*Warning: Explicit Chapter*

“I’m so afraid of never being this way with you again,” he whispered against my bare shoulder, his arms still wrapped around my waist and pulling me back against him.

A small grin etched onto my face, humming in agreement. I giggled over our little secret shared here at the creek again.

I had snuck out the house the moment everyone was occupied for the night. I had let them know I was going to bed and that I’d see them in the morning. Today’s draining dilemma was sufficient enough when I said how worn out I was.

“Goodnight, Button,” my dad sighed, hugging Mom closer to him. They had the fireplace on and just sat in the dark lit living room. They both looked at me and though they were trying to keep up appearances, I knew they were hurting.

Sawyer and Cece were at the dining table, Sawyer comforting my sister as she sniffled and whispered to him. Her mate nodded, brushing the back of her hair and mumbled back to her.

My little brother and Nikko had been outside for almost an hour now. They were sitting on the porch stairs the last I saw them.

Nikko had been thrown out of the alpha’s house by his dad after the agreement that was made. It took some time for Mom and Dad to console Nikko, and they assured him that he was more than welcome to stay with us. Indirectly, my parents told the former Beta that he was our family now.

I don’t think Cody could have been more happy, even if it was a bittersweet moment.

Wade a different matter.

My older brother was in his room when I passed by to head to mine. The door was open and he was lying back on the bed with his large headphones on. Wade’s music was on such a high volume, I could hear the muffled words from here—even if I hadn’t been a Werewolf.

With his eyes on the ceiling, and his arms behind his head, Wade sensed someone watching him. His head turned slightly, seeing me standing in the doorway. I offered a small grin, and my brother just stared for a moment. And then looked away to the ceiling again.

I internally sighed, understanding Wade was not really angry at me, but for me. And it was killing him that he couldn’t do anything to stop the other alpha from taking me tomorrow.

Closing my bedroom door, I listened out for my family in case they attempted to pass my room. I didn’t hear anything indicating they would be bothered to come check on me.

I turned around, grabbing a sweater to yank on then quickly headed to the window. This was a familiar scenario from a month or two ago, I realized, as I climbed onto the side of the roof, inching over to sit on the edge before sliding my way down the side.

Peering over my shoulder, I pushed off the side of the house in a big leap and ended up rolling onto the ground. I laughed lightly, shaking my hair out of any grass in it then got to my feet to brush off any grass on my backside. It was a little difficult to tell in the dark so I shrugged it off and headed for the clearing.

I had to go around the long way since Cody and Nikko would have spot me from where they were on the porch. Talk about Deja Vu.

The walk to the clearing was quiet other than a few crickets I could hear chirping away. I entered the forest after looking around for anyone outside and then made the fifteen minute walk to where I could already hear the gurgling water from the creek.

My feet picked up their pace and it was only when I saw Ridge turn around from staring at the creek that I couldn’t help running over to him. That beautiful smile of his appeared as soon as he saw me. Ridge caught me when I jumped into his arms. He held me tightly and I sighed, shutting my eyes to rest my head on his shoulder.

When I pulled my head back to look at him, my mate told me how much he missed me these hours we were separated. I nodded that I missed him just as much.

“I found it almost impossible to get away,” he told me, frowning as he still held me to him. “Molly wouldn’t stop bitching about wanting to come into my house to talk to me about what happened at the wedding. Trying to make excuses that whatever I was told about her wasn’t true.”

I lowered a brow, not really eager to talk about her. I only had so much time and I rather talk about literally anything else.

Ridge saw the look on my face and he sighed, apologizing. He told me how he had to sneak out of his bedroom window after slamming the door in her face when she followed him into the house despite his mother forbidding Molly but his father let it slide.

I was annoyed at how lenient Alpha Beaumont was on Molly…

Grinning, I mumbled how great minds think alike since I made a similar getaway from my own family.

Ridge laughed, kissing my nose before he sighed and lifted a hand to tuck my hair behind my ear.

“Can I kiss you now?” he asked with want in his voice.

Instead of answering (verbally), I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and hoisted myself up. My legs wrapped around his waist and I leaned in to kiss him. The blood running through my veins was hot, and my wolf and I were so eager to have at our mate.

