Rosalina's Hope by D.D. Dass (free novel 24 .txt) 📕

Biting her, bonding with her on that spiritual level, it made my head spin with want. But I was incapable of harming her in any way. It went against every prospect of mating. I was to protect her, love her, care for her…

But, damn it did I even have much of a choice anymore? Kill the others? Sure, if I had any inkling as to whom they were. Yet…how could I? They had no control over who their wolf desired. Still, it didn’t mean I would love to have my hands around their throats…I just…couldn’t. I knew false punishment first hand and would never wish it upon another. I was not him.

My head thumped at the steering wheel. Then, with a start, I realized the wolf had gone mute. There were no feelings from it and for a second, I panicked because there was only numbness. I was cloaked in a state of fade and denial. It was too quiet.

The wolf was supposed to be my emotion-buffer, deflecting the sorrow and granting rage. But, the damned traitor had abandoned me. Even the memories, the monster, were missing.

I cursed loudly. Be careful what you wish for really fucking fit.

//

“Your phone,” I muttered, holding my hand out to Rosa, who raised a condescending brow. I sighed. “Please.”

In the last hour, she seemed to have recovered some of her color and personality as she smiled, placing the IPhone in my extended hand. Her skin brushed mine for an instant and I inhaled sharply, just as she jerked away, staring straight ahead.

Over the hours, I decided against biting her. I wouldn’t. Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around the knowledge that other males had mated her. I suppose no dominant male really could. Absently, I wondered if they’d even realized she was not only theirs.

Silently, I tapped my number into the phone, saving it under Wolf-Boy. It shouldn’t have been a joke, but it was a bit amusing, crazy as I felt in the moment. Returning it to her, I reversed and made the decision to take her back to mine, since it was a two hour drive, I made sure she asked her father’s permission first, otherwise, I knew we would both be in a shitload of trouble.

Even with the permission, her curfew was twelve.

Tension nearly tangible, I accelerated until finally, we reached my drive. Entering the security code, I waited as the security gates slowly parted and I entered, parking ahead of the first garage and stepping out of the car. Rosa seemed frozen in place, so I used that and my speed to my advantage, pulling the passenger door open before she’d realized I’d moved.  

Her startled look had my lips twitching.

“Where are we?”

I blinked. “My house,” I supplied, staring at my boots.

“This is your house.”

I kicked the pavement. “That’s what I said.”

Shaking her head, she stumbled out of the car. I began walking until we reached the back woods. The pack tended to stay away from my house. Fearful of yours truly.

Rumors spread like wildfire amongst the Packs and mine was apparently still burning bright. I’d never murdered an Omega in France, but I hadn’t the need to tell them that. Let them be afraid.

Rosa was now toying with her hands, an indication of her anxiety. That being only one of many actions Rosa did to give herself away. With the lip biting, straying eyes, hand toying, blushes, though I couldn’t lie, I loved every single one of her reactions. Favoring the blushes. They were stunning.

Shaking myself, I sank to the grass, waiting for her to follow, only to realize she didn’t want to sit because her shorts were tan. I shrugged out of my jacket, placing the leather on the ground beside me so that she sat. I took a deep, calming breath.

“I really don’t want to tell you this,” I breathed, defeated. Yet I have too. And she will run.

It shocked me when soft hands cupped my face, lips brushing mine. “Tell me.”

I shifted out of her embrace. What was I going to say? That I was a Lycan–werewolf in one blow?

“What would you like to know, exactly?” I stalled. She ran her fingers over my jaw, smiling so sweetly I thought my heart my burst.

“Everything.”  I screwed my eyes shut, forcing the next sentence.

“This would be easier if I could just show you,” I said hesitantly. Her blue eyes regarded me with interest. I ran a hand through my hair.

“Go on then,” she urged, ever-so-sure of herself.

“Promise me something first,” I blurted, not giving her a chance to answer. “Just keep an open mind. Feel; let your senses speak the truth,” I paused. “Please.”

“I promise,” she whispered. Her blue eyes bored into mine before flickering shut.

Breathing fast, I stood, stripping each article of clothing and allowing myself to shift. I took it slow, the more painful method, allowing each snapped bone to be heard, keeping my eyes shut because I didn’t want her expression to sear me.

The physical pain was miniscule compared to the emotional. When it was over, I probed her mine, entering easily; she was that open for me.

“Open your eyes Rosa.”

Her eyes snapped open.

“Open your eyes, Roza,” the voice was just a breath in my mind. Obediently, my eyes flickered open.

The breath caught in my throat. Crazy, I thought, staring wide-eyed. I am so…crazy.

There, standing no more than five feet away from me, was a giant…creature. An impulsive shot of ice cold fear welled up inside me as black, depthless eyes watched me with an intelligence that was out of place.

Oh, God, no! This…This didn’t happen…I-I was seeing things, had to be.

