JAREK 

My mind is reeling from what happened today. Trex let go enough to let me be a part of the hunt, and I could feel the mate bond. I’m the one that suggested we go for the wild hog that we could scent from miles away.

It’s tough for me to make sense of my emotions. I’m really distressed about Silver being accepted into the Pack as an Alpha female. I’m unable to sense the mate bond unless I’m in my wolf form, so I’m thinking of rejecting her. If I were to do so, would I be given a second chance, mate? Only a few have been granted that blessing over the millennia. I wouldn’t be able to assume my role as Alpha of the Blood Moon Howler Pack without a mate. Silver would be the one to become Alpha, and there is no way I’m going to let that happen.

“Seriously! This is such a pain in my ass!” I hear Silver scream from next door. Then something shatters as she throws whatever it was against the door.

‘Trex, what the hell was that?’

‘Maybe as her mate, you should go check on her. That would be my guess, dumbass.’

Silver shrieks, then throws something else against her door. I slam my door open, then slam her door open, only to have a hairbrush thrown my way. Thanks to shifter agility, I duck just in time.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You, Jarek. You are my problem. Get the fuck out!” Silver screams and chunks a jewelry box at me. I duck again and the box collides with the wall behind me and jewelry flies everywhere.

‘Crazy bitch is trying to kill us.’

Silver glares at me and searches for something else to throw. While she’s distracted, I run up and catch her in a tight bear hug.

‘Don’t hurt her, Jarek.’

‘I won’t. I’m keeping her from hurting herself, or us. She’s gone nuts.’

Silver thrashes and attempts to break away from me. She’s putting up a hell of a fight, but I don’t release her.

“Silver, stop, damn it. Chill out. I will not hurt you.”

I pull her down with me so she’s resting in my lap and caress her cheek with mine. If this doesn’t help soothe her, I don’t know what I’ll do. She sobs uncontrollably, and it’s heartbreaking.

‘Maybe the mate bond could help her, Trex,’ I suggest and Trex comes forth, just enough that I could feel an electric charge course through my body. Silver’s body goes still and she whimpers.

“What’s wrong, Annalise?”

I figured calling her by her given name would help. I release her arms and place a kiss to her lupine ear and a spark ignites at the briefest touch. Sighing, she reaches up to caress the lobe and shakes her head.

“I thought after transforming into my wolf, I would be like everyone else. That my eyes would stay blue, and my ears…”

Her words trail off as she sobs.

“They are thicker and stand up taller now, and my eyes are all three hues combined. Selene hates me, you hate me. I’ve worked so hard to gain acceptance in the Pack. I have faced rejection since I was born and will continue to face rejection because I am a freak of nature, as you and everyone else have pointed out throughout my life.”

I spin her around so she is straddling my lap, stare into her gorgeous eyes and smile.

“Your eyes are beautiful, Annalise. This rendition of them really has my attention. I have been prone to vertigo in the past. I don’t know what to say for your ears, though.”

‘You’re such a dumbass sometimes, Jarek.’

‘I’m just being honest, damnit.’

Silver glares at me, slaps me, pushes me down on the ground and pulls herself up so she straddles my torso and holds my arms down. She glares at my most likely golden orbs and shakes her head.

“You know I can read your thoughts, right? That’s actually what had me screaming and chunking things at my doorway. I don’t know how to turn it off, but I wish I could, because you are infuriating.”

‘That’s why Xavier and I couldn’t catch her before. Aw hell, she knows how horny I was for her back at the lake.’ Trex says, and I roll my eyes.

Annalise grins and bites on her lower lip. Her arousal wafts into my nose and my cock jumps and thickens into a steel rod. Trex scampers off and leaves me to my own devices. I can no longer feel the mate bond, but my heart pounds relentlessly inside my chest.

“Larissa and I were as well. This last year my body has betrayed me. That’s a lie. My hormones have betrayed me since I was thirteen years old. Not just for you, but for Xillon and Zane as well. It’s all crazy that I would crush on my tormentors.”

