Maddox whimpers when I sit down. He sinks his claws into the dirt, and I can tell he is expecting me to run. He skids across the ground straight toward me, smashing into me. His huge body crushes me for a second as he tries to pull up before he jumps off me. I pull some of his fur from my mouth, his torso having smacked into my face briefly.
He turns, growling at me, his teeth mere centimeters from me as he snaps his teeth next to my face, his hot breath breezes across my skin before he sniffs my neck. “Are you done?” I ask dryly.
He nips my mark, which is usually a sign of dominance growing up in a wolf pack. I smack his nose when he breaks my skin. And he growls, nipping it again only harder, wanting me to bare my neck in submission.
“Kitty!” I hear him growl menacingly through the link.
“Don’t bite me, have some manners,” I tell him when he shoves me with his giant paw on my chest, pushing me against the car and growling at me. He tries to nip me again, but I drop my head, refusing to let him get near my neck.
Blood trickles down and into my cleavage. He nips my shoulder next, breaking the skin and making me hiss at the sting.
“Maddox!” I snap at him, and he growls beside my ear, trying to get to my neck.
“Do what he wants,” Kora worries in my head. “Or let me shift, he will hurt your useless skin suit,” she says, pressing beneath my skin.
I shove her back, earning a growl from her, but Maddox has to learn just because he is bigger doesn’t mean I will put up with him being an asshole.
Seeing his paw on my chest, I grab it and bite it as hard as I can with my blunt teeth. He whimpers, ripping his paw away and licking it. He turns his deadly glare on me. I sputter, gagging and pulling more fur from my mouth, and he growls again, making me glare at him.
“You don’t like being bitten, so don’t bite me. It hurts, doesn’t it?” I scold him before retching, his fur is sticking to the roof of my mouth, and I try to spit it out, gagging on some. I check my shoulder, touching it. The trickling blood is ruining my tank top. “See? You hurt me, Maddox,” I tell him, holding my fingers out to him, he sniffs my fingers while Kora shakes in my head.
“Don’t give him your hand. He will bite it off. Stupid humans always offering fingers and limbs to deadly creatures, and they wonder why they lose them,” she huffs when Maddox’s tongue flicks out, licking my fingertips.
Maddox drops his head and whines, then he lays on his tummy, his paws out front as he shuffles a little, trying to sneak closer. His demeanor changes to almost playful.
“Thank the goddess. Glad he has calmed down. If it were me, my fur wouldn’t be so white, that’s for sure,” Kora mutters.
“You had no problem taking him on for Mateo.” I point out to her.
“Mateo was in danger and is our friend and was willing to die for us,” Kora says, though her logic makes no sense to me.
Maddox whimpers, making me focus back on him. We are on the side of the road heading toward the packhouse. Luckily, no cars head out this far. Seeing a girl sitting with a huge black wolf towering over her would be a strange sight to see. He edges closer, sniffing the air, trying to get closer to my face. I grab his head, pulling him closer, and he licks my shoulder and neck frantically, cleaning and healing his bite marks.
“Let Ezra back in, Maddox. You don’t shut him out.” He huffs, ignoring me, and continues licking me. “If you don’t want him to do the same to you. It has to go both ways if you expect him to let you out,” I lecture. He growls before rolling on his back between my legs.
“Are you sure you’re not a pet, a lap wolf?” I tell him as he rubs his back on my legs, trying to get in my lap. He purrs, and Kora, the hussy, purrs back at him, which only spurs him on more.
“Kora, I am trying not to die! I need him to give Ezra control back. You purring like a bitch in heat is not helping,” I tell her.
“But he looks so cute when he is playful like a puppy,” she coos.
“He is huge. What puppy is his size with sharp teeth as long as my hand?” I tell her, shaking my head while scratching his huge chest.
“Fine, I will go, party pooper,” she grumbles, wandering off.
“Bring her back, Kitty. I want to play with Kora too,” Maddox growls, nipping my hand.
Play? He wanted to rip us apart a few seconds ago! “No! Now bring Ezra back, please, Maddox. It’s getting cold out here.” The sun becomes blocked by the trees surrounding us. He growls, but sits up. He shakes out his fur before I hear bones dislocating and snapping. I let out a breath when Ezra returned in a crouched position, breathing heavily like he had been fighting for control the entire time.
“Thank God,” he sighs, clutching my face in his hands, his hands trembling as he pulls me closer.
“He isn’t as scary as you think,” I protest, and he exhales. I can feel his fear smash me via the bond, and I grab his shaking hands. “I’m fine, I am right here. I am not going anywhere,” I tell him. He lets out a breath, kisses my head, and starts checking me.
“Did he hurt you?” He asks, lifting my arms.
“He nipped me a few times until I bit him. I’m fine, Ezra.” Ezra pulls back, looking at me as if I lost my damn mind.
“You bit him? With your teeth?” He asks, a little shocked.
“Yes, he was being a jerk. He kept nipping my mark, so I bit his paw. We need to get you a brush. Your fur is stuck in my mouth,” I complain.
“You bit him, and he didn’t attack you?”
“No, he was fine after. He rolled around on my lap.” I shrug.
He cups my face, brushing his thumb over my cheek, before kissing me and nearly knocking me backward on the dirt.
“We need to get home,” I squeal around his lips, mauling me. He laughs as I try to push his face away, his stubble tickling my neck. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.
“Stop! You’re naked, and it’s cold, I want to go home.”
“I love you,” he says, peppering my lips with soft, quick kisses. I let him go, and he pushes off his hands, offering me one. I take it and let him pull me to my feet.