chapter 30

He was failing as a mated male.

The weight of the world was on his shoulders, but the one thing he cared about most was Bethany. How could he make her happy? How could he make everything up to her?

For two weeks, he’d watched her heal from her injuries. That rogue had done a number on her, and he blamed himself. Unlike him, she didn’t heal almost instantaneously. She was human, delicate, and his fucking responsibility.

Now she acted like their relationship was a mistake, and he had no clue what step to take next.

“Everything I do is for you, Bethany. You have to know that.”

She twirled to face him, her eyes narrowed. “Is that why you’ve been busy with everyone except me? I don’t even know why I’m here anymore. You don’t even sleep in our bed.”

He swallowed hard. Her tone was clipped, and he knew he’d say the wrong thing and fuck this all up. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“What does that even mean?”

“This is all my fault, I understand that. How do I make it right, baby?”

“Why now? All of a sudden you pull me out of work and want to fix things? What’s changed? I’m the same woman I was a week ago. Two weeks ago.”

She huffed and attempted to walk past him to the bedroom door. He grabbed her arm and kept her from leaving. “Listen, I’ve never been mated. I’m not up-to-date on human customs. But I’m trying.”

“The only thing you’ve been trying to do is avoid me.”

When he saw her eyes glisten, he knew she was in pain, not angry. “No, you’ve got it all wrong. You don’t understand how all this made me feel as your mate, as alpha.

Seeing all those bruises and injuries on your beautiful body destroyed me. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t even feel worthy to be near you.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

He pulled her into his arms, despite her reluctance. She was stiff and awkward. “This all started because I sent you away. A man isn’t a man if he can’t protect his woman.”

“Caleb … it’s not your fault. You didn’t know what would happen.” “Doesn’t matter. I should have kept you close.” He breathed in deeply at her neckline. “I have a lot on my plate, but most of it is to distract myself from the fact I’m a failure.”

“I don’t care about all that, and I certainly don’t blame you.” She licked her lips. “It’s your avoidance. You made me feel like a pariah, like it was a mistake choosing me.”

“Is that really how you feel?” She shrugged.

“Baby, day and night I think about you. I dream about fucking you.

But you were injured and I’d be a bastard to take advantage of you.” Bethany took a cleansing breath. “First of all, I’m not hurt anymore.

Secondly, you can’t take advantage of me if I want you just as much.”

He closed his eyes and sensed it. She wasn’t lying. Her pheromones perfumed the air, a delicate scent that he wanted to intensify until he drowned in it.

“Will you sleep in our bed tonight?” “Anything you want.”

“Anything?” she asked. Her teasing wasn’t going over well with his wolf. His cock had been hard for weeks. The blue balls making him near feral and snappy with everyone. It was a challenge to get his jobs done around the homestead.

Caleb nodded.

He hoped she’d ask him to eat her pussy or fuck her hard enough that the entire forest knew who she belonged to. He waited for her response.

“I want you to make love to me. And I don’t want you to hold back because you think I’m injured. I want my beast, my wolfman, my mate. I’m tired of feeling alone and unwanted. Make me feel desirable, Caleb.”

“I’m a fool if you don’t already feel like that,” he said. “I won’t make the same mistake again.”

They kissed, soft and addicting. The love was still there, their connection just as strong. He trailed kisses down her neck, licking her pulse points.

“Take all of me,” she said. “Complete your claiming.”

He raised an eyebrow. The last thing Caleb wanted to do was make an assumption. He obviously wasn’t very good at guessing her moods or desires yet. In time, they’d be so in sync they’d be as one.

Caleb tugged her shirt off in one movement, her hair fanning back into place. He moved slowly now, drawing a path along her skin until he reached her love bite.

As soon as he touched her there, she gasped, her eyes lolling back in your head. “You’re already mine. Have you forgotten the claiming, Bethany? You’re my mate. Now and forever.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She wet her lips, purposely toying with him. “My body’s hot all over.”

He reached around and cupped her ass in his hands, squeezing hard. “Are you talking about this virgin ass? I’ve taken everything else from you, baby girl.”

“It must be the heat. It never seems to end when I’m near you. I want you everywhere, taking every part of me as yours.”

Caleb growled. Just the filthy thoughts of taking her virgin ass made his wolf balance on the edge. His fangs pricked his gumline, and she noticed.

Bethany ran her finger over his lips, examining his fangs. She touched the sharp tips. “I saw your wolf running the other day. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“I don’t deserve you.” He forced his fangs away and kissed her hard on the mouth.

His love, passion, and the built-up stress was too much. He needed release, needed to connect with his mate. Caleb backed her up until she hit the bed. He lowered her down and knelt in front of her.

“Let’s get these clothes off you,” he said.

Layer by layer, he removed her remaining clothes. She was right. Her injuries had healed. If his woman needed to feel loved and wanted, he’d deliver. It hadn’t been easy keeping his distance the past couple of weeks. He was trying to do what he thought was right by her.

He spread her legs as she dropped down to her elbows.

They maintained eye contact as he swiped the flat of his tongue along her folds. His wolf howled within him, savoring her taste, wanting to live between her legs. But tonight, he had other plans—to strip her ass of its virginity.

He suckled her clit, bringing her to a quick peak but not letting her go over. She looked gorgeous with her cheeks flushed, eyes glazed over. Her scent surrounded him, pleasing his wolf.

Caleb loved how she panted and begged.

He stood up, tearing off his shirt and kicking off his pants. Once he was naked, he ran his fist along his cock. “This what you want, baby?”

She nodded, watching, her legs still spread.

“It’s all yours. I live to pleasure you, baby. Anytime. Anywhere.”

He braced one knee on the bed and penetrated her pussy while they both watched. She was slick and ready.

His cock slowly disappeared in and out as he fucked her. She mewled, wriggling on the bed for more, lifting her hips to meet him thrust for thrust. But he pulled out, standing back up before flipping her to her stomach. She watched him from over her shoulder.

The way she bit her lip, eroticism and trepidation, made him even harder. She was so damn curvy and sexy, the perfect mix of innocence and fire. He’d never have his fill of her.