Chapter 3 - Gina

My body feels frozen in place. I can’t move, and I don’t even know if I’m breathing. My ears start to ring, and my vision blurs—I’m definitely not breathing. I try to take a deep breath, but my chest is too tight.

They are all staring at me, even Bae. The one pointing at me is Carson, probably the oldest pack elder there is. He’s always in charge of official business like this. I can see he is very carefully trying to keep his eyes locked on mine and not look down.

I can’t focus on the others, who still have their hoods pulled up. I know they are facing me, though. The underbrush is thick, but I have no idea if it’s covering me or not.

I force a gulp through my throat, trying to take at least one full, deep breath. Slowly, my eyes turn back towards Bae. He’s standing there like a magnificent, gilded statue, the late afternoon sun turning his hair into a shimmer of pure gold.

As we look at each other, the entire world narrows down to his eyes. I can’t fathom his expression. I have no idea how he feels about this, and I sure as hell don’t believe it. Not yet, anyway. I have bigger problems right now than the pack deciding I’m Bae’s one true mate.

I’m naked in front of five men, and one of them is Bailey!

My cheeks are going red, and now I’m breathing hard and fast, which isn’t helping the dizziness at all. Sweat starts to run down my sides, even though the wind is cold. I wasn’t aware of how high up the mountain I’d come until now. Up here, the air always has a hint of ice.

It feels like we have all been standing and staring at each other for an eternity. I can’t help but wonder how many minutes have actually ticked by. Someone has to move, I know that for sure.

What exactly is the next step in a mate-naming ritual?

The thought of us consummating the union right here and now in front of the pack elders enters my mind, and my blush deepens to red-hot points on both cheeks. I don’t know if I’m dying of mortified shame or extremely turned on.

Maybe I can start moving backwards—just slowly, step by step—and get away from the circle. It seems like a good plan, one I’ll definitely attempt as soon as I can feel my legs.

Before I get a chance to try, Bailey begins to move towards me. I’m so shocked, I actually jump a little. My heart pounding up into my throat only worsens my confusion.

I’m naked. I’m fucking naked, and he’s walking towards me!

The light of day, the icy wind, and the stares of these men are touching me in places no one but me has ever seen. As the shock drains away, my eyes fill with tears and my knees tremble.

This is too much, it’s all too much. Why is he walking over here?

I try to cover myself with my hands, but there’s no possible way I can. I look up at Bae as he approaches, my eyes stinging with tears and my lip trembling as I try to meet his gaze.

With one smooth movement, he sweeps the cloak from his shoulders and wraps it in his hands. A gasp escapes my lips as I see his magnificent body revealed, lit by the setting sun.

Why does the light always follow him?

I’m caught, my gaze trapped, and I can’t look away. Big, muscular shoulders, flat belly, wide chest... and a very impressive cock.

I can’t stop staring, even though I’m a hundred times more embarrassed than before.

Then I realize that Bae is standing between me and the other men. I can’t see them now, and that means they can’t see me, either. I start to relax immediately, even though I’m still strung tight with nerves.

“Back off,” Bae growls, looking over his shoulder. “Don’t even think about looking at her.”

Disbelief crashes through me, more shocking than the shame.

He’s protecting me?

Bailey gathers the cloak in his hands and holds it out to me. He is looking only into my eyes as if by extreme effort. I’m amazed and relieved by his restraint since I know I’m going to have to get closer to grab the robe.

Then his gaze slips down. He’s much closer now, and the few bushes I’m standing behind don’t do much to cover me. I’m panting like a trapped weasel as he looks me up and down. I can see his pupils dilate, and he starts to take deep, excited breaths.

His hands twitch, and his tongue creeps up to the edge of his bottom lip. I try to deny it, but it looks like he’s getting aroused... by looking at me!

The shock runs through me like electricity, energizing my joints into motion. I take a very slow step back, my heart beating so hard, it’s all I can feel.

“Gina...” Bae whispers softly. His voice weaves with the wind and carries to me, caressing my skin. I can feel the promise of his touch, and arousal stabs through me, fierce, sharp, and intense.

I forgot what this feels like.

This intensity, this unbelievable excitement and anticipation… I used to feel it every day. It’s been about five years living without it, and now I don’t even know how I tolerated that.

I feel so alive. I hate to admit it, but I’ve missed this feeling.

Bae raises a hand and gestures lightly with his fingers.

Come, come to me.

Fear streaks through me, along with the memory of how he humiliated me in front of the entire school on the biggest night of my life. Suddenly, I’m standing in front of him again. Not on a cold mountain, but back in the gym. My heart is full of hope, and I feel so confident and beautiful in my gorgeous blue gown.

Maybe he’ll say yes! Maybe we’ll walk out of here together!

Then, his harsh voice. His cutting words. The laughter that rang through the place and echoed off the walls as the band stopped playing to join the joke. How the laughter caught like wildfire on dry wood, first to Bae’s friends, then the crowd... and finally to every single person in the gym.

“No!” I scream, my voice shattering the silence.

I see Bailey jump a little, but I don’t stay to see what the rest of them do. The memory has given me back control over my own body, and with a fierce act of will, I shift back into my wolf form and turn, charging down the mountain as fast as my paws will take me.