The growl he made with his bottom lip caught between my teeth made me moan. The wolf in me purred at being able to satisfy our male. She was just as eager to please his wolf as I was to please his human.

Our kiss became a bit more forceful. Demanding. The way our mouths worked against the other was making me so hot and bothered, I couldn’t help the way I was gripping to him, purposely gliding my fingernails down the side of his neck to show how little restraint I had.

Ridge mumbled my name, kissing my lips repeatedly before shifting them along my jaw and neck. My eyes shut, tipping my head back for Ridge to nip at my skin. A soft sigh escaped me, and I straightened, resting my forehead against his and my brows furrowed.

My heart raced so wildly and my thoughts went blank other than focusing on the tantalizing sensations of Ridge’s kisses. I could feel both the human and wolf connecting onto the same wave-length before snapping my eyes open. Just from Ridge’s mono second wide eyes, I knew my wolf’s natural color was present.

The Beta stared at me, the corner of his lip tugging upward as he whispered how beautiful my eyes were.

I nodded, “Uh huh…” while desperately touching the sides of his face. It was uncontrollable how I kept leaning over to plant soft kisses along his jaw and worked my way to his mouth.

I pulled back a bit, panting as I ordered, “No more talking.”

My Beta was so compliant.

We lowered to the ground after Ridge pulled off my sweater. Ridge hovered over me, kissing me again. His lip bit mine and I moaned, arching my hips upward. The straps of my tank top slid off my shoulders and Ridge pressed his lips against my hot skin.

Ridge had no problem telling me in his silent open mouthed kisses that he was going to take his time giving me what I wanted. He wasn’t going to rush this moment no matter how badly I needed it.

His hand slid down my thigh, slipping underneath the loose space of my shorts. My head tipped back, eyes shutting from his teasing touch while Ridge bent, leaving open-mouthed kisses down my throat. He shifted to leave a trail along the neck line of my tank top, revealing a peek show of my breasts snugged underneath.

The warmth of his breath on my skin forced my head back as he sunk towards my neck line again. Ridge slipped his hand out from my shorts and I whimpered his name, already missing his long fingers inside me.

Ridge glanced at me, a wicked smirk on his lips and continued watching me while he slid his hand back up against the outside of my thigh. His fingers latched onto the hem of my pajama shorts and underwear. That smirk lingered as his green eyes switched to the shimmering gold of his wolf.

Staring at him, I panted heavily. All I could think about was that I wanted him! Needed him!

Ridge kept my mouth occupied as he removed the clothing in his way. My shorts and underwear were tossed to the side, his gaze still on me. Another low growl emitted from him, reaching to get my tank top out of the way too.

And oh, how blood-pulsing it was to see how much that golden gaze of his intensified when there was no bra to remove. I grinned up at him before his gaze flicked to mine.

Ridge growled, hovering over me again. Those beautiful lips peppered kisses down the valley of my breasts and I was gripped the earth underneath me as his tongue teased, suckled, and gently bit each breast. This man was quickly learning the places to touch me to set me on fire.

“I want to know your body as I know my own, Gianna…” he mumbled against my stomach. He glanced at me, the shimmering gold heightened in the moonlight. Ridge returned to drifting down my torso then pulling my knees over his shoulders, cradling my thighs and his mouth now between my legs.

My body gave into him, arching with every quivering moment building inside me. My teeth grit from the pleasurable feeling becoming too much. But Ridge wouldn’t let up, not until I went over that heavenly edge.

Staring up at the moonlight, my wolf’s eyes brightened. The elastic sensation was straining tighter and tighter until it snapped and I cried out my mate’s name. My body relaxed, panting heavily while the fresh air cooled my hot skin.

Ridge’s face appeared above me and he chuckled, “When you climax, it’s fucking music to my ears, Gianna. But I’m sure even the pack heard you from here.”

I closed my eyes, laughing lightly. Pushing myself up onto my elbow, I wound the other arm behind his neck to bring Ridge in for a kiss.

Our foreheads rested against the other’s, always a comforting positioning for me once we pulled back a bit.

