Chapter 7

7

Standing next to Maize and breathing in her scent had been the highlight of Gideon's day, of his year, of his life. Until the fear crept in. Her rapid heartbeat was a drumbeat in his ears, syncing with his own accelerating pulse. He saw the moment she made the decision. Inside, his beast licked its chops at the prospect.

"Okay…" he'd started, holding up his hands. If she ran, his control would snap. The wolf inside him would break the leash of his tight control and take over. "Just don't…"

Maize took off running, her curvy form moving surprisingly fast through the crowd. It was nowhere near fast enough.

Gideon had a two-pronged fight on his hand. His feet set into motion as he chased down his fated mate. His fingers clenched as he pumped his fists at his sides, trying to hold on to the animal panting inside of him. He only made it a few steps before the wolf took control.

The crowd around him erupted into cheers. To them, this was all a part of the mating dance. A woman who ran from a shifter was showing her interest. She was testing his prowess. If the wolf caught her, her body, her heart was forfeited.

Gideon was fairly certain Maize didn't know any of this. She didn't look back as she ran for her life. Her figure was a darting shadow among the whispering pines.

The forest erupted in a chorus of primal sounds as Gideon's body contorted and reshaped itself into his wolf form. His bones crackled and shifted with a familiar intensity. Muscles rippled and expanded beneath his skin, stretching and tightening. Fur burst through his pores, a silver coat that gleamed under the moonlight piercing through the dense canopy above. The physical change was always a raw pain, a reminder of the wild power coursing through his veins.

With a final shudder, Gideon steadied on four paws, the ground cool and firm beneath them. His eyes, now the deep gold of the wolf, locked on to the flash of her dark hair disappearing into the thick underbrush. With his transformation complete, the wolf stole his breath and returned his voice in the form of a howl. From the distance, his pack answered. The night sky erupted in howls and yips of encouragement.

Every bound was fluid, a burst of speed that ate up the distance between them. The earthy smell of the forest floor mixed with the sharp tang of the Ironwoods filled his senses. Overhead, branches cracked under the weight of smaller creatures fleeing the thunder of his paws.

The cool night air whipped through his fur, carrying with it the subtle notes of Maize's scent that drove him wild. His wolf howled again as he gained on her easily.

Gideon no longer fought the beast. Their end goal was the same. Both man and wolf yearned to close the gap, to claim her, to soothe her fears. It was only the man who feared overwhelming her, driving her farther away with his intensity.

Suddenly, Maize stumbled over a hidden root. Her cry sliced through the night. Instinctively, Gideon slowed, his approach now cautious, protective. He circled her slowly as she regained her footing, her chest heaving with panicked breaths. His wolf whimpered, the sound soft and coaxing.

Her eyes met his in the moonlight, wide with a tumult of fear and awe. Gideon stayed still, every muscle quivering with the effort as he waited for her to understand, to accept him not just as a wolf, but as her destined mate. The night held its breath, the forest a silent witness.

Under the watchful eye of the moon, the wolf reveled in the nearness of its mate. Its golden eyes locked on to Maize's wide, expressive ones. She was a prone statue, her chest heaving with rapid breaths that sent her scent swirling temptingly around him.

The wolf leaned forward, its snout inches from her face. Maize didn't scream; she didn't flinch. Her eyes, dark and deep, watched him. She might have run, but she knew better than to show fear.

Good girl. The wolf's approval vibrated through their shared consciousness as it tenderly, almost reverently, gave her a long lick across the cheek.

"Hey!" Maize protested, swiping at the moisture with haughty indignation.

Then, as if her calm acceptance was the balm needed to soothe the savage spirit, the wolf finally receded. The shift back was a withdrawal of fur into skin, claws into nails, fangs into teeth—a retraction of the wild into the confines of the man. Gideon hovered over her once more, his body now human, naked, and vulnerable under the night sky.

He took a deep, stabilizing breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs and calm his racing heart. His eyes never left Maize's, searching for signs of fear, of rejection.

"I'm sorry," he rasped, his voice thick with the remnants of his transformation. "He—I didn't mean to frighten you."

"You're naked."

"Yeah. Being a shifter is murder on the clothing budget."

Maize pursed her lips. Then huffed out a breath. Then pressed her hand to her forehead before yanking it away and glaring up at him. "So we're fated mates?"

"Yes."

"Do I get a choice?"

"You could reject me."

She licked her lower lip, as though considering. "If I say no, you'll leave me alone?"

"No."

Her eyes went wide with incredulity, and she shoved at him.

Gideon rolled over onto his back. It wasn't in defeat. He just knew it was better if he didn't look at her right now, not when he wanted to pounce on her and make her submit. Instead, he stared up at the moon, trying to keep his hands to himself so he didn't reach out to her.

"I would never take you against your will, but I could never leave you unprotected, either. I would keep to the shadows and look after you. I'd go wherever you go. I couldn't help myself. It's you for me or no one."

There was a long silence. Gideon didn't look over at her. He didn't need to. He could feel the whirlwind of conflict rolling off her skin.

"And you'd run off any guy I tried to date?"

"No. I wouldn't do that." That was one truth. Another was that he'd more than likely rip their throats out.

Maize stood. She towered over him. It was a lovely sight.

She was taking him in as well. Her gaze dipped to his hips. Then she immediately looked back up to his eyes, her cheeks darkening in the pale moonlight. "How can you be so sure I'm your fated mate?"

"How did you know you loved your sister?"

"That's different. Liza is family. The moment I knew of her existence, I loved her."

"It's the same," Gideon insisted, his eyes never leaving hers, willing her to understand the depths of his sudden and overwhelming affection. "The moment I knew of your existence this afternoon, I knew . Call it fate, call it duty, call it love. You are family now."

He wanted to say mine. But family was likely the smarter play.

Maize's breath hitched, her defensive posture wavering under the sincerity of his gaze. "You can't just decide?—"

"I didn't decide." Gideon came to stand before her. "I knew. Just as you knew you loved your sister the moment you knew of her existence. It's an instinct, deeper than thought, stronger than reason. I felt it in every part of me, Maize. And so do you."

He reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away, but she didn't. His hand brushed her cheek lightly, a touch as soft as moonlight.

"All I know," he continued, his thumb gently caressing her skin, "is that I'll fight for you and this bond until my last breath. If you don't want it, I'll respect that. But know this"—his voice dropped to a husky whisper—"I will take care of you, guard you, and cherish you for the rest of my life, because even if you deny the bond, I cannot deny what you mean to me."