.

Our wolves will be at peace in a way they’ve never been. ”

Skylar graces me with a small smile. “That sounds nice.”

For the first time in my life, I wholeheartedly agree. “Yeah. It does.”

“How do we do it? What happens? Do we have to…um…you know…?”

She closes her eyes and blushes again. It takes everything in me not to chuckle. She’s so cute, but she’s nervous and self-conscious right now. She doesn’t need me being an ass and teasing her.

I’m not sure what to say without scaring her.

I can’t make out her thoughts. I can’t tell if she wants to or not.

I sure as hell do. It’s practically all I can think about at the moment.

As exhausted as I was five minutes ago, my body is fully awake now.

I brush my thumb across her bottom lip and get a small thrill at her soft intake of breath.

I want to kiss her so badly it hurts, but I don’t want to pressure her while we’re having this conversation.

I don’t want her to think I expect anything.

“Sex isn’t required,” I say. “But I’ve never heard of a mated pair who didn’t become intimate with each other almost immediately after, if not during. ”

She gulps.

“To complete the mate bond, all we have to do is bite each other in human form hard enough to break the skin. It didn’t work with Victor because there’s magic in the intent.

Our wolves have to want it. But when both sides are willing and ready, the magic takes hold of them immediately after the bites.

The moment is intense, though. Mates will often lock themselves away from the world for a few days after they exchange bites.

That’s why they usually have the mating ceremonies before they bond. ”

She frowns, but it’s in thought, not from any negative emotion. “And a mating ceremony is like a wedding? Do all mates have one? Victor never mentioned anything about a ceremony. Is that when we exchange bites?”

“A mating ceremony is exactly like a wedding. Different vows, and a blessing from the moon goddess, but still, a wedding. We don’t exchange rings like the humans do because we’ll just lose them when we shift, but many couples choose to actually get married during the ceremony, so it’s legal and legitimate in the eyes of the government.

The ceremony isn’t necessary, but most couples choose to have one.

A mating is a joyous occasion, and most want to celebrate it with their packs and loved ones.

“And no, you don’t exchange bites at the ceremony.

” I chuckle at the thought of people exchanging bites in front of their family and friends.

That would be awkward, to say the least. “Completing the bond is a private thing. It’s very intimate.

Sex isn’t necessary, but you should be prepared for the likeliness of it.

The urge to become one physically after you’ve joined on a soul deep level might be too hard to resist. Especially with us being fated.

I’m not actually sure how that will affect us, but my guess is it might make things even more intense. ”

There’s a long pause between us while Skylar absorbs everything.

She doesn’t turn her head away, but she’s not looking at me either.

Half a dozen emotions play across her face.

I can feel a bit of her feelings, but with the bond incomplete, they’re too complex right now to get a clear read on them.

I can tell, however, that she’s not ready.

Not yet. There’s desire there, but there’s a lot of apprehension too.

I don’t want to complete the bond until she’s 100 percent there with me.

I know she’s sure of us, but she’s scared.

More of the act itself, I think, than the idea of tying our lives together.

Still, that’s enough for me to wait. I don’t want there to be any fear involved when we fuse our souls and make love for the first time.

I can tell she doesn’t want to admit her feelings right now and disappoint me, so I make the choice for us.

“Let’s not do it tonight.” Her eyes flash to me in surprise.

I smile softly at her so that she knows I’m not rejecting her.

“Soon, but not right now. It’s late, and we’re exhausted.

It’s been a really long day. A long few days.

I don’t think either of us is in the headspace for such an important decision. ”

Not exactly true. At least, not on my part. If I thought she was ready, I’d have no problem taking her right now and claiming her in every way. But she’s not there yet, and I would never push her.

I lay my open palm on the bed between us and lace our fingers together when she slips her hand into mine.

I bring them to my lips and lightly kiss her knuckles.

“I want us to be ready. It should be special. We’re still new to each other, and so far, everything has been busy and tense.

I don’t want to be stressed when we do this.

I want to be able to relax and enjoy it.

Maybe when we can take a couple days to ourselves.

” I give her a lopsided smile that has always slayed the ladies and tease, “You know. Just in case you can’t keep your hands off me afterward. ”

I wink, and Skylar’s eyes pop wide. She turns red as a tomato again.

It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, and I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.

She sucks her lips between her teeth, but then a laugh escapes her.

She purses her mouth, trying to fight a smile, but it’s there.

Her nose crinkles, her cheeks bunch up, and her sparkling eyes squint a little so that tiny creases fan out from the sides.

