And then he saw the Red Fangs pack swarming around a battered green car. He saw the Alpha of the Red Fangs, Rhett, clawing through the broken windscreen to reach the frightened female in the car. And he saw Logan, Rhett's second-in-command, lunge at the human woman.
Just as she screamed, Declan threw himself at Rhett and Logan, knocking the two red wolves away from the terrified woman. He would have killed Rhett, tore out the red wolf's throat and snapped its neck, if he hadn't sucked in a lungful of her scent at that exact moment.
Her scent, her all too human scent, hit him like a locomotive. Declan reeled back, and by the time he shook himself and cleared his head and vision, Rhett had made his escape. Declan wanted to give chase, but he couldn't leave her. She was human, a vulnerable, fragile human, and she was—his mate. She wasn't just his female. Alpha wolves could have many females. She. Was. His. Mate. His one and only.
Declan howled a command to his wolves to chase the red wolves off, and make sure they didn't circle back to attack the human woman in the car. The red wolves had fled, with his pack hot on their heels. He was left alone with a frightened, bleeding human woman. A woman who was his fated mate.
Declan never expected that his fated mate would be human. And after what she had just gone through, he thought that she would be scared of him. Instead, she trusted him with her life. She settled her soft, curvy body on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Declan had to resist the urge to howl with pride as he carried her to Misty Valley. He had kept watch outside her hotel the whole night, but he made sure that he was well hidden by the shadows. He didn't want to spook her.
And now, she was walking shyly beside him, her shoulder brushing softly against his arm.
“Thank you,” she said suddenly, making him jerk.
Declan turned to see Mina smiling as she slid her hand into the crook of his arm. “It was you. That big white wolf. I knew I'd recognize you,” she said, looking up into his eyes.
He swallowed. Do you recognize me as your mate?
She smiled, visibly relaxing as she walked beside him. “Misty Valley is lovely,” she said, looking into the windows of the shops and cafes, and sniffing at the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread as they passed a few bakeries. “Thank you for getting my car. That was...really sweet. I'll pay the company back. I owe you...”
Declan shook his head. “You owe me nothing.”
“But...”
“We take care of our...staff.”
Mina frowned, then stiffened when she realized that they were walking arm in arm. “Oh, I'm sorry! I just did it unconsciously. What was I thinking? I didn't realize...I didn't mean to be so familiar...that's inappropriate, Mr Grant...” she stammered, pulling her hand away.
Declan grabbed her wrist and tucked her hand right back where it belonged. In his pants. No, hand! In his hand, that's where. They would walk hand in hand, not hand in pants.
Declan took a sharp breath, feeling as if his pants had suddenly shrunk. His pants felt a little too tight for comfort and he knew why. He just hoped that Mina wouldn't notice that enormous bulge straining against his zipper.
Mina let out a nervous giggle.
“What?” Declan said gruffly.
“I...I don't know. I just...I don't want you to have the wrong idea. I usually don't hold hands straightaway with a guy I've just met. It's just that...I feel pretty comfortable with you. Which is weird. Because I've just met you, and yet, I feel as if...” She bit her lip. “...as if I've known you for a long time. I should be scared of you. You're a werewolf!” She let out a high pitched laugh. “Like those red wolves who attacked me...”
“No,” Declan snarled, rounding on her. “We are not like the Red Fangs.”
Mina shrank back. “I didn't mean...”
Declan forced himself to step back, but he didn't release his grip on her hand. “We are wolves, but we would never hurt a helpless, human female. And we would never touch someone's mate,” he growled under his breath.
Her gray eyes rounded. “Mate? Who...”
“Is there anything you would like to ask me about Snow River Construction?” Declan said quickly. “It's a new job, a new town for you. It must be a little...confusing, and very frightening...”
“I'm not frightened. In fact, I think I'll like it here,” she said, surprising him. “You've welcomed me so warmly, and...all of you protected me last night.” She stopped and frowned. “How did you know that I was in trouble? I didn't call anybody...”
