4. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Locke

O ur mouth tasted coppery whenever I came into consciousness. I'm out most of the time, but when I wake, I taste the remnants of what my wolf has consumed. Mostly meat, horrifyingly, rotten meat.

I don't know if he's killed an animal or a human. It tastes terrible and maybe that's why I haven't come to the surface to see what he has been doing. Plus, it's too hard to fight him.

I've lost track of time. I don't know if it has been days, weeks. Hell, it might have been months, but I'm tired of living. Maybe my wolf is, too, because he's not been taking care of himself.

Insects have infested us, causing our hair to become manged, falling out in clumps, and our teeth to ache.

An unquenchable appetite, a relentless craving that fuels his wrath, consumes him. Always on the prowl, his growls echo through the eerie silence of the night. Perhaps, fatigued from ceaseless pursuit, he reluctantly feasts on carcasses.

I groaned inside him, frustrated with it all. They should have killed me.

Our bloody paws trampled the leaves. They left the crimson droplets of blood behind us as we took our large, mangled body through the woods. I could smell something different, something strangely feminine yet tropical, as we came closer to the lake we like to lie by during the day.

I've smelled it before while I've slept, but this was the first time I've had the nerve to be awake for it.

Struggling for breath, he quickened his pace; blood trickling down his forehead. Seeking respite from the scorching mid-day sun, he found solace in a dense bush, with its foliage shielding him. He wedged himself snugly between two towering bushes, felt their roughness against his skin and exhaled a weary sigh, finding a moment to relax.

My wolf was completely still, not normal for him - unless he was hunting. Yet, his heart was not racing, he wasn't on his haunches, ready to strike. He was staring out at the lake, watching the ripples of the water spin outward like someone was swimming in it.

Who the hell was swimming in the lake? Let alone in the fucking forest?

I gritted my teeth. My wolf must have noticed my agitation because I felt the hair stand up on his neck.

Could he feel my emotions?

But hell, the club can't do shit without me. I told them, explicitly, not to let anyone in the forest if I somehow got out - if any rabid got out - and look at this. Some fucking person—

My wolf crawled forward, our snout pushing through the bushes to see what exactly was swimming . He must have known who, because he was whimpering, and when his head pushed out he cocked his head and saw her .

A female.

She glided across the water, like a smooth, light-colored amber stone. The light reflected off her bare back as she was wading in the cool water.

My wolf's silence, and his claws digging in the dirt, told me one thing—he was interested, but he wasn't interested in hunting her. He was stalking her.

If it was for prey, he didn't let on. He was more interested in watching her, I still had yet to know his true intentions, but I knew one thing—I needed to be more conscious from now on, with his interest in this female.

Hell, she was pretty to look at, not a burden upon me in the slightest.

She stepped forward, her back toward us, and I got the view of the most perfect, round ass I had ever seen. It wasn't one of those skinny human females we usually rescue, none of their fault because they have been abused for so long—this female has been well-fed.

I wanted to sink my hands into that bountiful ass. It was meaty and soft, and her hips were wide, perfect for fucking and bearing pups. If I was in my human form, I knew I would be able to get it up.

She slung her dark hair over her shoulder. The tips of her hair held a pink hue.

My wolf inched forward to get a better look, and she stopped once her feet hit the dirt. She turned to look around her as if she knew someone was watching.

Smart girl.

And fucking gorgeous.

My wolf's eyesight is strong. I can see her big brown eyes from here. Thick lashes, pouty lips and fuck, she's got a rack that hangs low. I wanted to do nothing but beg the Goddess to hold her breasts up for the rest of my days.

Does her back fucking hurt with those? I feel it is my duty to help this blessed human.

My wolf's claws sank deeper into the soil. His mouth salivated and a low purr resonated in our chest.

She turned her head slightly to the side after she put a towel around her body. Her gaze fixed on us lurking in the bushes. I felt a surge of panic and excitement run through my wolf as she stepped the rest of the way out of the water, her eyes never leaving us. She didn't seem scared; rather, she appeared curious, intrigued even. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and my wolf's heart pounded in response.

