Book Chapter53
“Will you make this easy for me? No chase. “He’s looking at her in the eye. Another button undone, exposing a smooth chest.
“You have one hour. I suggest you start running fast.” His shirt comes off as the rest of the buttons pop off, hitting the wooden deck. Her senses must have come back to her, because she starts to run, shifting smoothly underneath the moon, skin turning to fur fluidly. She’s hugging the bank of the lake, her underbelly dripping with water as she runs like the wind to escape a mate intent on taking everything from her.
I have no doubts Cash will take her, over and over again, until he’s satisfied that only his scent creeps into every crack, every crevicesbe
has
The crowd disperses, seeing the show is over. It’s much the same as our ceremony except there is no chase at the end. The mates walk willingly hand in hand off together, happily.
Dallas catches me looking at him. Can he tell when my eyes are on his body? He gives me a smile as he approaches, I don’t return it, and
his smile fades.
The wind has stopped just as suddenly as it came. The young are playing again, twirling around the yard, scattering the leaves. Torches are lit, sputtering flames casting shadows into the night
“I would like it if you ate with me at my table,” Dallas asks politely.
“No, I think maybe I should just sit at my own table,” I say back just as sweet as my voice lets me. I hope he eats the lemon pic 1 brought. I made sure it was more sour than sweet. I’m still upset about not being called or even having my calls returned. Wolves who like each other don’t do that.
He stands there for a moment, taking a breath.
“Rya, you’re upset.” Before I can answer, my parents approach us. I put on my best smile for them. Dallas stands beside me, his hand touching my back, fingers playing with the end of my hair. His hand slides down the curve of my spine until it rests on my lower back. 1 can feel his hand just resting there, innocent, while he speaks to my parents.
“Dallas, my mate and I were wondering if your family would like to come over for dinner?” My tather seems so much smaller to me than I remember him. Perceptions change as you age; things you thought are not what they seem at all
“My parents would like to meet with you as well,” he says to my father. My heartbeat stumbles slightly in my chest. His hand has a small tremor. I can’t pay attention to anything that is being said. All I can feel is his thumb now drawing little circles underneath the material of my shirt. His skin touching mine is making my cheeks blaze with red. With a ghost of a graze, his other hand touches my jawline in a show of affection to my parents. They both are smiling their heartsmiles that I don’t get to see very often. His hand at the base of my spine starts to walk its way upward, touching every raised knob on my spine until his fingers are tracing where my hairline is at the base of my head.
My parents walk away with me not even able to say a word to them. I nodded yes or no, but that’s all I could manage. It’s as if everything falls away when he’s near me now. I feel a pull deep in my soul toward him, not as strong as with Clayton, but it’s there. A compulsion that needs satisfying. “Please eat with me,” he says low in my ear.
Wolves are milling around the food table. It’s the meat that they’re after, and no one can touch it until Dallas starts.
Platters and platters of food of every kind are on display…some I have never seen before.
He steps into my space, body pressed firmly into me, cheek to my cheek. His lips faintly touch skin.
“Please,” he breathes. Pulling away, I’m left slightly cold, the chill of the night air creeping in around my skin.
The remaining brothers, Caleb, Carson, and Crane, are carrying giant coolers. They open them up; they are filled with beer and other drinks. They have smiles on their faces as they each pull a cold beer out of the ice, looking at all the pretty she–wolves around them
He takes my hand, leading me to the table of meat, handing a plate my way. He takes first, while I take second. The rest of the pack falls in behind us while we fill our plates up. Holding his plate in one hand, he leads me to his table with his hand resting low on my back His spot is at the head of the table, and he motions me to his right
Realization hits. If I’m at his table, Cash will be on his left, and I will always have to look at Kennedy’s face. That makes me sick to my
stomach.
Isit, trying not to hear the whispers behind me.
Standing instantly as soon as the whispers get louder, he looks at all the pack members.
“Does anyone have something to say?” He looks every wolf in the eyes, searching for something. He sits back down, grumbling under
his breath
He’s looking puffed out, a growl escaping his throat. He stands again, walking away from the table until he’s in the center of the yard.
“Does anyone have anything they want to say? Speak up now.” He’s turning around, looking at everyone, challenging anyone to speak. No one says anything. Heads down, necks slightly angled to the side, they expose their throats in submission.
His father looks on with a smile on his face that scares the crap out of me. His eyes are starting to scan the crowd as well, looking for something that catches his eye.
