I run with everything I have, my calves burning, as I try not to trip on any sticks. I don't bother looking behind me, I know Zane isn't too far away. The sound of his howl lets me know he's coming to get me. What comes next for the ritual I have no idea, but I wasn't going to stick around there and ask questions. Not with his wolf looking at me like I'm his next meal.

I pick up my pace, knowing full well it's no use, but trying to outrun the wolf anyway. A moment later, I'm face first on the ground, seeing two giant paws in front of my face. Looking further up, I see the wolf's tall legs covered in fur. He's a gorgeous black and grey color. The most beautiful wolf I have ever seen in my life.

I feel his teeth take a hold of my dress, as he flips me around to face him. The sound of the material tearing is long gone once I come face to face with Zane's wolf. His nose is touching mine, my chest rising and falling from the excursion of the run.

He looks completely unfazed by it. Standing over top of my body, licking his lips, to keep from his saliva landing on my skin. I close my eyes, waiting for the bite, instead I hear the cracking of bones before I feel the heat of Zane's body making full contact with mine. His hand goes to my face, rubbing my hair away from my face. "Opens those beautiful eyes of yours little wolf." I do as he says, seeing his face up close and personal.

He rubs his nose along mine, before bringing his lips to mine. He gives me a peck, as though testing the water with his feet before diving straight in. Once he has a good taste of me, he glides his tongue in deep, toying with mine. My arms wrap tightly around his neck, pulling him closer.

He growls, before pulling back. The man looking down at me, is a wild beast, and I want nothing more than to have him eat me all night. A devilish smile forms on his lips, as though he can hear my inner thoughts. "Soon baby." He pecks me on the lips, "but first I need you to stand up for me." With one jump he's on his feet.

I want to follow him, really, I do, but his cock is directly in my face now. Hard, pointing right at me. I can see the veins running through his manhood, the sight of precum on the tip has me licking my lips. "Oh, baby you're driving me crazy." He groans as he bends down, picking me up with one hand.

My hands land on his chest, my head just below his chin. I have to take a small step back to look into his eyes. "There's one thing I need you to do, before we finish the ritual." I swallow down my question, fear at the pit of my stomach. He must smell it radiating from me, as he brings his arms around my body, holding my head to my chest. He hums in my ear, calming my heartbeat. "It's not bad little wolf. I just need you to change into your wolf form for me."

The sound of his words, has me feeling like a truck ran me over, and backed up to do it again. I bite my bottom lip, wincing at the idea of what he will say once I tell him. I feel his chest move with the intake of his breath. "Hey, hey," He pulls me away from his chest. His hands on both sides of my face.

Bringing his thumb to my lip, he rubs there for a minute, and when he brings his hand back, I can see crimson red along his skin. I bit so hard into it I left a cut and am now bleeding. The real messed up thing is I was so stuck in my head I didn't feel it.

"I know Penny." The use of my name coming from his lips has my eyes closing in humiliation. "You haven't been able to change because you were so far away from me." That has my eyes popping back open, looking at him, my mouth open in shock.

"I don't understand." I whisper more to myself than to him. He moves closer to me, my chin held between his finger and thumb. "You are my mate little wolf. Always have been." At his words I stumble back a step. Is he certain? From what we know there hasn't been any true mating bond in well over a hundred years.

"I knew it from the first moment I laid eyes on you. Told my father, but he slapped me. Telling me not to talk nonsense." He shrugs his shoulders looking down at the ground for the first time. "Your uncle came to me before I got sent away. He knew what we were to one another." He looks back up at me, a happy smile on his lips, "He believed me."

"How did he know that we were truly mates?" A devious smile forms on his face, as he takes a step closer, crowding me against a tree I hadn't realized was behind me. Lifting his hands to my sleeve, he tears the material away. I want to ask him what he's doing, or even why, but I'm so transfixed on him I can't bring myself to utter a word.

He lifts me up from leaning against the tree and turns my arm over a little so I can see the back of my shoulder. I have a birthmark, that looks close to a wolf howling at a moon. It's big and many people think it's a tattoo when they see it. Instead of explaining, I usually hide it beneath clothing.

"My birthmark?" I feel confused by what that mark has to do with anything. The smile hasn't left his lips, only grown larger. Showing his straight white teeth now. Without breaking eye contact, he takes my other hand and runs it down his body. It's a fight of my life not to close my eyes, as I feel his abs and muscles running along my palm.

I have to try and calm my breathing as we go a little further. Once we reach his hips, he pulls my hand a little ways behind him, just above that nice round ass of his. Once my fingers touch it, my eyes shoot to his in surprise. "You have the same mar?" He nods his head once at me.

Without thinking I step away from him and pull on his arm. He laughs as I turn his body more to the side. There right above his ass cheek is the same birthmark I have on my body. He allows me to touch him a second more, before he gathers my hand in his and pulls my arm away from his skin.

"I can't handle you touching me anymore. I feel your hands on my body, I'll take you here and now." Looking down he scuffs at the ground before looking back up at me. "I don't want our first time being on dirt, rocks, and sticks. He says with some humor in his tone.

His eyes grow serious a second later, as he takes a step away from me. Spreading out his legs, he folds his arms over his chest. Standing there as though being stark naked in the middle of the woods is a natural occurrence. Thinking of all the times he's been in his wolf form; it dawns on me that it probably is to him and his pack.

"Now, close your eyes." When I don't do exactly as he says, he lifts one eyebrow. "Do we have to do this the difficult way?" His voice drops down an octave. Letting me know that whatever the harder way is, has him turned on. I do as he asks and close my eyes. "That's my good girl. Now I want you seek out your wolf." I shake my head feeling as though she's no longer there.

"I know she is little wolf." His voice against my ear has my eyes opening and looking at him. When I see his facial expression, I close them once more, not wanting to see the fierceness in his eyes. "I've seen her a handful of times since you've been back around me. Now seek her out." He says firmly.

I do as he says, I fall deep into my mind, calling for her to come forward. I call and call with no luck. I fall onto my ass in my mind, burying my head in my arms. Feeling once more like a failure. I fight back tears, getting ready to leave outside my mind, when I feel eyes on me.

Popping my head back up, I see her standing across from me. So, close I could touch her. "You're here." She takes a step closer, before sitting down in front of me. Bringing her nose close to my face, she studies me. "Where have you been?" I ask feeling dazed.

I can see Zane's essence in my head, still standing in the same position, but this time his eyes are cast down at my wolf. "So beautiful. My woman and my little wolf." He says bringing his eyes back to me. With a pull of his lips, he orders me "now turn."

My eyes go to him and back to my wolf sitting in front of me. I'm not certain I remember how. "Turn!" The sound of his holler rings in my ears, as we mold together within my mind. The next moment, I'm back in the forest, standing on all fours.

I'm in the back seat now, my wolf steeringus proudly. She looks up at him, licking our lips. He laughs, a sadistic soundrushing from his mouth. "I'll give you a head start." He whispers to us, as hefalls to his hands and knees. "Then I'm coming after my most favorite prey fullforce." I can see the truth in his eyes. She can too, if her turning andrunning full speed ahead tells me anything about it.