Still, a hollow whisper left my lips, “Sebastien…” The creature gave a heavy huff, and I immediately wanted to run…Except I was frozen as it collapsed onto the ground gracefully. It’s massive head on its…massive claws.

With a harsh blink, I realized the fear had faded into something that felt suspiciously close to fascination and an awkward laugh bubbled up inside me. Thoughtlessly, I crawled, wondering, absently, if I’d lost my mind.

When I was close enough, I reached forward, hands trembling as they made contact with the black fur. The texture, completely foreign to me, was rough and fuzzy…almost soft.

The wolf-creature-thing purred, though once my gaze snapped up to it, the purring stopped and black eyes closed, as if leaving me to my thoughts. And I floundered.

If this…thing was Sebastien, then what the hell was I still doing here? Shouldn’t I be running? Instead, I continued to run my fingers through the fur, fully aware that it could end my very existence without so much as a blink…Yet, I was without alarm.

Silent minutes ticked by and my decision was easily made. I wanted to stay. With him, I wanted to stay. No matter the…species. And I would stay.

It’s–His eyes snapped open suddenly and the adoration there, the complete disbelief, stunned me. It was as if he’d heard my thoughts…but, he couldn’t…

“I can.” That…whisper. Oh God, he could hear how beaut–ugly! He was an ugly pig. Or wolf…? Oh God.

He shifted, his…muzzle opened to where it looked like he was grinning. I smiled tightly, thinking it would have been funny if his teeth weren’t quite so sharp…Sharp as daggers.

“Get outta my head,” I muttered, touchy about him in my private space.

In response, those dark eyes narrowed, but before I could snap back, he disappeared altogether, leaving me fumbling and confused. There was a low, menacing growl at my back. Breathing coming quicker, I risked a glance over my shoulder, licking my lips as I took in the sheer size of him.

Enormous.

All coiled muscle above black fur, the Wolf stood at about eight feet; body the size of maybe two cars. His claws dug into the Earth as he flexed, head cocked to the side as his tongue lolled out.

At the sight, I exploded with laughter. He actually looked like a fluffy, cut wolf! Abruptly, he approached me and my laughter died as another low growl erupted from his chest. I shivered with anticipation. I wanted to see this side of him –wanted to know all of him.

Giving him my absolute trust, I stilled, allowing him to nudge my shoulder with his muzzle until I laid back in the grass, my heartbeat erratic.

“Close your eyes Rosa…” Again, my eyes obediently flickered shut, a sigh escaping me as the atmosphere sizzled with the bizarre energy. Somehow I knew when he was out of my mind. It was a distinct feeling–losing something you have never actually had.

To quell the feeling, my eyes opened to find Sebastien, as a man, pulling a shirt over his face. The muscles of his back and shoulders rippled as he pivoted and my eyes glued to that defined torso, covered in flawless six. Lower, there was a prominent six pack, dark hairs that started at his naval and led a trail into his disturbingly tight jeans.

My mouth dried and I bit into my lip, squeezing my thighs together as desire pooled in my belly.

“Like what you see then?” I blushed to the tips of my ears, dropping my gaze to my knotted hands.

Suddenly, he was so close his heat –blazing like a furnace–enveloped me, one large hand cupping my cheek, forcing my gaze to meet his warm, hazel ones. “Don’t be embarrassed,” he murmured, one long index finger stroking my lip erotically. “If you knew how much I want to strip those clothes from your lovely body…”

How much? the question was on the tip of my tongue, but I managed to swallow it down, unwilling to be sidetracked. I needed to know so much…Silently, I grabbed his left hand, tracing the patterns in the smooth skin and smiling secretively at the embedded wolf –that, out of all things, made sense. But mine didn’t look entirely like that.

“My marks are on my left side,” I told him, though it wasn’t new information. A stretch of silence passed as I stared at him from under my lashes, freezing at the depthless gaze. The once hazel irises were cold, hollow pools of darkness.

“Don’t worry about the eyes,” he muttered. “They’re emotional-filters of sorts. “ A smile tipped his lips and my heart stalled in my chest as I leant forward, my forehead on his hard shoulder.

“Stop it,” I muttered. “We…We’re fine.”

“But, we aren’t,” he disagreed, voice rough. I started to pull away but his arms trapped me in an iron embraced, tugging me closer until I was seated firmly in his lap. “So here’s the thing, there are three marks and only the one belongs to me.” I didn’t understand.

He continued before I could ask. “See, the marks on your body are called mating marks, but in the Lycan-Law-Book they’re given names are cosmos’ since a cosmos is said to be passed the Heavens. We consider them our cosmos, a signified piece of the soul. The reasons we mate are compatibility, incomparability, fate. We become slave to our emotions, hence the love, lust, dominance. It all ties up to one thing: our cosmos. I belong to you as I consider you mine,” he said and I rolled my eyes at the arrogance