5. Jackson

5

Jackson

It’s late evening, and the sun is almost set as I scent Charlie. She walks closer to me from her dark cave. In reality, no force on earth could’ve moved me from this spot or further from her.

Holly left me hours ago, and I hated letting her go alone, but leaving Charlie wasn’t an option. Trying to keep my breathing even and shallow, I hear her tiny paws carry her closer to me as I remain stoically still. Even as a wolf, she smells good enough to eat. My mouth waters slightly at the idea of a taste of her.

‘She’s close to us.’ My wolf pushes us to purr and acknowledge her, but I smother the sound.

‘Give her a second to investigate,’ I argue.

My wolf complies. We stay unnaturally still. Allowing her the time to feel safe with me. I only ever want her to feel safe. Maybe one day, I’ll be her harbor.

Her haven.

If she would give me the honor and let me be her home, not running into a dark, wet cave.

Her sniff is soft as the hair ruffles on my neck. The heat from her body soaking into my wet fur. I stir, causing Charlie to back up. Then I peek one eye open and take in my mate.Her tiny black form is relaxed now. Her tail wags slightly, her ears are larger, and the fur around her face is fuller. She’s simply…adorable. I let my big fucker purr in satisfaction as I push up to stand, keeping my movements slow.

Playfully, she tilts her head to the opposite side, sending her large ears flopping as she watches me. I’ve traveled the world and seen many beautiful sites. None compare to Charlie, the eloquent beauty. Her wolf is unlike any other.

The drops of moisture sparkle through the space between us as the setting sun lights them up. Lighting her up. She hasn’t shifted her gaze, and I enjoy the attention. Hoping she finds me just as pleasing. I stretch fighting my wolf’s urge to parade around like a fucking peacock. My grumpy ass lets him—big claws dig deeply into the wet soil, stretching my long legs forward.

I press up to stand at my full height and turn slowly. I walk back towards the woods, not daring to glance back at her. I know she’ll follow. Just a quick glance over my shoulder to see her standing in the mist of the falls, with the setting sun burning through the forest, illuminating her in a soft glow. The vision will be carved into my mind forever. Her small form pushes up and follows me.

‘She’s beautiful,’ my wolf comments. I can already feel the shift in our body, pulling us to her. She’s becoming the center of everything.

We slowly work back through the woods. I pick the most well-worn path so it’s easier for her. Her wolf is right in step with mine as we break through the forest line. The expansive rolling field to the gardens is dark now, illuminated only by large flood lights. It’s nearing the middle of the night. The sun just barely dipped below the horizon.

The lights suddenly shine brightly on the reality of what it means to have Charlie as my mate. That she isn’t Pack. Really this is a big fucking problem for our Pack since just having her here could cause a war.

Suddenly I have a million questions—questions I can’t ask until we’re human. My patience wins out as I try a slow gait. She keeps up easily. Her soft scent floats through the space, and I breathe her in heavy huffs.

Finally,I run full speed to the back veranda and quickly shift, pulling my jeans from the cubby and sliding them on. Her pace slows as if she is choosing now to be shy. I back up out of her way, giving her the room to come closer without being crowded. My feet crunch on the gravel path as I stand near my truck.

Charlie’s head ducks down as she makes her way past me, her tail tucks between her legs. I watch her and realize her wolf is uncommonly small, not much larger than a full-size border collie. ‘ She is tiny.’ I could quickly sweep her up and carry her away; the thought that anyone else could nags at me. I step closer to her wanting to protect her.

Her ears are pressed to her head, and she wearily eyes me while approaching the cubbies holding our clothes. Then, she shifts effortlessly.

And what a goddamn sight.

I run my hand over my jaw, checking for drool. I know I shouldn’t look, but a man is only so strong. Her smooth white skin is glowing, and her hair’s dark tresses contrast her body’s lightness. She doesn’t turn around, and I let my eyes follow the line of her back down to her ass. Her full curves are sensational, and I want to sink my teeth into them.

My hands clench at the thought of marking her. Instincts flare to life as I hold back from stalking across the yard to throw her over my shoulder like the caveman I am. Her dress flows down her body, and now that she is clothed, I deem it safe to approach.