I surprised the Beta by wrapping my legs around his waist and rolled us over, pushing Ridge onto his back. I didn’t care that leaves fell out of my hair from where I had been lying, not when I got to enjoy the surprised look on my mate’s face.

The Beta placed his hands on my hips as I straddled him, slowly stroking downward to graze up and down my thighs. I grinned, leaning to bite his bottom lip, hearing his groan and feel his fingers tighten on my thighs.

“Your turn to enjoy the view,” I mumbled against his lips, sitting up with a hand braced on his hard chest.

It gave me leverage when I reached with my other hand to guide myself onto him. We moaned, Ridge shutting his eyes and tipped his head back with a bared teeth growl. I kept my eyes open, wanting to watch his face as I started to ride against him. At first it was slow so I could get a good rhythm going and then my hips rolled a little more, my heavy panting caught between whimpered moans.

I bowed my head, my nails digging into Ridge’s chest as I clawed downward. Ridge tilted his head back, groaning, “Fuck… Keep riding, Gianna… Aw, fuck!” which only made this so much hotter that I rode him harder.

His golden eyes snapped open; staring back at my blue ones before Ridge was sitting up and wrapped his arm around my waist. He flipped me onto my back, the leaves crunching underneath me.

I winced, growling a bit at not reaching my orgasm then whimpered out that my wolf wanted control, that she was desperate to show Ridge dominance. This only made those golden eyes of his shimmer. The Alpha blood in him was emerging, growling at my words and said nothing as he buried himself deep inside me.

Crying out, I arched, gripping his forearms as I met that powerful thrust. Ridge growled into my neck, grazing his teeth on my skin as he made his way up to my ear.

The Beta used that same seductive growl to finally respond to my plea of my wolf wanting control. He teased, “Make me, Quail Wolf.”

The burst of fire within me was rushing at his challenge. His eyes locked with mine, his hands clamping my wrists above my head and I arched, mouth agape at his hips still working against mine in short, hard thrusts.

“Show me why you’re more than my alpha female…” Ridge challenged, lowering to kiss me with so much desperation.

I growled against his lips, purposely biting him. Ridge growled back, leaning away as my eyes flashed in warning. I broke out of his hold and tugged his face to mine again. Ridge’s grin told me how much he was enjoying this new side of me and I didn’t want to disappoint.

Giving a quick glance to those delicious lips of his, I narrowed my eyes and bit out to my Alpha Male that I wanted to feel just how good it was to be dominated.

My mate didn’t disappoint either when he smashed his mouth to mine to take me under the moonlight like I wanted.

Ridge kissed my shoulder and worked his way up the side of my neck. Grinning, my hand covered his that was draped across my stomach. His nose brushed along my neck towards my ear, his teeth sliding ever so gently over my earlobe.

I felt his sigh on my skin as he mumbled, “A week. I felt your rejection for just that short amount of time and yet, it was nothing compared to what I had put you through.”

I opened my eyes, my forehead snuggled now in the crook of his neck. I could feel the vibration of his words as he spoke; his arms wrapping around my waist to not let any space between us.

“All those times…” he hoarsely whispered. “All those times that I had been with her…”

My eyes shut tightly, the memory of what agonizing pangs I felt in my chest and stomach was barely recognizable now.

Ridge sighed again, shaking his head. “I was so unfair to you, Gianna.”

I looked at him and his green eyes shifted to me. Brows furrowed, I reminder Ridge that the day I rejected him wasn’t fair to him. That I blamed him about choosing Molly over me when he wasn’t at fault. He’d been manipulated to believe she was his True Mate when it was me the whole time. Ridge wouldn’t look at me and so I sighed, letting him know that my heart was his. Always had been. And that I never wanted him to ever think he was the reason we were kept apart.

The corner of his tugged up a bit, shaking his head then met my gaze with a raised hand to trace the side of my face.

Ridge smiled, taking me in. “You have such a selfless heart, Quail Wolf.”

I grinned at the nickname he gave me. It didn’t feel dangerous or scary coming from him. It sounded more endearing.

And then Ridge admitted that he could never be as strong as I was. For an Alpha Blood to admit their inability to be stronger than another was unheard of. But here Ridge was, admitting to me he didn’t think he could have survived being in my shoes for as long as I’d been agonized those months.

