21

Aspen

I was well aware we were playing with fire, but in my defense, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'd lost count of how many times we'd entered and exited the creek tonight. This was an easy trick, made easier by the water, that I'd used a season or two before. Throwing off my trail had kept most of the males from being able to pick up my scent. My wolf was practically an expert at this by now.

She slowed to a stop and cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. I hope she made it to her nest.

Me too. We were both still a bit worried about Sarah. I'd have run with her, but it was better to have no scent at all on her trail so she could hopefully disappear. Though I had to trust Ranger wouldn't have allowed any male on the run that was too far gone to respect the word "no."

The snapping of a twig had my wolf spinning around and baring her teeth at the darkened forest. Something snuck up on us while we weren't paying attention. The eerie quiet that followed the snap had my wolf's hackles raised and fur standing on end as she slowed her breathing.

She pushed out her senses, scanning the area as a cloud passed over the moon above and made the shadows of the woods deeper. Nothing moved. But we both felt it. A predator's dark intent lurked just out of reach.

Adrenaline flooded her body as she took a cautious step back, teeth still bared and ready to fight.

Leaf matter crunched under something heavy.

A step too carefully placed to not be a wolf.

Growling a warning, my wolf took another slow step back to the creek.

It'd been all fun and games when we thought we were teasing Ranger, knowing he must have caught our scent multiple times, but now we were worried about how long it would take him to get here.

My wolf's eyes stayed trained on the shadows where she'd heard the noise.

The sound of male laughter behind us had my soul leaving my body as my beast turned, snapping her jaws at the air.

"What's wrong, Aspen?"

My wolf spun again.

His voice was coming from the trees above.

"I thought you wanted to play."

You did this! My wolf cried. Panic made her heart race and she couldn't get in enough air.

Me? I screamed. You were all ‘Make my mate prove himself.' What do you say now?

"Did you really think you could outrun me?" There was a dangerous edge to Ranger's voice which was coming from the night itself.

I say we're fucked. My wolf swiped her paw in the air like she could warn him to stay back.

But we had no clue where he was.

I almost took control of our form and demand he show himself when the tree branches parted and his half-shifted Lycan werewolf body towered over my wolf.

She blinked.

Her tail wagged.

His monstrous jaw lowered to the ground and his gold-rimmed wolf eyes narrowed. Fangs glistened in the moonlight as he opened his maw. "Run."

You didn't have to tell us twice.

My wolf took off like a bolt of lightning, leaving our brains behind for a minute before we remembered this was the absolute worst thing you could do with a predator–especially one Ranger's size–on your heels.

But it was too late to go back and stand my ground. I could only hope my wolf would tire him out and he'd be calm enough to forgive me.

The primal howl that echoed across the mountains as he closed in behind us pretty much squashed those dreams of a nice conversation.

My wolf was heaving and her pulse thrummed faster than a hummingbird's wings as she jumped over a fallen log and crashed into a field of wildflowers with nowhere to hide under the bright glow of the moon.

Hiding wouldn't save us anyway.

Ranger's beast growled as his perfect, muscular wolf body leaped after us. Nothing that big should ever be that graceful. It defied the natural order of things and made the rest of us look bad.

I didn't have time to appreciate it fully.

My wolf tried to pump her legs faster, but his massive paw landed on her back. She flipped to the side and curled up to cover her belly, swiping out a reflexive paw on instinct and scratching his muzzle.

The massive beast wasn't even winded as he lowered his snout to her neck, growling a warning.

His sound vibrated through her, traveling deep, and soothed the pounding of her heart. Still panting hard, she laid her head back on the grass and let him sniff.

Oh come on. You're going to give up that easily? If I had my own eyes, I'd be rolling them.

I know when to give in. She huffed, catching her breath.

Ranger's paw held her pinned to the ground as he continued to sniff lower. The appreciative rumble in his chest lulled her into a trance-like state as her heart continued to slow… and then quickened for an entirely different reason as he shoved his snout between her legs.

Whoa there, buddy. She wiggled away, jumping to her paws. Ranger's wolf let out a deeper growl. This one gave major ‘bend the neck' vibes.

My wolf sat on her haunches and blinked. I know you're not trying to boss me around.

I giggled a little delusionally as Ranger's wolf prowled forward. He really was a deadly looking beast with his jet-black fur and massive shoulder width. The way he puffed out his chest and held his tail in the air made it seem like he knew it too.

My wolf nodded approvingly and checked him out as he circled around her. He made another pass, stopping to rub his body against hers, but she didn't respond to his courting attempts.

He came to a stop in front of her and sat back on his rear end, cocking his head to the side.

My beast narrowed her eyes. If we mate, we're equal partners.

I don't think he can understand.

Ranger's wolf lowered his snout to the ground and whined, pawing the dirt.

That's all I ask. My wolf nodded, pleased with herself.

I was in shock as she stood and stretched out her back. She turned around, putting her head to the ground and ass in the air to present.

Hey! What are you doing?

Getting the party started. She wagged her tail.

We're not even in heat.

Close enough.

No freaking way! I yanked on my human skin. My bones contorted awkwardly as I knelt in the dirt, trying to push myself upright while my spine cracked and rearranged. It was over in half a second. Ranger's furry wolf arms knocked me forward again as his paws hit the dirt on either side of my hips.

Oh no. My eyes widened. I was open to experimenting, but this was a tad too far.

"French toast," I cried, throwing my elbow backward. It connected with solid human flesh. A soft woof in human voice was followed by Ranger's thick–human–biceps gathering me up and pulling me to his chest.

"That wasn't very nice." He growled against my ear. His tone was playful and light. I relaxed against him, feeling the fight drain from me and adrenaline start to edge away.

"I wasn't about to get mounted in the middle of an open field." I laughed nervously, looking around for the cameras. We were far enough from the trees that I didn't think a trail cam could get us on film, but a drone could fly over at any minute.

"Is that so?" Ranger rocked me back, adjusting so the length of his hard cock was pressed against my butt. He traced his hands down my sides, leaving my naked stomach and breasts exposed to the chilly night, and pressed his lips to my shoulders. "What if I want to mount you in this open field?"

"I… Uh…" I swallowed hard as my gaze darted to the trees. It's not like the show actually aired any of the sexual mating season parts. That might get them banned from TV. And the trail cameras couldn't really see us all the way over here. My wolf couldn't have picked a better spot to give in.

I'm not stupid.

"Words, Aspen." Ranger trailed his fingers to my breasts, cupping one in each hand as he massaged them with slow, caressing strokes. "Do you want to get fucked in the open where everyone can hear you scream?"

I squeezed my eyes tight, knowing he was going to make me say it.

"Yes," I whispered. "I want to have sex with you out here."

Ranger's dark laughter was full of tantalizing promises as his hand dipped down. His fingers curled in my pubic hair and he gave it a gentle tug, eliciting a little gasp from me as the pain mixed with the rush of pleasure. I bit down on my lip to cover the sound of my moan.

"Come on," he teased. And oh, how he could tease . "I'll need you to be louder than that."