I hadn't expected this. For him to be so—calm.

His words ticked over in my head. He thought I was his mate.

He wanted me!

Even though I just told him I was different and there was a strong possibility I'd killed people and wolves.

Not only that, he was willing to risk his position and his brothers as the head of Wolfe Industries in jeopardy—just for me?

Could I allow him to do that?

Was it wrong to want it so much—want him so much?

Looking into his eyes, still dark from his shift, he looked vulnerable and unsure.

Not the Hunter I recognised. I doubted anyone had seen this side of him.

"Please Sage, you're killing me here. Are you mated to someone someone?" His voice lowered humming with possessive undertones.

I shook my head. "No, Hunter."

Relief reflected for a brief moment before a darker look shadowed his face. "What about, him, Sylar?" He flicked his chin up. "Pearl told me you dream about him."

"You don't have to worry about me and Sylar, Hunter, he's my brother."

In an instant, his face softened, from dark to relieved—hopeful. "Really, yeah? Wait a minute, I thought all your family were dead?" he asked.

"Oui, I thought so too. But it appears my grandfather has been lying to me for the last nineteen years."

And he murdered my parents.

I couldn't tell him that...yet. I wasn't ready to deal with the brutal pain of that fact.

Too late. It hit hard, striking my chest as if stabbed.

My bottom lip quivered, my eyes burned with tears, unable to contain them any longer. My hands rushed to cover my face, not wanting Hunter to see me fall apart.

"Baby," he cooed as he pulled me flush against him. The heat of his body ripped through my ice walls, warming me. "I'm here," he whispered and his words filled me with something I hadn't felt since yesterday—hope.

It made me cry harder.

"Shhh, Sage. Baby. I'm never letting you go, listen to what I'm saying yeah? I want you."

I inhaled a staggered breath. Just him calling me baby affected me more than expected. Heat crept up my neck and across my face whilst my face remained buried in the hard wall of muscled chest.

He deserved my honesty having told him my darkest secret and he hadn't rejected me.

"Yes," I mumbled.

"Yes, what?" he asked softly, kissing the top of my head.

I pulled my head and had to tilt my head back to see him. His eyes now back to their beautiful brown, warm and trusting met mine. "Everything tells me you're my mate. You're mine."

His shoulder pulled back as he stood a little taller but kept his grip firmly on me. A smile crossed my lips as something else happened. His erection was poking into my thigh insistently.

Cockily, he raised an eyebrow, a devilish smirk lifting his lip. His thumbs came up to my face, swiping away a stray tear. "Sorry, he's happy... and my wolf too. He's prancing around and howling. He smiled, shaking his head. "You have his arse whipped too."

My smile fell as I nibbled my bottom lip.

"Sage?" He gripped my chin in between his fingers, lifting my face to look at him. "What?" he prompted.

"I haven't felt my wolf since... the Dream-Walker, yesterday."

"The what... Dream-Walker?" He released his hold on my chin.

He needed to know everything. "The Dream-Walker. He's not human. He might have been once, but—" I shook my head. "Not now."

"So what is he—now?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Oh boy, this was going to be complicated. Stepping back, putting a little distance between us. It didn't help that my temperature was rising with him standing there showing off every rippling ab, every bunch of biceps, every damn delicious part of him,

I tried to keep my focus. "I don't exactly know. But I stupidly gave control over me and he was the one that knocked everyone out in the marquee. I swear Hunter I tried to fight him. I would never have hurt those people, wolves—you."

One stride and he closed our distance, cupping my face. "I believe you, Sage. And your wolf. Trust me, she's still in there."

I did trust him. "Thank you, Hunter"

"For what?"

"For not running screaming in the other direction and for believing me. For still being here."

"It's you and me Sage—us." I watched his mouth curl up into a smile as I stared at him a little dumbfounded, still surprised that he wanted me... Me!

"And do you think I'm giving you up, now that I have you? You heard what I said a minute ago, yeah? You're mine and the second you permit me to mark you, to tell the world that you're mine, then I'm gonna do it. Mark you."

A wave of heat burst through me and before I could blink, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

A low soft wolf-like growl rumbled through his chest as his hands left my face and pulled me flush against him, his hips playfully moving against me.

Mon Dieu.

How I'd missed this—missed him. His fiery mouth on mine, my body pressed up against his as his fingers gripped me tighter. If there had ever been any doubt left in my mind that he wasn't my mate, it would have been flushed out with his kiss alone.

His kiss wasn't gentle and as I responded he became more forceful, hungry. His tongue was possessive of mine as he stroked and tasted my entire mouth. He pushed further into me causing me to stagger backwards, stumbling a little as he kept me tightly pressed into him with both hands now firmly on my waist.

A sudden impact forced my eyes open. I was backed into a tree. Hunter groaned against my mouth, freeing something inside me.

"I want you, Sage. I need to be inside you."