“I feel ashamed to think of you in someone else’s arms the way you are with me right now,” he admitted.

Ridge held me tighter to prove his point. I could feel him frown as he growled out, “In his.”

My mate sighed, brushing his nose into my hair. “I don’t know how I’m going to let you go…”

Sitting up, I twisted myself around to straddle him and wrapped one arm around his neck. My free hand traced along his jaw, watching them glide for a moment, then I met those beautiful green eyes.

Tilting my head, I shook it that Ridge didn’t have to. That, sure, I wasn’t going to be around but that I’d still be with him. Placing my hand on his chest, where his heart was, I smiled, “As cliché as it is, Ridge. I’ll be right here.”

Ridge’s green eyes hardened, pulling me closer and shook his head that it wasn’t enough. That he wanted all of me, not just the memory.

“I can’t do it, Gianna! How can I just watch you leave with him? Let that fuck take you from me, just to give you to some damn nephew of his like you mean nothing?”

Ridge closed his eyes, his eyelashes wet with tears before opening them to ask, “Do you doubt my ability to protect you?”

I frowned, shaking my head as I took hold of his face. “No. Of course I don’t—”

“Then why won’t you let me fight for you?” Ridge asked desperately. With the tears in his eyes, Ridge’s eye color was similar to Grandma Smith apples. It was entrancing.

“Let me fight him, Gianna,” Ridge pulled me back from my admiration.

Swallowing, I pleaded with Ridge to understand that I could not let him fight Alpha Hannibal. Not after I had offered myself to go with him if, and only if, he would let Cody be with Nikko because it was the only way to secure my little brother’s happiness with the one he was meant for.

I was the bargaining chip. And after making sure Nikko was okay with renouncing his role as the future alpha to his dad’s pack, I knew that there was no going back.

“The way Alpha Hannibal looks at me is uncomfortable… and strange,” I frowned, lowering my gaze to the side. “It… It did make me uneasy, like I said, but I just thought it was because of him trying to intimidate me.”

I stared at my fingers trace along my Beta’s chin, frowning a bit more.

“But I don’t think that was it at all. Not entirely. It was like he was relishing the idea of knowing who I am… what I am…”

I drifted off, dropping my fingers to Ridge’s chest; caressing the toned muscle there. Lifting my eyes, I purposely changed them to the blue of my wolf’s.

“He doesn’t want me, Ridge. He wants the Quail Wolf.”

With these eyes, I could see Ridge so much more clearly, his handsome face that I thought was flawless, wasn’t. I could see the small scar on the left side of his top lip, another on the side of his forehead, and then how deeply his dimples went. Though his dimples weren’t really a flaw at all. Not at all.

I wondered if he could see me as clearly with his own wolf eyes. Or if mine were adjusted so much clearer because of what I was.

Slowly, I let the blue color fade back to my human ones, and tilted my head, touching his face again.

“Ridge, it’s not because I don’t think you are incapable of protecting me, because I’m sure you can. Just as my family has been doing for me all these years. I just want to keep you and Carmel safe. It’s my job—as a Quail Wolf—to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I have to choose my path. And—and I want it to be a good path.”

Ridge growled out in frustration, shaking his head as he clasped onto my arms.

“Don’t you understand that he won’t care about your pure intentions?! He’s going to use you, Gianna! Hannibal’s going to draw out the Quail Wolf for her power!”

I lowered a brow as he went on. He huffed a heavy breath, growling, “That prick won’t see eye-to-eye with what you want! The good that’s in you—you—”

Ridge hung his head, slowly letting out a shaky breath though he hadn’t released me. When he picked his head up again, Ridge just stared at me for the longest time before whispering, “I’m scared that you’ll go dark.”

Raking my fingers through the front of his hair, I frowned, asking him how he knew about the Quail Wolf. That it wasn’t a common topic in our world.

“My grandmother used to tell me stories at bedtime before my dad made her stop.”

Ridge shrugged a shoulder, pursing his mouth to the side as he admitted how fascinated he was at the idea of a wolf who was like a Super Hero. I grinned at this and he let out a small chuckle. Ridge sobered, looking at me as he explained further that his father wanted the stories to stop because he didn’t want Ridge’s head filled with nonsense.