“My wolf,” Declan said truthfully.
“Your wolf...knew I was in trouble,” she said slowly.
“Yes.”
“And your wolf can sense when any member of your pack is in trouble,” she continued, narrowing her eyes.
“Yes.”
“But...I'm not a member of your pack.”
“You are,” he answered carefully.
“I am not a werewolf.”
“You don't have to be a werewolf to be...” My mate.
Mina frowned at him. “Is there...something you're not telling me, Declan?” she asked, stepping closer to him.
“Oh look! We're here!” Declan said brightly, throwing his arm out to gesture at the breathtaking scenery in front of them. They had wound their way out of the town center and were standing in the middle of a lush, green field. The grass swayed and pointed towards a wide, shimmering lake. Standing at the very edge of that magnificent lake was a row of half-completed houses.
“There! Our latest line of waterfront homes,” Declan announced. “What do you think?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mina stumbled forward and gasped. The lake in front of her sparkled and rippled invitingly. She could see the undulating mountains in the distance and when she looked up, she thought that the sky looked even bluer and brighter out here. At the edge of the vast lake was a row of half-completed two-story houses with solar panel roofs and full-length glass windows.
“Oh,” she exclaimed. “Those houses are amazing! I would love to live in one of those houses!”
She turned to see Declan watching her intently. “I mean...if I can afford it,” she added quickly. “Do you have staff discount?” she joked.
“We do,” he answered seriously. “Take your pick.” He jerked his chin at the empty houses.
Her eyes bugged. “No, no, no, I was just kidding.” She shook her head. “Seriously, I mean...”
“Seriously, take your pick. We haven't sold them yet.”
“Oh, Mr Grant...”
“Declan,” he said sternly. “Call me Mr Grant one more time, and...”
Her lips quirked up. “And what will you do to me...Mr Grant?” She waggled her eyebrows provocatively. She started, taken aback by her own actions. She was flirting shamelessly with her boss! Since when did she become so forward, so bold and brazen?
Since you rode him into town, that's when.
Mina gasped at that smug, naughty voice in her head. “Ah...”
Before she could take a step back, Declan was right in front of her, his chest pressed against hers. Mina tried to back away, but his arms locked around her, caging her in. She blinked hard and whimpered at the dizzying nearness of him, at the heat of his body and the feel of his hot breath on her neck.
“W-what are you doing?” she whispered.
He bent down, his lips hovering just above hers. Her eyelids fluttered as his arms tightened around her. “What do you want me to do, Mina?” he growled softly.
“I...” He dipped his head, and his lips brushed lightly against hers. The mere touch of his lips sent a bolt of lust hurtling down her body. Her breath hitched, and she lost her train of thought. All she could think of was how good his body felt against hers, and how much she wanted those sexy lips on her.
“What do you want, Mina?” he demanded, gazing hungrily into her eyes. “Tell me.”
Before she coul
d stop herself, her greedy hands snagged his collar and pulled him down to her. “I want you to kiss me,” she growled, fisting his shirt. “Kiss me, Declan. Kiss me like you mean it!”
Mina gasped as Declan grabbed her hard and crushed his mouth to hers. His kiss was demanding, bruising, burning, and her lips parted automatically for him.
She heard him growl with pleasure as he explored her mouth with his tongue. His large hand landed on her breast and he squeezed gently as he kissed her. When he grazed the back of his hand against her aching nipple, she let out a moan and arched her back.
“Mina...” he rasped into her mouth. “Mine...”
He continued kissing her with a fierce, feral hunger, pressing her possessively to him. When she dragged her tongue slowly across his lower lip, he groaned and dug his nails into her waist.
He slipped one hand between her legs and Mina felt a rush of moisture in her panties.
Declan's eyes turned a deeper shade of blue and his breathing quickened. “Mina...” he growled dangerously.
