Chapter 20

Ren

Itried to stay away, and did a pretty good job of it the last few days. But I knew once the moon was full—tonight—there was no stopping my Lycan from claiming Mikalina. The pull and need would be too hard to resist, the instinct driving all rational, humane thought from my mind until I was nothing but a ravenous animal for her.

I'd contemplated just leaving the country, getting as far away as I could before the full moon hit, but I knew that wouldn't even stop me.

I sat in front of the fire and nursed a whiskey, staring at the flames, this little ritual something I tended to do nightly, it seemed. But having a life expectancy that just went on and on and on made life monotonous—that was until I'd found my female.

The full moon pulled me, urged me, tempted and coaxed me. I fought it, had all day, feeling it slowly grow. And as the sun was starting to set, there was no denying what I'd do. But I'd chain myself up, if that's what it took. I would never force Mikalina into anything, never make her take my mating mark or the full moon claiming. But I had to lock myself away now or I wouldn"t be able to. And even with chains all around me, holding me down, the threat of me breaking free with my inhuman strength to get to my mate was great.

I finished off my whiskey just as I felt a prickling along my skin. Then there were three hard knocks on the front doors. I knew who it was, felt her as if she stood right before me already. I was out of my seat and striding toward the entrance before I could even take a breath.

I opened the massive wood, the steel and wood creaking from the force, and as I stared at my female, nothing else mattered, because I knew her coming here had been a mistake.

Won't be able to stop.

I will claim her.

And God help both of us.