Apollo

She dashed butt-naked straight where my family was having dinner. I ran after her.

"Stop!"

The backyard was lit with string lights over long, rectangular tables. Where about twenty members of my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends were having civil conversations.

Then my future wife, like a fucking lunatic, stopped as she saw all of them and she just stood there.

She must've been in too much shock to move, but that was nothing compared to the facial expressions of every member of my family. Women had their jaws dropped on the ground. Men—

I growled without meaning to. Jesus Christ. I sounded like I was going to murder uncle Jerry.

I probably would've.

"Stop." I turned to her, my voice unusually commanding. "Come here."

It was the bond. For whatever reason, I felt confident that she'd listen. I saw it in her eyes. The vulnerable need to please. It was nice.

My family gasped. "He found his mate!"

While everyone panicked and started asking all kinds of questions, she stumbled back a couple of steps, then ran away into the forest.

I took a deep, long breath through my nose. Alright. I'd play.

I followed her in my wolf form, so it felt more like a stroll than a chase, which was kind of funny because she was running like hell. I was just waiting for her to get tired.

Plus, it gave me time to think. Was I actually planning to marry this crazy moron? She cut my lip. She kicked me in the balls. And clearly she wasn't interested.

Maybe I was the crazy one. But I needed this marriage. If Xander became the new Alpha, I was scared of what would happen. It'd be more difficult for the lower class and elders. Xander didn't want weak links in his pack, and he could find ways to get rid of them.

My family wasn't completely against it, but only because Xander made it sound like he was going to send the weak links to a much better place. Somewhere they could be safe, with less pressure and enemies. He played the perfect philanthropist.

It was midnight and the forest was glowing with moonlight. Everything was deep blue, with white silver streaks all across the path and branches.

She had been running a lot slower, like she could barely breathe. We reached a lake that was known for its white cave behind a waterfall. It was one of my favorite places, especially at night.

She stepped into the water, not bothering to look back. So I calmly followed. Shifting back to two legs, I embraced my own nudity which had become a rare occurrence.

"This was such a bad idea..." She whined like all she wanted to do was sleep. "Why, why did we have to find that stupid deer..."

I actually laughed. She was so funny. "Exactly. See what happens when you steal from others? Now you have to pay."

"You wish!" She screamed as if I was serious. "I'll die before I marry you!"

Okay, rude. She didn't even know me.

"Just... fuck off!" She freaking flipped me off, without even looking back. I watched with a slack jaw as she pushed herself up on the edge of the cave and crawled inside.

What was her problem? I wasn't a bad guy! She owed me at least a good reason, before she ruined my life and the only chance I had of having a mate.

"Why are you being such a jerk?" I demanded, climbing inside the cave right after her. When I saw her on the ground with her knees up to her chest, and her arms over her head, I spoke a bit softer. "Can you please just stop running? I'm not going to hurt you."

"If you meant that, you wouldn't come after me."

I scoffed. "If I didn't, you'd get killed! You run like an idiot, you've been drugged and you can't shift, which means your senses aren't sharp enough. Not to mention... you're probably starving."

She lifted her head just enough to reveal her sad eyes, telling me I was right.

"Just let me help you..." I approached slowly, then realized from the way her eyes traveled down my body that I was butt-naked. "Oh. Yeah." I laughed sheepishly, rubbing my neck. "Are you... done staring?"

"Shut up!" She hid her face.

"You can look." I smirked. "I don't mind you checking me out."

"In your dreams. I was just surprised you have such a small dick."

Yeah, right. If anything, I was too big.

"If you even think of touching me, I'll chop your dick off and shove it down your throat," she warned as I stood over her.

"Would it make you more comfortable if I shifted?"

She stayed silent for a moment. "Probably not..."

"Why don't we try?" I crouched on the cold gray stone and winked at her confused expression. I closed my eyes with focus, feeling the animal come forward and take over. My body grew larger, getting covered in a black coat. My teeth sharpened, and all the details in the air became crystal clear.

I laid on the ground and let her take me in. Her heart was beating wildly as she studied every inch of me, her mouth slightly open the entire time.

I tilted my head. What was she thinking?

Did she think I looked good? Or weird?

Feeling defensive, I growled, causing her to laugh a little.

Oh. Alright. To cheer her up more, I turned on my back and put my paws up, sticking my tongue out in a silly way.

She laughed louder.

Score. Maybe she's let me get a little closer. So I scooted near her until my right side was pressing against her hip, then I gave her knee a harmless lick.

She smacked me over the head. "I can chop your wolf dick too, don't fucking test me."

Oh, wow. Sooo terrifying. Just to fuck with her, I brought my nose to her ear and faked a sneeze into it.

She jumped so high, I snorted laughing. "Ughhhh, would you stop? You're so annoying!"

Okay, so maybe this girl was just mean in general. It didn't seem very personal. Sounded like she just needed someone to help her loosen up a little. Have some fun.

I shifted back and made sure I sat in a way that covered my junk. "All jokes aside, I would like for you to come back and eat something. You look like you're starving, and we have a lot of food. I'm sure we can find something that you'd enjoy."

"What's the catch?" She frowned.

"No catch. I... can't promise my family will act properly, but I'll do my best to keep you away from them. I just want you to eat."

"And when I'm done?"

"Then... we'll find you somewhere to sleep."

She narrowed her eyes like she didn't trust me. "Uh-huh. And then?"

"And then you give me babies," I said with a straight face. "Chop-chop."

~A/N~
These idiots haven't even asked for each other's names yet. Animals, I swear...

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