Future mate

Hunter’s POV

I see the herbs in her hand, and she turns to see my angry face.

You broke the rules, Emily. Come here.

No, I did not, she said defiantly. Jalen took me. You said I couldn’t go alone. There I wasn’t alone.

I didn’t want anyone to touch her. It was strange to feel this level of possessiveness over a human. I tried to tell myself it was just because I cared, but it went deeper, clawing at me from the inside. There was something about Emily that called to instincts I barely understood, like my wolf recognized her as his and wouldn’t let go. The bond between us felt like a string pulled tight, urging me to keep her close, protect her, claim her. Emily was mine.

Now, can I go to the kitchen and boil them?

No, get in bed. Now!

She took off her shoes and her pants, got into bed, folded her arms, and lay on the pillow.

I wanted to laugh at her reaction. You’re not being fair, Hunter. I got them for you.

Emily, this is not a joke. I’m just scared that someone might hurt you.

Then I won’t tell you your brother gives me the creeps. He didn’t seem affected by the fact that you almost died. like it was a joke.

Did he touch you?

No, Hunter, Jalen took care of him. He told me I have to work.

I slid my hand under her and pulled her close. Okay, I’m sorry I yelled at you. I held her close.

Definitely, my wolf is broken. He is all happy when she’s around acting like a drunk.

Maybe evolution, we are mated to humans? I feel too strongly for a human. And I want her by my side constantly.

I took her shirt off, and she didn’t complain. My hands grasp her strong, but beneath my hunger, there’s something fragile stirring in my chest. When I kiss her, heat crashes through me, tangled up with a wild fear that I could lose her, she could vanish, just like that, and I would be hollowed out.

I flip onto my back because I need to see her, every shiver in her body, every flush of her skin. I want to know she’s real, here with me, and not just some dream my wolf conjured. Emily slides over me slowly, her eyes fluttering shut, and my mouth finds her breast, my hands on her hips.

When I try to push deeper, she moans, and I lose myself, picking up the pace as she grows louder, driving me toward the edge of sanity. Her body arches and shatters against mine, and I push deeper, desperate to make her mine, to prove to myself that she’s still with me. I take her nipple in my mouth and let go, a growl ripping from my throat. Her body goes limp on me, and I press a kiss to her shoulder, clinging to that moment when she’s close, when I can let down every shield and feel.

How much does it hurt?

I like that pain, she said, muffled in my shoulder.

I held her there, her breath on my neck. "Emily, let’s get in the tub."

Not yet, I’m tired, she mumbled. I took my cock out and sat her slowly to the side as she slept. Moved her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. I just covered her, and there was a knock on the door.

I went naked and opened it. Kaden.

Brother, his eyes go past me; we have a problem, need to meet.

I will be there in a couple of minutes. I wiped with a towel and got dressed fast.

My grandfather, Kaden, Jalen, and a man I didn’t recognize.

Alpha." They stand. I sit. "Who are you?

Vance, I’m a rogue. Once, I was part of a pack. I looked at him; he was maybe in his fifties, or maybe older. Now we have a settlement where the wolf and the human live in harmony. Our leader sent scouts; we are looking for a young girl and a boy, both now about 18 years old. For some reason, the way he described them made something uneasy twist in my chest. I couldn’t shake off a strange sense that this search might end up affecting Emily or me, though I had no idea why yet.

Why? Did they get lost?

The girl is our leader's future mate, and the boy is her brother.

How old is your leader?

He is in his forties, but these days we don’t look at the age; we reproduce, we need future generations. 

I agree. Now, one more question: are they human or wolves?

Wolf, that’s why we must get them back. She'll be our leader's Luna. I hope you will cooperate and let us know. Here is a meeting point. He hands me a small map. We can barter.

Thank you for letting me meet you. Also, he said, before getting to the door, you can always join our settlement.

We’re wolves, period; we don’t mix. We breed with humans, but we don’t settle with them; they’re not trustworthy, I said.

Okay, then. Have a great day. He put his hat on and left.

Make sure, I turn to Kaden, that he gets to the border and doesn’t get lost inside the pack.

Yes, brother, he said, and he left the room.

Jalen, get someone you trust to follow that man from afar, without being made. He is old and very experienced.

Got it. He left, and I sat alone in the office, and I don’t know why I had the feeling that the girl was Emily. But she was human. The thing is, sometimes I catch a scent on her that seems almost...familiar, like the pack, and I've never been able to explain it. There’s something in her eyes that makes me think she knows more than she lets on, some hidden piece I can’t figure out. Then I smiled, thinking of her. She brightens my day.

I walked back to the bedroom to see it was empty, and then I heard the splash. I take my clothes off and slide behind her. Emily leans back, and I kiss her neck. And of course, my hands won’t stay still. She lets out a breath. I can never let go of her. Human or not. I’m happy with her in this miserable world.