"She's everything, you dumb son of a bitch." - Mal Oretsev (Shadow and Bone)

She needs help.

I receive a message from Jaden through mind link and almost stumble.

What?

Alessandra, we are at the abandoned training facility. Her heat is acting up.

He's with her.

Stay the fuck away Jaden.

I'm trying my best.

You touch her and I will skin you alive.

I know. Hurry.

I do not respond, instead, I take off towards the building in my wolf form. The cold mud presses against my paws with every step. I'm not even that close to the facility and I can already smell Alessandra's heat. It calls to me like a siren and much like the sailors who were fed on by the beautiful creatures, I'm unable to resist.

As I draw closer, I see the poorly maintained building come into view. I shift back into my wolf form and consider going in naked, this is pretty urgent. However, I think if I want even a slim chance of resisting my mate I'm going to need all the layers I can get. I hurriedly pull my jeans up and rush to the shack.

Jaden looks like he is on the verge of becoming feral. His hands are tightly clamped around a bar that was once used for pull-ups. He holds onto it with every fiber in his being. The second he sees me, he dashes off into the woods, the dirt leaving a cloud behind in his tracks.

Smart man.

"Zane," Alessandra whispers. Before I know it, I'm in front of her. Her body is covered in a layer of sweat which might seem unattractive but it's actually quite the opposite. The sweat sticking to her body is what releases her sweet smell. I can feel my wolf trying to break free and take control but if I've learned anything over the past two years, it's restraint.

Alessandra's hair is splayed around her head on the dirty floor but all I can imagine is holding it in a tight grip as I thrust into her. I lower onto my haunches and bring her up so she's kneeling. She can barely support her own weight so I reach around to her back and press her body into mine. Then I wrap her legs around my waist and stand. She sighs.

"More," she whimpers.

Goddess give me strength.

I walk with her in my arms towards my house. It's slightly secluded so I do not expect anyone to be there at this hour.

"Just give me a moment little wolf, everything will be fine," I say.

"It hurts," she speaks into my neck.

"I'm sorry," I respond earnestly. My hands gently rub her back in an effort to comfort her.

She begins to rotate her hips. It's a slight movement that shouldn't affect me but it does. I bite my lower lip to ground myself. A noise of satisfaction comes from Alessandra and I start to wonder if I am going to make it to my house.

Her arms which were limply holding my back now trace up to my neck. With a firm grip she brings her body up so that her sex brushes against my pelvic bone and makes a trail up to my belly button. She holds herself there and brings her face out from the crook of my neck and looks directly at me. My eyes beg her to not do what I think she is about to do.

As usual, she doesn't listen. This time I can't even hind my reaction as she grinds down onto my hard cock.

"Fuck."

"Zane, it feels too good," Alessandra pants.

"I know, baby."

I bring my hands up and grip her ass to guide her hips as they rock back and forth. At one point she even traces my mark with her tongue and I do the same to her. Her scent gets stronger and stronger to the point that I'm so lost in what we are doing that I don't even remember exactly why I shouldn't be doing this.

Alessandra's face is something that should be displayed in every museum to see but right now? Goddess, she looks perfect and so goddamn sexy that I find myself fastening my movements. She's lost in her pleasure, too far away from this realm of reality.

She's laying in my arms, her face a bloody mess. Her dress is drenched in blood and her eyes are empty.

The vision nearly makes me drop Alessandra but I clumsily lower her to the ground and put some distance between us. I run a hand through my hair and try to gather my thoughts.

"Why'd you stop?"

I bring my eyes to the woman who always seems to plague my mind. My heart thumps in my chest as I stare at her. What am I supposed to say? The truth is one that I don't want to utter out loud. Ever.

"I can't do this."

The words leave my mouth but my mind is thinking the exact opposite.

If I don't have you I'll die.

You make me lose control.

Poor Alessandra looks so frustrated that I almost think she's going to stomp her foot on the ground and demand I take her.

"What in the hell is wrong with you? You always do this, I'm practically serving myself to you on a silver platter and yet you continue to deny me. Do you have any idea what this does to my self-esteem?"

My breath hitches as I register her words. She's not the problem, hell she's never been the problem. It's always been me.

"It's not you Alessandra-,"

"Oh spare me the bullshit. This isn't some cheesy romance movie."

"Alessandra-"

"You know what? No. I refuse to feel like this. If you won't do it I'll find someone who will because this pain sure isn't worth it!"

She turns to leave, her brown hair makes a striking whip sound because of how violently she moves.

I grab her wrist and pull her to me. Her ass presses against me and I move my hands to her hips to keep her in place.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I'll find someone else. We both know Jaden wanted to."

I grip her harder and she moans.

"You're going to regret that little wolf," my voice comes out lower than usual.

I tried. I really did try. I guess some things can't be avoided.