I sat there quietly, watching him talk about the Quail Wolf and how frightened Ridge was about me going with Alpha Hannibal. He was afraid for me—from what he’d read about in secret growing up—that I would be consumed by the Darkness forced on me.

When I asked Ridge if he had so little faith in me to not keep control, Ridge scowled that that wasn’t what he meant.

“Gianna… with a heart like yours…” he kissed my nose. “You would be willing to give up the light in you if it meant protecting those who could not stand for themselves. The willingness to see that one puts others before themselves is every Quail Wolf’s downfall. They refuse to take a stand for themselves in going against the Darkness because they don’t want casualties.”

I pondered his words as he went on.

“But in a war… casualties are made. Regardless. Especially if a Quail Wolf turns Dark. They become more powerful than any other Were, and all that fills their mind is the need to hurt… to kill… to make others suffer because it is their newfound delight.”

The man in front of me looked off to the side, narrowing his eyes.

“I never understood why Quail Wolves never had faith in themselves to stay in the light, to stand just as strong in the light as they would in the dark. It’s almost like they all wanted to go dark.”

I was without words.

Everything he said was making sense. It was in my nature to be kind, gentle, and to love those who cannot love themselves or get taken advantage of, even if I get hurt in the process.

But just today when that manic she-wolf had indirectly challenged my wolf to become more in control with myself, I had almost given in just as easily.

Swallowing, I asked in a soft voice, “It’s inevitable then… isn’t it?”

I looked Ridge scowling back in confusion. My voice shook as I reiterated, “That—that I’m going to go dark. I have no way of stopping it.”

Ridge growled, shaking me lightly, “You’re not listening, Gianna! I am telling you that you can still be protective of those who cannot fight for themselves, but you don’t have to be evil to do so! It doesn’t make sense if you will end up hurting those people anyway because they are weaker than you!”

Ridge sighed heavily, closing his eyes.

“I am so in love with you, Gianna Gomez. And as long as you hold onto that…”

My mate raised his brows, staring at me as he held my hand in his, resting it on his chest.

“As long as you remember that emotion, it can be like a force field around your heart. The Darkness can’t seep in. It takes a love like ours, Quail Wolf, to keep you from the evil getting into that pure heart of yours.”

“I… I don’t know what to say, Ridge…” I swallowed, tearing up at how much faith he had in me. How much faith he had in my wolf to keep her from going dark.

The Beta shook his head. “Don’t say anything, he replied, pulling me to him for a kiss.

When he brushed his nose against mine, Ridge swallowed hard, the light green of his teary eyes appearing again as he whispered, “Just don’t forget about us, OK?”

I nodded, lip and chin trembling as I hugged him, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

My gaze stared off at the creek behind him while the fear of what was to become my reality tomorrow was seeping in. It was becoming so real to me now, and I had given myself to Alpha Hannibal’s pack as a way to protect mine. But Ridge’s words made me realize that maybe I was going about this the wrong way. Why did I always make such impulsive decisions?

Alpha Hannibal knows what I am. I’m not stupid enough to think that he wouldn’t know the history behind Quail Wolves, and what they are capable of. Hell, he only stayed so long in our territory long enough that he found one. And without even realizing it.

That fear coursed through me, sending an intense panic in my voice.

“Oh, Ridge!” I wept, shaking in his arms, pulling him closer. “I’m so frightened!”

Ridge pulled back, taking my face in his hands and shook his head. His brows dipped, softly admitting, “If we could run and never look back, I would jump at the chance, Gianna. But we both know that would be impossible. They’d catch us and keep us apart anyway.”

He licked his lips, sighing out a long breath and then said that he had something for me. He held my waist to keep me in his lap while leaning over for his sweater. He rummaged through the front pocket and pulled something out.

Sitting us up again, Ridge held his gift between us. I stared at it, hearing him say that he learned how to do this on his own but that he messed up so many in the process. Ridge finally had to ask one of the little girls in the pack to help him.

I looked into his eyes, seeing the boyish grin widen at my awe. Flashbacks to when we were children came back and I’d make him flower crowns to wear. And now… Ridge made one for me. There were tiny pinks and blues and yellows all tucked into the twined stemmed circle. And it was perfect.

