Chapter 18

18

Kane

H as she lost her mind? She tried to play with my wolf. I hate myself for trusting she’d listen. My wolf doesn't know his own strength. He got excited when his mate accepted him and lost control.

I felt the way my wolf's teeth grazed her hand when he landed on her. It could have been so much worse.

We just found her. Not even a month in, and I'm already hurting her. A wave of depression and sadness hits me, but I keep preparing her meal.

I'm getting the hang of how humans cook. I've always enjoyed the meat of a fresh kill, but I know I can’t feed Tami that way. I can eat human meals, but I don't enjoy them. They’re just tolerable.

Tonight, I try frying some chicken for her. She watches me quietly, running her hand over the scar in her palm. Her mind seems to be racing, and I’m desperate to know what she’s thinking. She’s so beautiful, just sitting there, waiting for me to feed her .

I think back to how many times I dreamed of this moment. Hundreds of years, unable to shift out of my wolf form, too depressed at the thought of never having a mate and fulfilling my duty in this world. Now, here she is.

I clear my thoughts and finish the chicken. She stands from the sofa restlessly when I turn off the stove and wipe it clean. I pull out a pot to boil some rice and steam vegetables. She sits down at the bar, reaching over the counter and grabbing a chicken wing.

“For a shifter who doesn’t cook for himself, you seem to be pretty good at this,” she muses, biting into the meat.

“I do well with visual aids,” I say, stirring the rice as it begins to boil. She takes a bite of the crispy chicken and gives me a thumbs up in approval. She looks at the bitten chicken, then back at me.

“How come you never eat with me?” she asks, meeting my eyes. I give her a gentle smile, then pick up a piece of chicken, taking the entire piece into my mouth, chewing everything down to the bone before swallowing. Her eyes widen in surprise.

“Damn,” she blurts out, and I chuckle.

“I don’t think you can stomach my tastes. It’s not that I can’t eat human food, I just don’t enjoy it. I enjoy fresh meat from a hunt.” I grab a glass and go to the fridge, pouring her some juice. I place it on the counter next to her.

“Shifters only drink water,” I explain, pointing at the glass. “I prefer fresh water from the lake over what comes out of the pipes.”

“Oh,” she says. I grab a small plate from the cabinet and turn off the stove, letting the rice and steamed vegetables cool before serving her.

“I’m sorry about earlier, Kane. I should have listened to you. Your wolf is so sweet. He didn’t want me to leave, and it was hard to tell him no,” she says, staring down at the plate of food.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you. It’s just that…” I sigh, looking ahead, trying to find the right words. “The fear that crept in when I caught the scent of your blood. I can’t lose you, baby. I’ve lived long enough without you. I can’t do it again.” Her breath catches, and I smile, hoping my words sink in.

I pick up the fork from her plate and hold it out to her. She takes it, scooping up some food and taking a bite.

Tonight was a lesson. My wolf has our mate wrapped around his scheming little paw. He was reckless and overly playful. He could have hurt her. I push the thought away and focus on her eating.

My stomach rumbles, the hunger pangs settling in. It’s time for another hunt, but not until she’s asleep. She finishes her food and drink quickly, smoothing her hand over her belly with a satisfied smile.

“You’re spoiling me, Kane. You’re doing everything right. You keep my belly full, protect me, clothe me, provide shelter…” I catch a whiff of her arousal. “And the sex…” she clears her throat. I want nothing more than to take her again, but she needs rest.

“I’m doing my duty,” I say, then come around the counter and scoop her up from the chair. She squeals, wrapping her arms around my neck as I carry her through the living room and up the stairs to our bedroom.

“Duty? You make it sound like a job,” she mumbles.

I set her down at the edge of the bed, pulling off my clothes. I won’t be with her tonight, but the warmth of my body comforts her, making her fall asleep quickly in my arms. She gulps, taking in the sight of my naked body.