I tried to push him back, to take control and assess the situation, but her presence captivated my wolf. He wanted to explore, and to discover more about this enchanting creature that had wandered into our territory. It was not just lust driving his actions; there's a deeper connection, an inexplicable pull toward her.

Fuck, fuck! No fucking way.

As she approached closer to the bushes where we were hidden, a subtle fragrance wafted towards us. It was a heady mix of coconut, like a Pina Colada. I'd always liked those since arriving to the Earth realm.

I would never tell a soul, but Pina Coladas were my favorite drink.

And, I wanted to drink her.

Her smell was like a witch's spell; bewitching my wolf. He inhaled deeply, and his nostrils flared with the scent of this mysterious woman.

I tried to regain control, to push back against the growing hunger in my wolf, but, it was a losing battle. The longer I had been in this form, the more he had control. He took over completely, his instincts overriding any feeling I tried to push toward him.

With a sudden burst of energy my wolf rushed from the bushes, startling the woman. She stumbled back in shock, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. But, my wolf didn't attack; instead, he circled her.

He paced around her slowly, sniffing her hair and her skin, but leaving enough room so she couldn't touch him. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do as my wolf continued his inspection. Our head stood close to her breasts; we are large for a shifter and I was surprised she hadn't tried to run.

Then again, she wouldn't get very far.

He brushed against her leg, his tail wagged slightly, in a sign of his amusement.

I struggled against him, trying to regain control over my body. But, he ignored me, too consumed by this woman. She tentatively reached out a hand, her fingers trembling as she hesitantly touched the fur of my wolf's back.

A low rumble escaped my wolf's chest, a sound that was both threatening and inviting. The woman pulled her hand back quickly, and her eyes narrowed in confusion. But, instead of running away in fear, she stayed where she was, watching my wolf with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

My wolf suddenly sat down in front of her, his gaze never leaving hers. He tilted his head to the side and studied her intently.

Goddess, she is fucking beautiful. And, nearly naked.

If only my wolf had some sense in him and pulled that damn towel off her, she could do nothing about it.

Yeah, I'm a sick fuck.

But, I'd bet my left testicle that her tits are pierced or she has some weird tits. I'm all for weird, but pierced tits are hot as fuck.

"Are you the animal everyone is talking about?" She tilted her head to match my wolf.

My wolf made a pathetic puppy sound and I nearly died of embarrassment.

"You don't look that dangerous, except for the blood all over you. Are you going to attack me when I turn my back?"

My wolf snarled at that comment, and she jumped back a little.

"Dios Mio! Well, I'd like to get some clothes on," she snapped back at him. "And, you could go wash up or something?" She pointed to the lake and made a shooing sound.

Did she just fucking shoo us?

She picked up the flip-flop she was about to put on after exiting the water and held it up. "Go on!" She waved the shoe again, so my wolf lowered his head and ears, and trotted to the water.

I don't fucking believe this.

I sat in the back of my wolf's mind, absolutely stunned. This female just ordered my wolf to go bathe—and he did. He listened to her. He won't listen to me!

I snarled, and my wolf snarled with me. He shook his head as I do and dunked his head into the water. I tried to grab the reins of my wolf and for a few moments I had them. I moved our legs and our head, got the blood off of us, and pulled us back to shore to see where our female was.

But she'd gone. She'd closed the door to her RV and turned on the light.

I smirked, while my wolf took back control of our body and shook our wet fur.

I laughed inside my wolf's mind and I could feel the confusion inside him. He could hear me, feel my emotion and it made me laugh more.

Holy shit, this was too fucking comical.

The female looked out the window, her hand brushing the curtains, and stared down at us. My wolf put his paws up on the RV to get a better look at her face.

She watched us with apprehension. Her gaze flickered between my wolf and the forest, and I could sense the wariness in her demeanor. But there was also a spark of curiosity, a hint of something more beneath the surface.

As my wolf continued to peer up at her, his tail wagged excitedly. Despite the initial shock of our encounter, she didn't react with fear or hostility like most others would have. There was a boldness in her actions, a defiance that both intrigued and captivated me.

And now I knew exactly why.

She was my fucking mate!