Alex woke up to an empty bed, but she’d expected that. Last night, Vasilis had explained that on every full moon the castle was busy preparing for a possible attack.
She’d shown immediate concern, but he’d put her at ease, telling her they hadn’t been attacked in over fifty years. The Lycans in the mountains knew the castle was well protected with a fleet of Lycan warriors.
She rose from the bed and dressed in the riding outfit Vasilis had had the maid fold neatly in one of the drawers. She frowned only for a fraction of a second, recalling last night when Vasilis had told her he didn’t want her leaving the grounds without him. He was worried for nothing, she decided. She’d take her horse out for a short run this morning and then spend the day with Ariel. Besides, Vasilis was busy in the great hall with his father and his guards organizing their night when the full moon rose.
She was looking forward to riding her black steed. For over a week now, she’d been sitting in a wagon and she missed the freedom she felt when she was galloping on horseback.
Thirty minutes later, she was riding out into the fields, past the village below the mountain. The wind on her face and the sun on her back were calming her heightened senses. Since last night, she felt different. She couldn’t explain it, but it was as though she heard and smelt everything.
Ridiculous, she scoffed inwardly, gripping the reins. There were many explanations for it and she opted to choose coincidence.
Alex frowned, pushing her thoughts away as the hair on the nape of her neck rose. Glancing sharply behind her, all she could see was the vast expanse of empty fields, but she was still tense. Why did she feel like someone was following her?
She galloped harder and faster, leaning forward on her horse when a curious tingling persisted on her back. She turned around again and gasped. She could see a black shadow far into the fields gaining incredible distance on her. She crouched over her steed and clicked her tongue as her horse raced ahead. At one point, she turned around and gasped. The black shadow was almost behind her. It was a massive black wolf. Alex screamed.
‘Faster, boy. Faster,’ she urged her steed, but it was useless. The wolf was now racing at her side.
She glanced down and frowned. It looked familiar and this close to it, she was oddly unafraid. Was it Vasilis?
The wolf made a strange sound and she gasped. It was a curious mixture of a yelp and a howl. She looked back down at it and saw it snap its gaze to her. It made a curious motion with its head, almost as though it nodded and she brought her steed to a thunderous stop.
She dismounted as her heart raced in her chest. The wolf stopped and remained motionless before her, gazing at her with its amber eyes.
She then gasped as it transformed into the tall, muscular form of Vasilis. He was in his human form and very naked. Her heart flipped over in her breast. She ignored his clenched fists at his sides. He was angry.
‘I forbade you to go riding alone,’ he practically roared. ‘Damnation, woman, do you not understand there are dangers everywhere.’
‘I’m…I’m sorry, but surely you can’t be serious? What can possibly happen out here? Look around, there’s nothing but fields upon fields.’
He grimaced. ‘Did you not see how I gained speed on you?’
She worried her lower lip. He was right. He did move incredibly fast and any other Lycan with deadly intentions could have easily caught up to her.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a small voice.
With a grim face, he reached for her and drew her in his arms, hugging her close. ‘Do you not realise what I would go through living the rest of my immortal existence without you? I would take silver to my own heart if that happened.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she repeated against his chest. He kissed her on the top of her head and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her body against his.
She felt him stiffen. She lifted her face and looked at him. ‘What is it?’ She saw his expression darken with desire as his gaze skimmed her face. She raised her face and parted her lips invitingly.
With a strangled groan, he brought his head down and kissed her, his arms drawing her body close to his. Alex sighed against his mouth and pressed her lower body against his erection.
A low groan emitted from his throat and she opened her mouth as their tongues mingled and meshed. She could kiss him forever, she realised. In his arms was where she felt complete, whole and she never wanted to lose this feeling.
Startled, she felt him lowering her to the ground. She grasped him around his shoulders and looked up into his face. He was regarding her with a taut expression, his mouth thinned as though he was suppressing something violent at bay. She shivered in spite of the sun’s heat and her warm riding skirt and closed her eyes. She trusted him. She loved him.
With a rough hand, she felt him raise her skirt to her waist and grab her undergarments, ripping them away from her silken folds and then touching her.
Alex gasped with pleasure.
‘You are ready for me,’ he said huskily.
She didn’t know what that meant and she didn’t care. She spread her legs and squeezed her eyes, clutching his shoulders.
‘Do it now,’ she said hoarsely.
Without another word, he positioned himself over her and plunged deep into her warmth. Her tight sheath accommodated his generous size and they moved together in unison.
His hands slid over her bottom and he crushed her to his heat. Alex was spiralling again, out of control, and she arched her neck, gasping for release.
Her body exploded with sheer pleasure a moment before he buried his head in her neck and growled his release.
They lay there for a few minutes, their laboured breaths recovering, when he slowly raised his head and stared down hard at her.
‘Never leave the grounds without me again,’ he said hoarsely.
‘I…I won’t,’ she replied.
He rose, helping her up and fixed her skirt over her.
She stared at his naked magnificence and smiled. ‘Somehow, I don’t think you should be parading all your male glory through the town.’
His mouth quirked with dry amusement. ‘When I realised you went out riding, I followed you on horseback. I knew you were too far ahead and I was worried your safety so I left my horse just outside the village, along with my clothes.’
She looked down at her riding attire. ‘I don’t have anything to give you.’
He shrugged. ‘No matter. I’ll return as my wolf and dress when I return to our chambers. Come.’
He shifted into his massive, black wolf form. Before she climbed her horse, she leaned over him and ran a hand over his thick black fur.
He threw back his head and howled just before he brought his mouth to her hand and licked it. She smiled, climbed on her horse and they rode back side-by-side.