She blinked up at him, trembling with anticipation. She didn't know what he was going to do, but she wanted him to do it. She saw how tightly clenched his jaw was, and she saw the veins popping from his neck. His muscles tensed and rippled under his shirt. She knew that he was struggling to restrain himself, and hold on to his control. Looking down, she hid a smile.
There was a very prominent bulge in his jeans. He was hard for her. And she was driving him out of his mind.
Seeing a handsome, powerful man come undone in her arms was incredibly erotic and it did some crazy things to her ego.
She wanted to be the one to snap his restraint, make him lose control.
Walking her fingers seductively up his broad shoulders, she drawled, “Yes, Declan, what do you want? Just what do you want to do...to me, Mr Grant?” she whispered in his ear.
His eyes flashed and he gripped both her wrists in one hand.
“Mina,” he smiled savagely. “You asked for it.”
With that, he tumbled her into the grass, and held her down as she lay on her back, panting.
She let out a squeal and twisted out of his grip. Pummeling his solid chest, she tried to shove him off her but it was like pushing against a wall. They wrestled and rolled in the grass, biting and nipping at each other. Her ponytail had loosened, and Mina knew she looked a right mess with grass, twigs and whatnots tangled in her curls. But she didn't care. She grunted and growled as she tried to pin Declan beneath her.
At last, she pushed him to the ground and straddled him. “Ha!” She pinned his hands on either side of his head and smirked.
His eyes half closed and she felt his body relax under her. He was giving up the fight. She released her hold on him and straightened up, clapping her hands in victory.
Without warning, Declan grabbed her and rolled her onto the grass. She was panting hard as she stared up at him. With a wicked gleam in his eye, Declan stretched her arms high up above her head and lowered his body to hers. Mina gasped and struggled furiously. When her hips jerked up and brushed against his crotch, she let out a cry at the stab of desire that seared all her nerves. An agonizing ache throbbed between her thighs, driving her crazy with need.
Mina blinked rapidly to try to clear her foggy vision. She had wanted to see Declan lose control. Instead, she was the one who was losing all control. Her body was burning, aching, crying out for him.
“Declan...” she whispered. “Oh, Declan!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Declan glared down at his little human and felt his control over his wolf slip a notch. He growled and bared his teeth, but Mina didn't seem to be afraid of him at all. In fact, she seemed to enjoy taunting and teasing him. She was mischievous and playful, full of life and laughter. She knew how to play like a wolf, and she seemed to love the wild as much as he did. Some city girls didn't like nature that much, and rather preferred to sit in an air-conditioned office. But Mina seemed invigorated and emboldened by her walk to the lake. Her cheeks were rosy and her skin was flushed with her exertion. He could scent her perspiration and her fierce arousal, as she squirmed beneath him.
She was driving him out of his goddamn mind.
His wolf was clawing at him, demanding that he take her right now, right here. The wolf wanted to claim its mate, mark her, take her, make her his completely. By sheer, superhuman willpower, Declan wrestled his wolf down, and fought to control his rampaging lust for this beautiful, delectable female.
Mina might be human, but she wasn't weak. She was tough, resilient, and she adapted and learned quickly.
Just last night, she had been attacked by a pack of ferocious red wolves. She was new to Misty Valley and that vicious attack was her very first encounter with the shifters of Misty Valley. Most humans would have gone batshit crazy and hightailed it back to the city. Not his Mina though. She stayed.
Declan knew that humans weren't as sturdy and hardy as shifters. Humans just weren't built for speed and strength. They couldn't draw on the power and instincts of their animals. They had less energy, less reserves to draw on, and when pushed too hard, these fragile humans just broke and crumbled into pieces.
Declan didn't want to break his mate.
He would never, ever hurt her.
But right now, she was asking for it, begging for it. He could see the need and desire in her soft, gray eyes, and feel the trembling in her legs as she parted them for him. The tugging, urging scent of her arousal was tearing his control to shreds. Declan considered himself a highly disciplined man, but right now, he sorely wanted to point his nose to the sky and howl.
