Even with the extra time, I caught up to her easily, her two legs no match for my four. A human—even part shifter—would never outrun a wolf.
My prey glanced over her shoulder, her glowing amber eyes wide, not with terror, but excitement. Her wolf was as in control of her as mine was of me, even if she couldn’t shift into her true form.
“Who’s a pretty puppy?” she teased as she began to run faster, her voice flowing through my mind, sending a wave of need and devotion through me. This was my mate, loud and clear. She wanted me. “Come get me, my king. I’ve been waiting for you to free me from this prison.”
Yes.
Finally.
My queen.
My mate.
Mine.
My hind legs tensed, then released, springing me forward in a leap that ate up the distance between us with little effort. I was on her before she knew what had happened, my front paws hitting the back of her shoulders and sending us both tumbling to the ground. She twisted in the air and landed on her back with me on top of her, pinning her with my body.
Instead of resisting, she arched into me, burying her hands into my fur, letting out a feral purr, the wolf inside her desperate for me.
I rubbed my face across her shoulders and throat, marking her with my scent, soothing her and promising I’d release her. Promising her everything without saying a word.
She was heady, intoxicating, completely addictive as I breathed her in. It was the closest our beasts had ever been, and the knowledge brought with it a tidal wave of rightness. We were meant to be together. Made for each other. Nothing would ever get between us again.
Especially not a dirty leech.
Sunday. Was. Mine.
She whimpered as I brought my teeth to her neck, something in the sound stopping me. A flicker of my annoying human side sparked to life, demanding attention. As he came to the forefront of our mind, Sunday’s eyes bled from amber to blue, her wolf also losing the battle for control.
No.
I let out a snarl, fighting against my human.
I would not lose her again. She was so close. Right here. Within my reach. My body shifted from wolf to man, but I wouldn’t let him ruin this for us. I held onto what little I could.
We needed her.
She needed us.
Nothing else mattered.
She rolled her head to the side, baring her throat to me, showing me what she needed the most. I clamped my fangs over the spot I should’ve marked years ago and took what was mine.
She would never be free of me now.