I wanted him. Here? It didn't matter where. I ran my hands up his strong arms before wrapping them around his neck, pulling him even closer and deepening our kiss. I couldn't get enough of him, his taste.

His hands left my waist moving down over the outside of my thighs. He was so hot. Rolling his hips into mine showing me just how much he wanted me. It caused a rush, an ache between my legs, and then I heard something...

In the distance... a howl in my head?

Oui!

She's back.

Her face appeared behind my eyes. She was happy to find me too as she howled, her paws padding up and down on the spot.

And as much as I loved kissing Hunter, I turned my head to the side to break the kiss.

Hunter pulled back slightly, a frustrated growl escaping his mouth, his eyes darker, breathing heavily. He was confused and very aroused.

My breaths were shallow, almost panting. "I felt her when we kissed. It was like you brought her back." I was so excited. I didn't want to wait a second longer, she wanted out, and I wanted to change. "Run with me, oui?"

He ran the back of his hand over his perfect swollen kissable lips and I almost forgot for a second and wanted to pull his mouth back to mine.

"Not fair. You know I can't resist anything you ask of me with that French accent of yours. Fucking drives me insane."

I didn't wait for him to say more. I reached for the hem of my t-shirt and yanked it over my head, before pulling down my leggings and underwear together and kicking them aside. Next came off the bra. There was nothing graceful in my movements.

I glanced at Hunter who was watching me with a mixture of desire and amusement. "Fuck me, if you knew the things I want to do to you—right now." He growled, his eyes tracing the length of me as he sucked his bottom lip in.

"You have to catch me first." I winked as I darted past him and like a gymnast, I flung myself high into the air. Sharp pinpricks ran the length of my body, through my skin while the muscles underneath rearranged with a mixture of pleasure and pain. I was under the mercy of my wolf as we changed effortlessly.

Hitting the ground running—we were off and I howled calling to Hunter to follow.

He didn't hang around and I sensed his wolf dominance.

The earth was soft beneath our feet, and a multitude of smells in the woods assailed me and with Hunter barely a step behind, I had a hard time focusing.

We raced past trees, the wind streaming through my fur. I had never felt so alive.

Slowing, spotting a clearing through the trees, we came to a stop. It was beautiful. Still early, the mist clung to the low-lying branches and bushes.

I knew what I did next meant there would be no turning back. But I wanted this. My wolf wanted this.

He was mine, and I wanted to be his.

My wolf lowered herself to the ground and rolled onto her back, The back of her head nuzzling into the soft grass

From the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter's wolf. He stalked us, his eyes tracking us like prey and my stomach coiled and tensed from anticipation, not fear.

I would admit his wolf was handsome and my wolf agreed. She whimpered as he leaned down and sniffed us, nudging me almost a little too softly. Seeking permission. Remaining still, we watched him as he moved to tower over us. His paws, as large as his hands on either side of my wolf, caging her... us. But we wanted to be caged, captured...owned.

He leant down, nuzzling her snout, sniffling, snuffling with a low growl vibrating through his chest.

Pulling back with our noses almost touching, our eyes locked and I waited.

He needed no encouragement, baring his fangs, his tongue licked over the pointy edges and then swiftly his jaw clamped around my wolf's and a whine escaped her.

His canines sank into our skin, deeper, claiming what was his. His low growl got louder, more possessive and as more feeling and emotions than I'd ever felt started to overwhelm me the pressure stopped and Hunter's wolf retracted his canines. He whimpered and licked over her throat before lifting his head and angling it to offer his throat to us.

My wolf didn't think twice as she pushed her snout into his thick fur and sank her canines into him, tearing through the skin with ease. Sated and the bonding complete she released him and licked over his open wound.

To my astonishment, I heard his voice in my head, echoed by his wolf.

Mate. Mine. Mine.

My wolf responded repeating the same mantra.

This was the bond I'd read about, we were joined, forever.

I started the shift and Hunter followed as I now stared at the man.

My heart beat furiously as I lay there still. "You okay?" he asked.

I nodded as his gaze dropped to my throat. "Mine," he said as his mouth slanted over mine, nipping, kissing, licking. "Mine," he repeated.

I never thought one small word could deliver such an impact on the emotional pull on my heart.

"I need to fuck you Sage," he said his words were filled with need, almost desperation.

Our location was irrelevant. The cold earth beneath me neither registered nor afflicted my body. I wanted him but found it difficult to verbalise, the swirls of emotions and desire flooding my brain and my body.

I nodded.

"Ask me to fuck you," he then demanded. "Tell me you want me, will only ever want me and ask me to fuck you."

I wanted him and the heat between my legs was becoming unbearable.

"Tell me, Sage."

"I want you—I need you."

He growled. "Say it Sage."

I tried again. "Fuck me, Hunter. Please. Do it now."

His mouth curled up into an arrogant, proud smile. "Say it again."

"S'il vows plait—I want you to fuck me, Hunter." My voice steadier.

He groaned, crashing his mouth on mine.