Mina whimpered as she gazed up at him, her chest rising and falling as she took shallow, ragged breaths. She raised her hips and rubbed against him, inflaming him beyond all reason.
“Declan...” she whispered.
He stared down the length of her lush, quivering body and swallowed hard. His hands moved of their own accord. Slowly, reverently, his hands trailed down her round shoulders to her chest. He unbuttoned her blouse and spread the two halves of her blouse wide, exposing her soft, curvy body and lace-covered breasts.
He saw a look of uncertainly flicker across her eyes. “Mina,” he said, his voice gruffer and harsher than he'd intended. “You are beautiful. You are so perfect for me.”
“Perfect?” She winced. “I...I'm not slim and toned, like...” she swallowed and let her eyes sweep down his long, muscular body.
“You are perfect!” he said, his eyes flashing. “More than perfect.” He cupped her face. “And I'm going to make every inch of your perfect body...” He ran his fingers over her breasts, skimming the sensitive peaks. “...mine. If any male has seen you naked...” Declan felt his claws slice out. “I'll have to gouge out his eyes!”
At his words, Mina gulped and looked away. Her reaction told him that she had been naked with a man before, and that he wasn't the first man to see and touch her beautiful body. Declan felt a sharp pang of jealousy. He took a deep breath and forced his claws back.
He closed his eyes briefly, feeling his anger seep away. Even through his jealousy, he was quietly relieved that Mina wasn't a virgin. His wolf was going crazy with lust, and he wouldn't do anything to her if she hadn't been with a male before. He might scare her and scar her forever. If she was an innocent little virgin, he wouldn't penetrate her at all, not even with his tongue or his finger. He would not allow himself to taste her, and that would drive his wolf wild with need and frustration. He might just implode or combust spontaneously.
“Mina, hey.” He tiled her chin with one finger. “Hey, look at me. I was joking. Well, not really,” he conceded. “But I won't claw out the eyes of any man you've been with. You have nothing to be ashamed of. We've both been with other people before we met each other.” Declan paused, waiting for her to ask the dreaded question. If she asked him how many females he'd been with, he'd have to answer honestly, “Too many to cou
nt.” It was the truth. Wolves were lusty creatures, and they had to satisfy their bodily needs. But that was all it was. Just a bodily need. He didn't want those females. He didn't hunger for them, or feel all possessive and protective towards them. He never claimed them and marked them. It was just an itch to be scratched. The females experienced the itch too, and he scratched it for them very satisfyingly. But he always made sure that he never slept with any female wolves from his pack. He would never subject his future mate to such humiliation. He was the Alpha, and his mate would be the Alpha's mate. She was to be respected, revered, loved and guarded. He would never allow the female wolves in his pack to have anything over his mate.
Mina turned to look at him. He saw hope and trust in those large eyes. “I've only been with one man,” she confided. “Nate was my first boyfriend...he...” He broke my heart.
Declan saw the look of hurt and betrayal in her eyes, and his claws inched out again. Now he really wanted to claw out that bastard's eyes. The bastard had hurt Mina, and he would kill that creep for her.
Mina shrugged and the hurt in her eyes faded. “He's a liar and a cheat, and he's no longer my concern.” Her voice was calm, thoughtful. “I don't hate him, you know. We were young and well, at sixteen, you see everything through rose-tinted glasses. You like a boy, he likes you back, and you start thinking that you'll be with this person forever.” She gave him a small smile. “He was the only guy I'd been with. So...”
Declan released his breath very slowly.
She'd only been with one man.
One.
He didn't know why he should feel pleased, but he did. What she did before she met him wasn't his business. She could have had any number of lovers before him, and it wouldn't have made a difference. He would be her last lover, and her only lover from here on in. From now to eternity, she would know only his touch, his kiss, his body. No other male would pleasure her and enjoy her sweet, luscious body. She was his, and his alone. Now and forever.
But she's not yours, his wolf growled. You haven't claimed her.
Growl For Me: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Misty Valley Shifters Book 1) Page 4