Green leaves, twisted branches, and cold gray rock flow by at the edges of my vision as I flee the circle. I push every thought out of my head and just run. There is nothing but the cold, damp earth on my paws, the clear air in my lungs, and the hot rush of my blood.

By the time I get back to the airport, I’m panting heavily and exhausted. The sun has sunk behind the horizon, and shadows are deepening all around me. I find my clothes and change quickly. It’s already getting uncomfortably cold.

Walking back into the main terminal, I try to regain my calm. Maybe what just happened was some kind of demented hallucination. As I claim my luggage, I consider putting it right back and boarding a plane straight to Denver.

Memories of my little safe life flood back to me. The comfort of those easy days and pleasant evenings calls to me, filling me with longing.

But as I walk out the front doors of the terminal, the cold wind from the mountains hits me, and I remember the feeling of standing in front of Bae in the dying light of the day. The hot rush of my blood flooding to my nipples and a great throbbing starting up inside of me that made my skin sing.

Alive .

As I wave for a taxi, I remember why I’m actually here. I can’t leave until I attend Grandmother’s funeral and say goodbye. I don’t want to see Bae again, but I can’t just run away.

The taxi rolls through the streets, and I watch the soft strobe of the streetlights as we head closer and closer to my parents’ house. My body still hums with that arousal I can’t shake. I want more of it—dear God, I want him. I want him so much, I can’t stand it.

But how can I want someone who doesn’t want me?

Tears sting my eyes, and I have to shove the thought away so I can pay the driver and grab my bags. I haul them up to the door and knock to let my folks know I’m home. Opening the door, I look forward to the warm comfort of my parents and my brother.

I can hear voices rising and falling as I shove the door open, but I don’t think much of it. There are probably some family members here to help with the funeral preparations. I barely even look up as I call out for someone to give me a hand with my bags.

There are a few people standing in the hall, and I turn to face them, getting a bit upset that my stuff is still sitting on the stoop and no one is helping me.

I’ve had a damn long day. I could really use a break right now.

Then I focus properly on the crowd in the hallway, and when I see who it is, I feel like I’ve been punched in the guts.

Crowded into the hallway are Bailey, Carson, my parents, and my brother, Jack.

Immediately, my body comes alive. That throbbing deep inside me is almost painful, it’s so intense, and my nipples are so hard, I feel like they could cut through my shirt. I want to run the short distance between us and press myself against him. I know that only Bae can satisfy this need, this bone-deep, primal craving.

Before I realize it, I’m walking towards him. Bae doesn’t speak, but he has an adorable little smirk creeping onto his face.

He knows. He knows how horny I am!

Carson’s voice cuts through the sensations, bringing me back to the real world.

“So, you see, Gina has to come with us, right now. It’s a great honor to be chosen in the ceremony, and Gina’s grandmother would be so proud of her. I wish she was still here to see it. It would make her so happy.”

Carson turns to me, beaming a wide smile that is echoed on my parents’ faces. They look so happy, I don’t dare protest.

My mother hurries over and hugs me. “Welcome home, my darling,” she says gently.

I wrap my arms around her and lean into the hug. “How have you been?” I ask softly.

Mom pulls back a bit, and even though there are tears in her eyes, she is still smiling. “She was ready to go. It was peaceful. We will all miss her, but now we have some very happy and unexpected news to celebrate.”

Oh no.

“You’re going to be with Bae,” my mother says. “I’m so excited for you!”

“I don’t know about this,” my brother Jack says, coming over to hug me as well. “Like, you just got here, and now you’re taking off again?”

“She doesn’t have a choice,” Carson says a little sharply.

“Come on, it’s okay,” Bailey says with a little laugh. “I’ll take care of her, you know that.”

Jack gives him a look. They are best friends, but Jack also knows exactly how I feel about what happened. He has a right to his doubts.

“Let’s head into the kitchen,” Carson says in a reasonable tone, “and have a talk about the specifics.”

“Of course!” Mom says with a great flourish. “I made orange poppyseed cake. Let’s all go and sit down and have something to eat.”

“While we plan the wedding,” Carson adds.

Every shock I felt over the course of the day has no comparison to the one that burns through me at those words. I don’t want to look at Bae, but I can’t look anywhere else. His beautiful golden eyes glow, and his gorgeous lips lift in an almost predatory smile.

My nerves begin to dissipate immediately as arousal throbs through me. I want to protest; I want to run straight back out the door and not stop until I get back to my comfy little apartment in Denver.

But I can’t. I know I can’t. Being separated from Bae would be like losing a limb. As painful as having my heart torn out while it was still beating.

Isn’t that exactly what he did to me, the last time we were standing in front of each other like this?

I could have stayed frozen in place all night if my mother hadn’t wrapped her arms around me, hurrying me towards the kitchen. Father and Carson walk ahead of us, talking loudly about how wonderful this is for the pack. Bailey and Jack fall in behind, as if they are herding me straight into my destiny.

A destiny I can’t escape.

For the rest of the evening, my family plan my wedding without me saying a single word. I can’t speak. I can’t even look at Bae. This could be the worst night of my life.

Or the best.

I just can’t decide.