Bark Or Bite

Chapter 9

My breath heaves in my chest.

I lock eyes with Maximus. My breathing slows, but my heart races frkm seeing ny mate. I still don't drop my stare. My pack means more to me than I could possibly imagine.

I can feel the new, indescribable sensation running through my body. Dominance. Maximus drops his stare. Sympathy roams his features.

"Wait here." Maximus puts his hand out for me to stay where I am. A minute later, he is back downstairs with a pair of clothes.

He looks at Max and Cameron, still staring at me in shock. A low growl escapes his chest. They catch the drift and turn around. Maximus nods at me.

I shift back and changed quickly. Maximus lets the boys know when I finish.

"Hannah, that was awesome!" Cam is the first one to speak up. I smile.

"How do you feel, babe?" Maximus asks me, reaching and resting his hand on my waist. He beams at me.

I take his hand off my waist and hold it. "That was a rush." I let a gush of breath out.

Maximus lights up. He pulls me towards him, picks me up, and spins me around. We both laugh.

"I'm so happy for you!" He smiles at me which instantly makes my face hot.

I realize the influence Maximus has on me. I thought I could ignore the fact that he's my mate, but I can't. He's beautiful, sweet, and at times like these, I can seethe true him, and I love it.

"What are you thinking?" Maximus asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.  I just realized he had put me down and I was just staring him in the face.

I shake my head. "Nothing." I send him a smile.

"Well Hannah- I mean alpha- we have to get going." Max speaks up. He motions for Cam to follow him out of the door.

"Bye guys. Max!" I yell before he can get all the way out the door.

"Yeah?" He yells back.

"Thanks." I smile at him.

He doesn't say anything, just smiles and winks.

"So, alpha. Should we celebrate?" Maximus embraces me.

I can't help but smell him. His scent is stronger, even more mesmerizing than before. He pulls me tighter, realizing that my wolf is no longer able to fight his.

"I know what you're doing." I force out of my mouth.

"I'm just hugging you." He smiles.

He sweeps me off my feet, causing me to instinctively wrap my arms around his neck. He runs up the stairs, laughing the whole way.

I scream as he throws me onto the bed from across the room.

"I already wanted to kill you once tonight Maximus! Don't make me do it again." I try to sound fierce, but of I course I fail compared to him. I don't look like a dangerous alpha able to kill anything in her way.

"Sure you will princess." He laughs in my face.

I groan in frustration. Maximus jumps on top of me, pinning me down on all sides.

"Get off." I hit him in his chest, not making anything easier.

"You can't fight this Hannah. Now that you've wolfed, I know you're in heat. I can smell it on you. Just let me mark you." Maximus's eyes travel to the spot between my neck and shoulder. He goes to bite it.

"Maximus no!" I squirm as hard as I can. If he marks me, I would officially be his mate. I'm just not ready for that commitment.

When he refuses to move I take action. I quickly sink my teeth into the crook of his neck. He moans out loudly, slowly falling limp on top of me. I lick over my mark, making him tremble. I've marked him first, giving me the upper hand.

"Why'd you do that?" He asks, staring me in the face.

"If you can mark me, I can mark you." I tell him.

"I haven't marked you!" He's upset that I have the advantage over him.

"Sorry, mate." I put emphasis on mate, smiling close to his face. A low growl escapes his chest.

"Now get off me." I try pushing him again.

"No, Hannah. We're gonna talk about this." He's serious. I sigh.

I put my hand on his mark, slowly adding pressure. He moans and melts in my hand. He gets off me, allowing me room to get up. I quickly take the opportunity.

"Thanks babe." I send him a smile before walking out of the room. I hear him groan before turning on his stomach with his head in the pillow.

*********

I sit in the kitchen alone for nearly twenty minutes, forgetting my reality and everyone in it. I'm falling for Maximus, fast and hard. I still can't shake Ian. I can't help but wonder how he's doing without me.

Maximus startles me, hugging me from behind and pulling me out of my thoughts.

"You need to come sleep. You'll have a big day tomorrow." He rests his head in the crook of my neck.

"I know. Actually I was thinking. I really need to see some of my girl friends." I think of who I would call.

"Girl friends? You've never hung out with anyone besides those immature little pups, Cameron and Max." He spits Cam and Max out of his mouth.

"I know, but I really need this." I turn to face him and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Fine. Where are you going?" He asks, close to my face.

"With Courtney." Courtney is my best girl friend. We drifted apart, but we would be there for each other through anything. Courtney is also dating Ian's best friend, Gabriel.

Maximus sighs. "I hope you know I don't want to sleep without you." He embraces me tighter.

"Not to be rude, but I think I can live with that." I pull back and look him in the face. He groans, but then laughs and lets me go.

"Call Courtney. I'll pack your bag." He starts walking up the stairs.

"Thank you!" I yell up behind him.

"Of course, dear." He yells back down to me.

********

"So why are you really here?" Courtney smiles at me as we sit on her bed.

"Well, you know I'm with Maximus now." I dodge anything to do with werewolves or Maximus being my mate.

"Yeah, where did this guy come from anyway? Before school let out you were all about Ian." She furrows her eyebrows at me.

"I honestly can't explain it. But that's why I'm here."

"I-I don't get it." Courtney tilts her head at me. I sigh.

"Okay. If I'm with Maximus, I can't leave. But if Maximus thinks I'm with you, I can go check on Ian without Maximus ever knowing." I explain.

"Oh. Well, be careful Hannah. You know how territorial guys get." Courtney stands up and starts walking to the door with me.

"I know." I take in a deep breath. "I can do this." I give Courtney a small reassuring smile. I open the door and slowly began walking down the street closer to the woods.

Too far to turn back now. I mentally encourage myself to keep going. I hit the trees and shift voluntarily for the first time.

Thank you for reading!
The picture is Courtney. (Sophia Bush)

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