THE BLOODLINES: SHANICE

Chapter 7

Two hours later Shanice was exhausted. All they knew was that people were missing, mostly women and, sometimes, children. That set her teeth on edge. That these bastards were preying on their species, and possibly bringing about their extinction. They had concluded that either something was luring the people away or someone was snatching them and using magic to cover their tracks.

"I'm starving," moaned Alexis, "and I need a break."

"Facts," Raven said standing and stretching.

"Please tell me I'm not sleeping in the shed," Reggie asked.

"Of course not," Imani said standing as well and everyone followed suit. "We can give you a cabin."

"I was hoping to spend some time with my mate," Reggie said not beating around the bush.

"I have rounds to make tonight," Shanice said standing. "I won't be sleeping until the am."

"I can make rounds with you..." Reggie started.

"Or you could get some rest and recover from our wards," Shanice said walking away.

"Wait," he said and grabbed her arm.

Shanice stopped and turned to him, not wanting to have this conversation now. She truly wanted to continue to search the woods. She wanted time alone to think. That was when she had all her best ideas. She did not want to be in the same vicinity as her mate. He made her on edge, made her think about her posture and what he thought of her. He made her want things with the simplest of movements.

In the last two hours of being around him, she had noticed so much about him. She liked how when he looked at her he licked his lips every time. She noticed when he was interested in something someone was saying he leaned towards them ever so slightly. He also picked his nails when bored and often held his breath a split second before he spoke as if he never said what was truly on his mind.

Whenever he moved the slightest the veins in his arm flexed. He was strong and his aura with only his wolf was a rival for Beast. He would be her perfect match in every way. She knew this from stories her parent had told her. She was drawn to him like a flame to wood. Shanice also wanted to stay very very far away from him. The temptation to jump him whenever he spoke was getting on her nerves. She perfected control and it was going to shit because of a mate bond.

"Are you going to pretend we aren't mates?" he asked much too close.

"No," Shanice answered strongly. "I'm dealing with it and I expect the same from you."

"Oh baby," he whispered, "That is the only thing I wouldn't do for you. Don't ask me to leave you alone because I can't and I won't." He pulled her close and linked an arm around her back.

"What the hell are you doing asshole," Shanice growled hyper-aware that her sisters and gamma were leaving them alone.

He wagged a finger between them and shook his head, "Space, is another thing I can't give you baby. I won't allow any space between us. You are mine and I am yours. Now say 'I am yours, Reggie."

He smirked, Reggie knew he was pushing it, but he needed to see some emotion from her. He wanted to see her indifference to him turn to something else. Most of all he wanted to kiss her and sink into her sweet center as far as he could.

"Behave wolf," she said coldly. "I can still have you escorted off my land like that," and she snapped her fingers.

"When you go all badass, it makes me want to eat your mouth. It's fucking sexy." Reggie whispered as he ran his finger up her back. He pulled her closer as he heard the growl of need vibrating through her back. She wanted him even if she denied it. She didn't pull away and her breath hitched ever so slightly, her lips parted. Reggie gave into temptation and kissed her.