“Annalise, I.”

I might not feel the mate bond, but damn, I want her so badly. I have always wanted her. That’s why any guy who has ever tried to talk to her has regretted the act of going near her.

“I’m a jealous asshole, Annalise. You’ve always gotten more attention from our parents. That’s why I’ve bullied you all of these years. I’ve always thought you were beautiful. Silver was always my favorite color of hue with your eyes. And now, my goddess…” I say and grind my cock along her clit. “I can’t fight this, Annalise.”

That’s when I took in her appearance. She’s wearing a beautiful Silver dress that reaches mid thigh that is now bunched up around her torso.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“I’m preparing for Xena and Yarrah’s shift. I promised them I would be there for them and would shift and hunt with them.”

“What? Why?”

“Contrary to your belief, I have friends, Jarek.”

“Xillon and Zane’s sisters, though.”

“You are so blind, Jarek.”

“I’m aware of that. Please forgive me, Annalise.”

Annalise takes charge and throws me to the ground and grinds herself along my cock.

“You’re still in your boxer shorts. Aren’t you supposed to be preparing for the shifting ceremony as well? Mom went out and purchased this dress for me and I’m pretty sure there’s a tux hanging in your closet.” Annalise says as she outlines my abs with her fingertips.

“I was doing so when you started screaming and throwing things, Annalise. That’s why I’m practically naked.”

“Our bond is not the same as it was, yet I still care for you, Jarek. I have desired you for as long as I can remember. I’m hoping you can be the one to take my virginity. No strings attached. It’s just sex, okay. We are mates, so it shouldn’t be a bad thing. You can’t mark me or knot me, though. Pull out.”

“Wouldn’t you rather have Xillon be your first? You’ve declared him as your mate. Plus, we do not know what’s going to happen if we do this. What if our wolves take over? I can’t guarantee you I won’t mark you. If Trex takes over, I don’t know if I’ll be strong enough to override him.”

‘Trex, I know you’ve heard her request. If we do this, you better respect her wishes.’

‘I’m a wolf, Jarek.’

Annalise rolls her eyes and continues to rub against me. Her arousal coating my boxers. Growling, I buck my hips to give her and I more friction.

I don’t want our first time to be on the floor. After everything I have done to her over the years, she deserves more from me. I keep forgetting she can read my thoughts because she nods, stands and lends me her hand.

“Let me fetch a condom, just in case.”

ANNALISE 

I strip off my dress and remove my panties. I crawl up on my bed and massage my clit with my fingertips as I wait for Jarek to return. He asked if I would rather have Xillon be my first, but I want Jarek and me to connect on a higher level. I’m hoping that the mate bond will form between us. I’m willing to let the past go so Jarek and I can run the Pack together. He could be the Alpha and I could be his Luna.

He was honest in saying he was sorry and told me the real reason he bullied me all these years. Of course, I always knew that part of the reason was jealousy of me getting more attention from our parents. Without realizing it, he also divulged the reasons for attacking guys from coming around me. He’s attracted to me, just as I have been with him.

He thinks I’m beautiful beyond my ears. Hopefully, he’ll be able to look past them with time. I reach up to find that my ears have gone back to normal as human ears and smile. Larissa helped lull me to sleep earlier and I haven’t heard from her since then. Apparently, my first shift zapped her strength as well. She wouldn’t be happy with what Jarek and I were about to do. This is what’s good for us and the Pack. We need to let bygones be bygones so in time we can run the Blood Moon Howler Pack together.

‘I’ve never seen anyone so fucking beautiful in my life. I’m such a fucking idiot. Just like Trex has said. So much time wasted treating her like shit. I don’t deserve her.’

I glance up to see Jarek’s hooded gaze trained on me, a condom gripped tightly in his hands.

“Jarek, it’s okay. Let’s forget about the past and look towards our future. Make love to me. Please Jarek, I need you.”