Hunted

Chapter 2-The First Encounter

Chapter 2

My eyes flashed up as a shadow rose over me.

                ‘Shit. Shit. Shit!’ I thought, trying desperately to duck back underwater and slip away. But before I could, someone grabbed my right paw and hauled me up from my watery haven, despite my frantic struggles.

                Holding me by one leg, they let me dangle in the air for a moment, my back to them. I heard them inhale deeply, as if scenting me. Hell, they probably were.

Fuck. I was screwed. I was so fucking screwed. Dad had told me about what packs did to females. The words sex slave flitted through my mind. I shuddered violently.

My attacker let out a little sigh of pleasure. At my smell? Surely not. I smelt like wet wolf! There was no way anyone could find that attractive. But that little sigh, no matter how insane, did funny things to my head. I must have spent more time underwater than I thought...

                The next thing I knew, I was being gently lowered to the ground, even as the grip on my leg was as tight as ever.

                “Shift,” a deep voice rumbled in my ear. Mahina longed to growl in pleasure, but I forced her back, knowing better than to let her have her way.

                When I shook my head no, the grip tightened further for a moment before it loosened, becoming a sweet caress.

                “Please,” the voice begged. The hand on my leg slowly glided up and down, and I couldn’t stop the purring noise my wolf emitted in response. “I just want to see my mate’s body. Is that really so much to ask?”

Mate? My whole body froze, my thoughts chaotic. I breathed in deeply. Delight rose at the smell that greeted me. It seems I had found the source of that earlier hypnotic scent...

                I shifted back before I could second guess myself. This person was my mate. Mates were made to protect each other. They were your other half. Harming them would be like hurting yourself. I was his. Just as he was mine.

                The strange sensation of bones rearranging washed over me, the horrible crack sound filling the air once more. The hand on my ankle abruptly disappeared as he waited for the shift to complete. My fur disappeared back into my skin as my blonde hair took its place. My skin tingled. I gasped as my claws shrank and sunk back into my nails, my paws returning to hands and feet. I was left on my hands and knees on the ground.

                Behind me, my mate drew in a sharp breath. I twisted round on the floor, greedy for the sight of him. I drew in a sharp breath of my own.

                He was glorious. He had the body of a God, toned, tanned and perfect. Muscles rippled along the expanse of his naked chest. He wore nothing but a vine and leaf item to cover his private parts. Scorching hazel eyes met mine before roaming over my naked body. He had floppy brown hair that I longed to run my fingers through. Hell, I craved to run my fingers over every beautiful inch of him.