My feet carry me to the woman who’s quickly rearranging my molecules to sync with her. Running my hand over my beard again, I approach her from behind, wondering if I could keep her locked away. Protect her. Heal her. Keep her. The words vibrate through me but don’t feel right.

A ripple of fear follows the thought of what to call her. Mate seems a little too soon. I know her as Rose from Umbra, but Holly said she goes by Charlie now. I try that name on my lips.

“Charlie?” I say as I approach. My voice is scratchy; I barely recognize the sound. She doesn’t turn around. I wonder if that isn’t her name. My panic is so visceral that I don’t know my mate’s name. Add in that she hasn’t looked at me since she shifted. I worry she is just as shy or scared in this form as her wolf is.

Then, she sweeps her black hair forward and wraps a ribbon around the tresses. The ribbon is light purple, and I instantly love the color on her.

“Charlie?” I try again now, only an arm’s length away from her. “Will you look at me, beautiful?”

Her head shakes the movement, loosening some of the hair from the ribbon. I want to wrap those loose strands around my fist and hold her to my chest.

Now that I’m closer, I can see that our size difference is not just a wolf thing. She barely clears mid-chest. She is tiny. A surge of protectiveness overwhelms me, knowing my body could easily shield hers. ‘ I would protect her from the pain and darkness of the world .’ Hopefully, I’m not too late, and she still has something to be saved from.

“Beautiful?” My voice is soft, and my hands itch to touch her while I slip them in my pockets.

Her soft voice has me leaning closer to her. “You don’t mean it,” she says.

“Oh, I mean it. You are beautiful. And you’re mine.” I’m probably fucking this up, being the possessive fucker that I am. I don’t share, and I don’t mince words.

“Can we talk somewhere more private?” She asks, still avoiding my gaze.

“Yes, follow me. We can go to my room.”

She nods and finally meets my eyes. The flecks of gold buried in the deep brown beauties have my breath stuttering, and I take an extra second to memorize her. She gives me a tight smile, and it takes every bit of control not to sweep her up in my arms.

Protect her.

Heal her.

Keep her.

Every question I was prepared to pepper her with slips my mind as I hold my bedroom door open for her. She timidly steps past me. I follow her closely inside, sliding the door shut and holding back the instinct to lock her in here. It wouldn’t be hard.

Then she takes a deep breath. My instincts slam into me, pushing me to take her and claim her. The old handle molds to my hand as I grip it too hard. My chest inflates, knowing she is scenting me.

Her eyes flick to mine, full of heat, but they’re wrapped in pain—a pain I’ve seen many times before in my service. It’s the type of pain that breaks people, the type of pain that speaks to loss. My wolf makes a pitiful sound as she breaks eye contact and walks towards the tall French windows on the far side of the room.

They have the same view as the library, but the darkness does little to diminish the soft glow of our small town. This time of year, it’s never really dark, and the sun only sets for a few hours.

I let the door handle go, attempting to pinch it back into shape. Then, I slide the lock into place. I’ve always been paranoid, but with her here I don’t want the chance for anyone to come in. Adding the security seems necessary, even if it might scare her to be trapped with me. There is also no way either of us are leaving this room until we are mated. My wolf won’t stand for it.

‘She came into our den willingly; now our mate will mark us before she leaves.’ My wolf growls out his approval of my actions.

Shaking my head, I scan my room, trying to take it in as she would. It’s large, with a fireplace on one side, my bed on the other, two windows facing the back property along one wall, and then the windows she’s looking out that face the town.

My eyes catch on the windows towards the back, and I can see the glint of water. The falls were a favorite spot of mine growing up. I secretly love that Charlie seeks refuge there, even if it’s the worst spot to nap, especially for her. I pull my eyes from the view and back to the broken, beautiful phoenix who stands in my room.

“Charlie?” I test her name on my lips once more. It tastes pleasant. I lick along my bottom lip. I want to do more than say her name. The gravitational pull of her beauty has me in its grasp, dragging me closer to her tiny body. I clench my fist at my side, resisting the urge to take her.

‘Touch her.’ A deep growl builds in my chest as I fight my instincts. The sound has her head whipping around.

Her arms wrap around her waist as she stares at me. Her voice is a hoarse whisper: “What do you know of my past? Of me?” Her voice is broken as if she’s holding in tears.

The question catches me off guard that is so at odds with the pulsing need rushing through me to mark her.