“Tami, I’m a shifter. I think differently from a typical human male. My thoughts are more… primal. When I came of age, I knew I would eventually be paired with my fated mate. My father, the former alpha of my pack, trained me to prepare for you. He taught me how to hunt, build a hut, and fight, so I could protect you. Most importantly, he taught me how to love. I yearned to love a woman the way my father loved my mother. He took excellent care of us and made many sacrifices as an alpha,” I say, dropping to my knees in front of her, carefully helping her out of her clothes.

“Fulfilling my duty is not just a job to me, Tami. It’s something I honor, and I’ll forever thank my Goddess Fate for bringing you to me.” She stares at me, speechless.

I want her so badly right now. My primal urges feel overpowering. I want her pregnant. I know my desire won’t calm down until that happens.

Tami yawns and stretches as I climb into bed with her, pulling the covers back. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her under the blanket with me. She snuggles against my chest, her body fitting perfectly with mine.

The bond is growing stronger. Soon, she’ll cling to me and want to be wherever I am. I welcome that moment.

Tami yawns again, her exhaustion settling in. “I need to find my phone or get access to one so I can call my friend Angie and let her know I’m okay. And my job—I already know I’m fired, but I need to figure out how to get my final paycheck. And then there’s my apartment. I need to get my stuff,” she mumbles tiredly.

I squeeze her tight against me, hating the thought of her leaving. If she needs something from her old life, I’ll get it for her myself. She can’t leave me. Wintermoon is her home now. She looks up and smiles, puckering her lips for a kiss. I lean in, not denying her.

Shit .

This is going to be a rough hunt tonight. The thought of Tami leaving sparks a rage in me, my canines extending involuntarily. Tami doesn’t notice; she’s resting against my chest, the warmth of my body lulling her into a peaceful sleep. Once I’m sure she’s out, I slide out of bed. I don’t bother with clothes since I’m shifting for a hunt.

I head downstairs, putting out the fire in the fireplace. My eyes drift to the coat rack where her purse is hanging. I want to dig out her phone and destroy it, but I hold back, my hands curling into tight fists.

I'm feeling myself losing control, so I quickly head to the front door and open it, stepping out onto the porch and shutting the door behind me. I close my eyes and relax as Tami’s soft snores echo through the cabin.

I leap off the porch, shifting into my wolf form mid-air, my wolf’s paws hitting the snow as he lands. My wolf shakes his fur, letting out a low growl, scanning the area for any potential threats before moving on. He patrols the surroundings for about an hour before darting deep into the forest for a hunt.

I try to keep my thoughts clear to avoid angering my wolf, but it’s no use. I can’t stop thinking about Tami and her need to resolve things from her human life. It’s a normal reaction for her but sharing her isn’t something I can handle right now.

My wolf pauses and slows his steps as we catch the scent of a moose. Moving carefully through the snow, the crunch beneath his paws is barely audible.

Ahead, the moose comes into view. It’s a large male in its prime, with impressive antlers. The moose shifts around, searching for food but remains alert, sensing danger.

I feel the tension in his muscles as my wolf lowers his body, eyes locked on the moose. Each step is calculated and deliberate. The moose looks around nervously, its instincts warning it that something is out there.

My wolf surges forward, muscles coiling and releasing like a spring. He slams into the moose, bringing it down. The moose cries out, thrashing beneath us. My wolf's frustration reaches a breaking point, turning this kill chaotic and furious. Blood sprays across the ground, mingling with the moose’s cries that echo through the forest.

I hate this. I prefer quick kills; fear ruins the taste of the meat. But I don’t try to calm my wolf. I let him take over completely. He tears into the moose, shredding flesh and bone. The forest fills with the sounds of tearing, snarling, and the moose’s dying cries.

Once the moose is dead, my wolf feeds, ripping chunks of meat and swallowing them whole. Blood stains the snow around us, standing out against the white landscape. When he’s full, my wolf sits back, panting. He licks his nose and begins cleaning his fur, each swipe of his tongue deliberate.

As he calms down, I regain control, and the reality of our situation hits me. If we leave Wintermoon and return to Tami’s human life to tie up loose ends, I risk killing a human.

My wolf is too wild to trust in a populated area. I need to ask Kade to handle Tami’s belongings and pick up her final check, but I’m not sure how Tami will react to this news.