Torn

Chapter 22✓

Quinn

My claws dig into the soft earth, and I push myself harder through the woods. Xander is right on my heels. The pulsating need to get to Carter tugs on my chest. I need to sink my canines deep into the flesh of her marking spot. I need to feel the taste of her blood as it pours into my mouth when she finally becomes mine. When she became ours; mine and Xander's. I need to sink my cock so deep inside of her, fucking her so good that she forgets there was ever a time before us.

We desperately need to make things right with her. My wolf growls at the thought of having to take Chantal as a mate. I won't let it happen. We need Carter. She may not be our destined mate, but we have never wanted someone so badly before.

Her scent drives my wolf mad. It's like her aroma has embedded itself into my wolf's subconscious. We live for it. When we smelled that Lycan's scent on our woman, my wolf damn near went feral. It had taken everything in me to not let him tear that bastard to pieces.

It aggravates the shit out of me that she isn't our full mate. It's like the potential is there, between her scent and the demand from my wolf, but something is missing. Like the connection is locked up behind a thick wall.

I shake the thought off. It doesn't matter. She will be my mate no matter what. Fuck destiny. Well, if she will accept us, I guess. I know she's going to be pissed as hell with me. Though, I have no problem making it up to her for the rest of my life.

Xander and I arrive at her cabin to find it dark and empty. The jeep is out front and parked haphazardly. She must have sped up to the cabin and run inside. From the strength of her fading scent, she wasn't here that long ago, so she couldn't have gotten too far.

Xander whines and paws at the dirt outside the cabin. In both of our jaws, we carry a clean set of clothes for when we have to shift back. I watch him follow Carter's scent around the cabin to the back door and look out to the path that leads deep into the woods.

The clearing. His voice sounds in my mind as he links telepathically with me.

My wolf huffs and we both take off down the path.

Xander and I may not be from the same pack, but when we first became alpha's, there was an agreement made to join our packs as one. This was also the agreement where we were given the ultimatum to either find our destined mate or take Chantal.

Xander and I have agreed that another door is now open, where the choice should always have been Carter. After the agreement was formally made and signed with blood, we got a witch to bind us and each of our betas in a warrior's oath, creating a strong mental link between the four of us until our packs officially become one and the natural bond will be created. I've never been more grateful for our oath as I am in this very moment.

It seems surreal that the packs should be joining in just a few days during the Claiming Moon. The years have blurred together until this very moment. The loss of Carter in our lives took the light and color out of my day and nothing else mattered. I thought that having her back would be a smooth ride after Xander and I reconciled. I should have known my secrecy wouldn't work in my favor.

Stop! I link to him as we get closer to the clearing. We need to shift and change. The last thing we need to do is let our wolves scare her right now. We need to introduce them properly.

Xander nods his snout, and we drop the clothing from our jaws before stepping back and beginning to shift. Bones snap and break as our limbs grow and elongate. I can still vividly remember my first shift, and how painful and time-consuming it had been. I had thought it was never going to end. Now the shift takes seconds and I barely feel anything other than a dull ache in my bones.