“I know you’re from Umbra, and you’re hiding here.” I really wish I knew more, but apparently, that’s all my father could relay to me, or he just wants to make my life more difficult and have me figure it out.

Her head bobs. “Yeah, that’s true. I’m well... I was sold to the Alpha, Ax.” Her voice falls off as she says the last part and her blazing brown eyes drop to her hands. I follow her gaze, where I see the red marks lining her nails, the skin horribly abused. Her hands quickly work the loose skin as she brings it to her mouth to nibble on.

My growl ripples through the room as I close the distance between us and grab her wrists to stop the pain she’s causing herself. Her breath catches.

I’m so driven by every instinct that I can’t stop my next words: “You belong to no other man, Mate. ” My wolf is pushing at my words; the growl is deep. “You are mine. I am yours. We will deal with the situation later. Understood?” My grip unconsciously tightens on her small wrists, eliciting a tiny whimper that causes my wolf to immediately back up.

I have always been dominant, and my energy can overwhelm others. The fact that I possibly just hurt her has me falling to my knees in front of her and sweeping her hands in mine, gently this time. She doesn’t flinch, which I take as a small win.

‘Claim her, so there is no confusion about who she belongs,’ my wolf edges me on.

She drops her head slightly, watching my large hands rub softly over her wrists. I’m afraid I scared her into submission. The power of my wolf frightened her. I tentatively scoot closer to her on my knees. Slowly, I tilt her head up to look into my eyes. “I’m sorry I scared you, little mate. It wasn’t my intention. You need to know this is real—this tether between us—our bond.”

She pulls her hands from mine, fire, and anger burning through her. “You don’t scare me, Jackson White, Alpha of Solaris.” The fire in her eyes makes me want to dance in the flames. I’m a moth who is prepared to burn for this woman. She wasn’t scared of me or my wolf. She felt my power and was prepared to fight me, which was unexpected but a pleasant surprise.

‘Strong mate.’

I hum in response.

A small smile pulls at my lips, “Well, I probably should scare you, little wolf.”

Her lips purse and the urge to taste them fills my body. I stand, crowding her closer to the window. My hands slide next to her head, caging her in beneath my large body. The feeling of her pressed against me is heady. Knowing she’s at my mercy and doesn’t fear me is a welcome response. ‘I need to test it.’

“What scares you then, Rose?”

Her eyes flare at the use of her real name, “Never call me that again,” the growl in her voice is fierce but stutters slightly. Her small hands push into my chest with more force than I thought she had. I stumble back as she says, “She died four years ago.” Her lips pull up into a sneer as tears flood her eyes. You can almost feel the pain flare from her body like a blazing star on the verge of burning out.

I step closer again, needing to be in her orbit. My head drops to her neck. My nose nuzzles the soft spot between her collarbone. I allow myself the slightest kiss. My mouth slides up the soft column, kissing and tasting her as I do. The fact that she is not pushing me away gives me hope.

My mouth slips back to the top of her collarbone at the base of her neck. I resist the undeniable urge to bite into her supple skin and pull my mouth back up to the shell of her ear. “I will never use that name again. What should I call you then, little wolf?”

A shiver races down her body, and I watch as her hands, which were pressed on my chest, clench. Our body heat has begun fogging the window behind us.

“Little wolf?” she asks, her eyes dragging up my body to meet mine. As if every particle in the room is charged with energy and being pulled into our blaze, the room ignites in a yellow glow.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Mate .” My hand slides to the back of her neck, and my lips crash down on hers.

I couldn’t not kiss her.

I tug her body to mine. Her soft gasp was all the permission I needed to press my tongue into her mouth. The taste of her elicits a moan from me. Her sweetness is unmatched. She tastes like sugar.

Her hands slide down my chest. Our mouths fighting for more, needing more. My hands skate down her body, bunching the dress around her waist. I need her naked, now.

I suck the skin of her neck into my mouth, and my fangs descend. ‘Protect her, Claim her, Free her.’

‘Not yet,’ I say to my wolf as I pull back slightly and slide the dress from her body.

Both of our breaths fill the space between us. Our chests brush against each other as we feel the energy zip through the room, through our bond. Her eyes meet mine again, and the fire I see in their depth compares to nothing I’ve ever seen. I’m a man prepared to burn for this beauty.