I chuckle again. “Damn, you’re cute.”

Her face is still flushed, but she rolls her eyes and lets go of my hand to playfully bat at my shoulder. I catch her hand and hold it against my chest. “Let’s get some sleep, yeah?”

She nods, and just like last night scoots over, erasing the space between us. She snuggles against me, tucking her head beneath my chin, and rubs her cheek against my chest, marking me with her scent. I wrap my arms around her, holding her like I’m afraid she’ll escape if I let her go.

We lie in each other’s arms for a moment, and just when I think she’s drifted off to sleep, she pulls her head back.

At my questioning look, she takes a deep breath, then surprises me by pressing her mouth to mine.

I take full advantage of the lips being offered to me, but don’t let it go on too long.

If I do, my wires will get crossed. My body won’t get the message that things are not happening, and I’ll never sleep.

I nearly combust when my mate’s tongue tentatively reaches for mine.

I glide my fingers into her hair, fighting the urge to deepen the kiss.

It takes everything in me not to steal control, but Skylar needs this.

She needs to get comfortable with physical intimacy.

She needs to grow her confidence and recognize her own desires.

The more she realizes she wants this, the less she’ll fear it.

She takes her time, familiarizing herself with kissing and figuring out what she likes.

I guide her through it, teaching her by example and loving the way she becomes bolder with each breath.

After a minute, she gets brave enough to touch me.

She smooths her hand from my chest and down across my abs, exploring the muscles beneath my shirt.

I can’t stand it. I need more. I need skin-to-skin contact.

Without thought, I rip my T-shirt over my head and toss it to the floor.

Skylar rakes her gaze over me, and I feel it like a caress.

She reaches out, watching my eyes as if seeking permission.

The heat in my gaze must be enough, because she wets her lips and places her hand on my chest. The touch lights me on fire, and I find her lips again, kissing her deeply.

She meets my tongue stroke for stroke and roams her hand over the expanse of my torso.

She traces the dips and grooves of every muscle, leaving a blazing trail of heat and goose bumps everywhere she touches. It’s maddening.

Last night, she simply laid in my arms and experienced the pleasure I gave her.

Right now, she’s fully participating, even leading the charge.

She’s shy, and her touch is delicate, but she’s taking what she wants, and I’m about to lose my mind.

I roll onto my back, and she chases me, pressing her body to my side and moving her leg over top of mine.

Her lips find my neck and then my shoulder while her fingers continue their heavenly torture.

When she dips low enough to reach the waistline of my sweatpants, I cover her hand with mine, stopping the movement.

“Skylar,” I groan. “Baby, that might be asking too much of my control right now.”

She tenses up and ducks her head against my chest. “Sorry,” she whispers.

I groan again and hug her to me. I keep hold of her hand, but move it up to safer territory. “You have nothing to be sorry for,” I promise, brushing a kiss to her forehead. “If you want to go there, you’re more than welcome, I just want to make sure you’re ready for what comes next.”

She lies still, unwilling or maybe too embarrassed to move or speak.

The heat of her blushing cheek warms my chest. I press her hand firmly against my stomach, a silent prompt for her to leave it there, then cup her face.

I push my fingers into her hair and cradle her head, urging her to look at me.

It takes her a moment to meet my eyes, and I see conflict raging in hers.

I kiss her softly. “You have no idea how much I would love for you to touch me like that.” My voice turns husky just thinking about it, and I take a moment to cool myself down.

“I’m ready whenever you are. But we have time.

We have our whole lives. There’s absolutely no pressure. Your pace. Always.”

She relaxes at my words, but continues to study me.

I’m shocked when her eyes fill with desire.

She must see my surprise, because she turns red all over again and buries her face back in my chest. I’d laugh at the cuteness, but I’m starting to lose control of my upstairs brain, and Little Wulf is not feeling humorous.

I tilt Skylar’s chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes again. “Sweetheart, if you’re ready for more, that’s okay too. You don’t need to be shy.”

She searches my gaze. I hold her in a gentle stare until she voices her thoughts. “I want to make you feel good,” she murmurs in barely a whisper. “Like you did for me.”

I suck in a breath. My body goes from zero to five million in the blink of an eye, and it takes every ounce of restraint I possess not to maul her.

My wolf rises to the surface, and I know my eyes are glowing when I swallow hard and rasp, “Okay.” My voice is so thick I can barely get the words out.

“If that’s what you want, I would love that. ”

I kiss her fingers again and then guide her hand to where I’m desperate for it. Then I relinquish all control, and we share the most intimate experience of my life.