Introductions

RHIANNON

There is nervous energy surrounding us as we walk down the path to our door.

Since we talked about Isaac showing me his wolf, he’s shown a sort of youthful excitement. I know how seriously he takes his position; he doesn’t often allow himself to act as young as he is.

I’m excited to have him share this part of himself with me. My past is a mystery. Isaac has been so supportive and understanding. I want to be equally accepting of him.

When we enter the house, there is a strange silence. It’s not awkward, more like uncertainty. Neither of us knows how to proceed with this.

“Just…go for it,” I tell him after a moment.

He snorts, “Just rip the Band-Aid off?”

I nod while taking a seat on the sofa and watch him expectantly.

He thinks for a moment before stripping off his clothes. The action takes me by surprise, and I gasp.

He chuckles but continues, tossing his discarded clothes onto the back of a chair.

When he’s fully naked before me, I look down at the floor in front of me. I still feel embarrassed by how easily he can affect me. I have to remind myself that he’s getting naked for a reason.

He takes a deep breath, and the muscles in his chest ripple before he shifts so swiftly I miss it. He was standing before me, a man, then I blinked and a wolf stood in his place.

The wolf excitedly shifts his legs before whimpering slightly and sitting.

He’s beautiful. A dark gray-brown that fades to a sandy color over his legs. He is so much larger than a regular wolf. For a moment, I stay glued to my seat, both of us staring.

It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that this is the man I love, that this is the man that I, in essence, married tonight.

I stand, letting out a shaky breath. He bows his head down and whimpers. I take a few steps toward him and without thinking, run my hands through the fur on his head.

He nuzzles his face into my chest. He makes a strange rumbling sound in his chest, and it makes my mark tingle. I drop down to sit on my knees in front of him and hug him.

We sit like this for a long time. I feel strange. I’m sitting on the ground cuddling a wolf, but if I close my eyes, I would swear it was Isaac.

It feels like him; my heart recognizes him as my mate and the man I love.

Laren told me how playful wolves are and how much they enjoy running together and playing with their mate.

My heart aches in my chest. Isaac has made it clear that he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out on many mate experiences because I’m not a wolf, but I can’t help but feel sorrowful.

I can’t mark him, I can’t turn into a wolf and play with him. He isn’t getting the full experience he deserves.

Hot tears fall into his fur as I squeeze him tightly. The wolf whimpers and nuzzles my face.

I’m trying to control myself, but I suddenly feel heartbroken by my condition.

He shifts and grabs me in his arms tightly. “Angel, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

I can only sob into his chest. He holds me silently until I am calm enough to speak.

“I... I just love you, Isaac. I want everything for you. I can’t mark you, I can’t shift and run with you, play with you. You’re missing out because of me.”

“You’re so good and you deserve everything. I can’t give you everything and it breaks my heart,” I croak out through tears and hiccups.

He chuckles against my hair. “Annie, I truly don’t care about those things. If I was someone who would be devastated by the loss of those things, I probably wouldn’t have been mated with you.

“You’re mine because you’re perfect for me. I already told you, the bond, the connection that I feel with you is so strong, the mark doesn’t matter. Marking you was one of the highlights of my life.

“Please don’t cry, and absolutely do not feel like I’m missing out, I’m not.” He kisses my forehead. “Besides, I can play with you in human form. We both know how much I like that.”

I chuckle. I definitely know how much he likes to play.

“You’re a beautiful wolf,” I sniffle.

He gives me a full, dimples on display, million-dollar smile.

“Thank you. He really likes you and is so calm now that he got to spend some time with you. He’s been tense lately.”

“Well, he can spend time with me whenever he wants.”

“Mm,” he kisses me softly, “and what about me? Can I spend time with you whenever I want?” His hand gently skims up the length of my leg, stopping at the apex of my thighs.

I shiver with expectation. I can’t get enough of him, no matter how many times I have him, no matter how recently. I can’t resist him.

“Always,” I whisper against his lips.