Ridge reached over, placing the crown on my head and smiled that I looked more radiant than ever. He held my hand to his chest after he kissed my palm.

With those green eyes locked on mine, Ridge’s tone lowered, feeling the territorial vibrations coming off of him.

“I don’t care what it takes. You’re mine. And I’m yours. I’m sick and tired of things fucking getting between us! But not anymore. Tomorrow… tomorrow I’m settling this once and fucking for all.”

My eyes widened, shaking my head as I asked him what he was planning. But Ridge only kissed me, telling me to not worry about it. That he was going to take care of it.

When he wouldn’t answer me how, Ridge softly shushed me and whispered that he loved me very much.

“And I love you, too, Ridge… but—”

He placed a finger to my lips, shaking his head with a grin. “You talk too much, Quail Wolf.”

I fell silent for a moment, frowning at his chest because he wouldn’t tell me what he was planning. Ridge used a finger under my chin to lift my head up. The seriousness in his face made his boyish features disappear. His Alpha Blood was peering through.

Ridge leaned closer, shaking his head lightly.

“I need you to be the Quail Wolf you are for me, Gianna. She knows how to give you confidence, and make you stronger in a way that anyone can only dream of.”

I shrugged a shoulder, that everyone always told me some version of that.

Ridge laughed, nodding that it was because it was true. He shook his head, lowering a brow. “Why are you so afraid to let her control you?”

Keeping from speaking a moment, just using my finger to trace down his abdomen, I sighed, “My family and I… We’ve been so afraid of what I’d do if I gave her full control.”

Glancing up at him, I frowned, “You saw what I did today, Ridge! I almost went with that crazy she-wolf! I can’t let that happen if my wolf’s in full control! The things I could do—”

“Yes,” Ridge interrupted with a nod. He breathed out with a grin. “The things you could do… the good things. But only if you let her have full control when you need it most. She’s a part of you in every way, Gianna. Your wolf thinks as you do and feels as you do. You’re so much different than the other Quail Wolves that I’ve read or was told about.”

I frowned again and Ridge smiled instead.

“My grandmother used to tell me—one of the last things she said to me during those bed times—was that a Quail Wolf’s true heart lies within who they share. The human side of those other Quail Wolves from centuries ago embraced the Darkness.”

He raised a brow, stressing, “They allowed themselves to be manipulated by everything that had hurt them. Whether it was the people, their surroundings… whatever it was that seeped into them to turn dark. Their wolves lost themselves to their humans, Gianna. Not the other way around.”

My eyes widened, blinking at this.

Ridge shook his head again, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Your human is different because you’re beautiful inside; your kindness and love that given to those around you—no matter the pain endured—allows your wolf to be the same. You have a beautiful heart, my Beloved Quail Wolf, and the only one who stands in the way of fighting off what is to come… is you.”

I broke out into a sob, a small form of relief filling my chest because of Ridge’s words.

The fact the Beta knew so much because of what he’d learned, and was told, was something giving me hope. I didn’t know anything about Quail Wolves except that they were special but dangerous. But anything more about it was limited.

My dad only knew so much and I hadn’t even bothered to research them myself. I didn’t even think about it. I was too caught up in keeping my secret.

Ridge let me get my cry out, just holding me to him, stroking my hair and kissing my shoulder.

After a while, I whispered, “Ridge…?”

“Hm…?”

“I know you said it’s not… but—but if this is our last goodbye…”

I paused, biting my lip and let out a slow breath of air as the creek’s water gurgled. I let out a slow breath, resting my cheek on his shoulder.

“Will you make love to me one more time?”

Ridge didn’t say anything for a moment, probably thinking about my doubt of saving me tomorrow—which I kind of was, to be honest. He shook his head and kissed my shoulder before sitting me up. He looked at me, giving me a small smile as those green eyes softened.

“I will…” Ridge nodded, lowering a brow. “Like it’ll be our last… though it won’t. I can promise you that, Quail Wolf.”

I smiled a little, touching the side of his face and then pressed a kiss to his forehead. Ridge grinned before he laid me down on the forest floor and we got lost in another again.