Chapter 17

17

Tami

K ane zips my coat, grunting. He clearly doesn't want me outside in this weather. But I need to see his wolf. Last night, it wasn't Kane who bit me; it was his wolf. I need to see it again.

“My wolf is untamed, Tami. He can be overly playful and doesn’t know when to stop. I want you to greet him, then go back inside. Don’t play with him,” he says. I narrow my eyes. He glares back, a warning that without my agreement, he won’t shift. I bite my tongue and nod. Now is not the time for sarcasm.

Kane starts stripping, pulling off his clothes until he's naked. I grab his arm as he pulls off his t-shirt.

“What are you doing? It’s freezing out here,” I say, then realize he’s a shifter. The cold doesn’t bother him.

“I don’t want to shred my clothes. And I’m fine with the temperature, baby,” he says, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on my forehead. He steps off the porch barefoot, standing in front of the cabin .

I watch, my heart pounding, as Kane begins to shift. His muscles ripple, bones crack, reshaping under his ebony skin. Thick, black fur bursts forth, glistening in the night air. The transformation is both mesmerizing and terrifying.

Kane's human form disappears, replaced by his massive wolf. He's enormous, twice the size of a normal wolf, with a thick, velvety coat. His bright green eyes, vivid against the black fur, lock onto mine. The predatory pupils send a shiver down my spine.

The wolf growls, a deep sound that vibrates through my chest. He bears his sharp, gleaming teeth. Fear grips me, but I remember Kane’s words: his bark is worse than his bite. I take a deep breath.

“I know you won’t hurt me,” I say softly but steadily. I move down the snowy porch steps cautiously. Kane's wolf continues to growl, making my heart race.

The wolf takes several steps back, barking and growling, saliva dripping from his mouth. I move closer, holding my hands up cautiously.

“I want you to sit down and let me pet you,” I say firmly but gently. The wolf pauses, confused. Then he whimpers, a soft sound, and sits, submitting.

I wonder if I can really tame such a wild beast. Slowly, I close the distance. Kane's wolf lets me approach, lowering his snout. I reach out and run my fingers through his warm, thick fur. His growling subsides, replaced by a soft, rumbling purr.

The fur feels unexpectedly soft and warm against the cold air around us. I can feel his powerful muscles underneath, tense but slowly relaxing under my touch. His bright green eyes lock onto mine, and there's an unspoken connection between us.

“You're very soft,” I say, smiling .

Suddenly, Kane's wolf flips onto his back, sending a spray of snow into my face. I fall back, wiping the snow away, annoyed. He presents his belly to me. I remember how the dogs in my old foster home used to do this to show submission. I sigh and lean down, running a hand over his belly. Kane's wolf moans in pleasure.

“It's nice to meet you, Kane's wolf,” I say. The wolf rolls back onto his side, watching me. I start the steps to the porch, and Kane's wolf quickly rises, moving towards me as if he doesn't want me to leave.

“Kane said I can only say hello. Now I have to go back inside. Maybe another time,” I say, turning to go up the steps. Kane's wolf whimpers, and it tugs at my heart. I sigh, turn back, and see him sitting, his tail wagging.

“I never had a family. Seeing you with Kane makes me happy. At least he wasn't alone,” I tell him. His wolf whimpers, and I step down from the porch to pet him. He leans into my touch as I massage his wolf's skin through his fur.

“Maybe we can play a little, but you can't be too rough,” I say. His wolf snorts, seeming irritated by my comment. I chuckle and grab some snow, forming a snowball. I toss it at him, hitting his snout. He shakes off the snow while I laugh.

But his reaction isn't playful. He leaps into the air, startling me. I cover my face as he pounces, knocking me into the snow. We slide across the ground, and when I open my eyes, his tongue swipes my cheek. I grunt, pushing at him, but he keeps licking my face.

“Will you stop!” I complain. His wolf pulls back, then suddenly stiffens, sniffing the air. He starts to whimper and sinks into the snow. I sit up, confused, then notice the cut on my hand, blood pooling in my palm. I wince.

“Oh shit, I’m in big trouble now,” I mutter.

Kane shifts back into human form and grabs me before I can react. I squeal as he carries me up the stairs and onto the porch, kicking the door in. He sits me down on the sofa, grabs his clothes from the porch, and pulls them on before slamming the front door shut. I walk over to the sink to rinse the blood from my hand, which is dripping onto the floor.

Kane storms into the kitchen, his eyes blazing with fury. He looks like he wants to tear my head off.

“It was just an accident,” I say, but he grips my wrist and examines my palm.

“I told you not to play with my wolf,” he growls. He holds my hand up, examining the wound carefully. Then he gently swipes his tongue over the open wound. My mouth drops open as I watch it heal immediately, leaving a scar behind.

“My saliva has healing capabilities now that I’ve claimed you,” he explains, picking me up and setting me on the counter. He presses his forehead to mine, and guilt washes over me. I didn’t mean to upset him.

“I’m sorry, Kane. I should have listened to you,” I say, gently cupping his face. I try to kiss him, but he pulls away.

“I should start dinner. I need to feed you,” he says, moving to the fridge and taking out some thawed chicken.

I watch him for a moment, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration. “Kane, please... I didn’t mean to...”

He places the bowl with thawed meat on the counter, then cups my face, pulling me into an intense kiss that makes stars flash in my vision.

“I need you to understand something, Tami,” he murmurs against my lips. “I will not lose you. I cannot survive in this world without you. I’ve done enough of that for a thousand years.” I nod nervously. He sighs, pressing his forehead against mine and gently rubbing my cheeks.

“I don’t trust my wolf around you yet. When I give you a command, I want you to listen to me. Understand? I’m not doing it to be an asshole. It’s for your protection.” I nod, and he sighs again, his body relaxing. He releases me and grabs the bowl, walking to the sink to wash the meat.

“I can cook my own food sometimes,” I tell him again, but he ignores me.

“Go take off your coat and boots and relax by the fire. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.” I narrow my eyes at him and climb down, following him to the sink to protest, but a low, unnatural growl escapes him, making me pause.

I gasp and quickly turn around, hurrying into the living room, pulling off my coat and kicking off my boots. I dash to the sofa and snuggle under the blanket folded neatly on the armrest.