CHAPTERSIX
After all these years, Rhett had finally found his mate.
Every word Sara said in her sweet voice had been like music to his ears. He swore that his heart skipped a beat or two every time she smiled. And that smile of hers, well, it made him want to kiss her until she moaned his name and begged for more.
He was a goner, and he knew it. There was no denying that he was already head over heels for the woman he had just met … his mate. And it was all thanks to Barbara.
Over the years, he had often wondered if the whole fated mate thing was nothing but a myth, but he saw Barbara and Tristan together and couldn't deny their relationship had to have indeed been a blessing from the fates. He’d just never thought he could feel that way himself.
Yet, here he was, kissing his mate and feeling more alive than he’d ever felt in his entire life.
More alive than he could have possibly imagined.
They finally broke apart, only to catch their breath. The passion that existed between them had certainly stolen that breath away from both of them.
They stood there, panting in the woods, the only illumination coming from the moonlight that filtered down through the tree canopy.
He wanted to drag her off the path they were standing on. Wanted to find a secluded space so he could fully have her, but reason prevailed. He couldn’t rush her into something she wasn’t ready for. He needed to be sure she was okay with this first.
“So, you never said what you thought about being my mate,” he said, needing to hear her put words to what she was feeling. It was obvious that lust simmered within her for him, but when he informed her that she was his mate, she was obviously shocked.
At least she hadn’t been shocked enough to run away.
She didn’t answer him. Instead, she started walking further into the forest. He didn’t move for a moment. Instead, he admired the view.
The sway of her hips. Her perfect ass.
His cock was rock hard and begging for attention. Her scent lingered on his skin and in his nostrils, driving him wild and making him want her more than his next breath.
“So, do you want to go first, or do you want me to go first?” she asked.
He blinked at her in confusion. He’d asked her what she thought about being his mate, and this wasn’t an answer.
“I want to see your wolf, and I’m guessing you want to see my magic,” she clarified. “So, who’s first?”
Okay. Sure, he could do that. Whatever he needed to do to make her feel better.
“I can show you mine first if it will help make you feel more comfortable.”
She nodded. He stepped off the path, trekking a bit through the trees before he stripped out of his clothes. Then, Rhett drew in a deep breath and called on the magic he had been born with. Immediately he felt a drop in the atmospheric pressure. The wind picked up and swirled around him. Each bone in his body snapped and began to transform. His face elongated, and fur sprouted across his body. Within seconds, he stood on four feet instead of two.
He heard Sara gasp and watched as her face contorted with shock. He calmly sat on his hind legs and let her get used to the idea that he had just shifted into a wolf. What he wouldn’t give to have their mate link activated already, so they could speak telepathically. He would love to know exactly what it was that was running through that beautiful head of hers.
* * *
Sara could hardly believe it,and in fact, she wouldn’t believe it at all if she hadn’t just watched as the most handsome man she had ever met turned into the most beautiful black wolf she had ever laid her eyes on.
Sure, she’d just seen a whole pack of young wolves change and run into the woods, but there was something different about watching it so close-up, and to someone you’d been feeling attraction to … someone she’d just been kissing!
Plus, Rhett’s wolf was huge! Nearly half the size of a horse! She had no idea wolves could be so damn big. And his eyes … they were still his. Yes, those mesmerizing eyes of his were blessedly the same.
She wanted to pet him to see if his fur was as soft and thick as it looked, but she had no idea if he was in full control of himself or not. It certainly seemed like he was, especially when he sat back on his haunches and whined at her. Would it be safe to approach him and pet him?
One of the memes she had shared on Facebook popped into her mind: I will most likely die petting something I shouldn’t!
She laughed at the thought of the funny meme.
“Can you understand me?” she asked, wondering how much of Rhett was truly present when he was in his wolf form.