Awakening the Wolf Read online

  “Not as much as I wanted to.”

  “What were you talking about?” Belik asked her.

  Illiana bit her lip. It would be easy to lie to him, but that was the last thing she wanted to do. Belik had shown her he was not afraid of what she was or by facing the ridicule of the flock by being interested in her. He was determined and not about to give up. Not after pursing her for three months. He was not going to abandon her in a time of need. Her heart swelled. Jalisa had probably said something hurtful about her, and Belik had defended her honor. The encounter had probably started a fight between them, and she did not blame him for wanting to get away from Jalisa. Any kind of skirmish between wolves and ravens would disrupt the balance with the two species, and it would not be good. It also meant her feelings and actions with Christopher would disrupt the flow of things, but she could not stop now. Christopher had admitted he loved her and said he wanted to be with her. The barriers between them were the only things keeping them apart. She had to join the pack. That was the only way that Illiana could rightfully consider being with him. Then there was Belik. She was not about to give up on him either. He had already done so much for her by believing what she said and not running away screaming when she turned into a wolf.

  “I know you love him, Illiana. That’s plain to see from you looking at him. From what you’ve told me, I know I can’t wipe him out of your heart.”

  A moment of panic went through her. “I’m not asking you to. I’m not asking you to be like him or . . . ”

  He held up his hand. “I knew getting into this that your heart belonged to another. And I am okay with that because I wanted you to see that I can be good for you, too. Now I know that because you are part wolf that you’re going to be drawn to him no matter what. I’m willing to share you, but you have to be honest with me. I won’t tell your secrets, but respect me enough not to lie to me.”

  She felt defeated and knew he was correct. He had come into this knowing what he was getting involved in, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. “I wasn’t planning on lying to you. I know we don’t know each other all that well yet, but I want to know you. Christopher is hard for me to wrap my head around. I can’t see straight when I get around him. Jalisa makes me so mad.”

  Belik chuckled. “That’s an understatement. I think she makes everyone angry. She pushes all of my buttons.” He stopped and caressed her cheek. “She said some things about you, and I wasn’t about to get into some kind of brawl with her. That was the only reason I went into the trees. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to defend you, but . . . ”

  Illiana nodded. She completely understood his position, but she found herself enamored with the way his mouth formed around the words. A slight dimple that appeared in his upper left cheek. She captured his mouth in a kiss. He stopped abruptly and stiffened, and she could feel his cock harden and push into her thigh. It stirred her own desires. Now was not the time for her to think about bedding him, so she broke away and felt her cheeks heat at the thought of them together. “Sorry.”

  “Nice way to avoid my question.” Belik walked over and put his pants back on. She was kind of sorry that he did.

  “I didn’t mean it as a distraction. I found the little dimple in your cheek irresistible. I wasn’t dodging your question.”

  Belik’s face reddened some. “You find me irresistible? Well, that is a step in the right direction. Do you also find Christopher irresistible?”

  She sighed. “Ever since I was a teenager. All these years we hung out and I thought I had a crush on him, but it turned into more. He told me he wanted to be with me, but we couldn’t. You already know that. I asked him if I were a wolf, if it would be possible for us to be together.”

  “You want to join the pack,” Belik stated simply and tied the sash on his pants.

  “Yes. I think it’s the only way for me to have Christopher, but I also want you in my life, too. I never thought I’d have someone from the flock who wanted to be with me. And you showed me that was possible. If you don’t want any of this or don’t want to be part of my life because of it, I understand.” She prayed that he would not walk away. But she had put a lot before him and was not sure how he was going to react.

  Belik did not bother to put his shirt back on and approached her. He ran his fingers down her arms, and that made her shiver. “I’m not going anywhere. Although there is one thing I want from you first.”

  “What is that?”

  “You.”

  “You already have me,” she said.

  He trailed his finger over her shoulder and down her breast until he cupped it. Belik brushed his thumb over her nipple. It firmed, and she sucked in a breath.

  “Are you so sure about that? You don’t know how long I’ve thought about this. How much I desire you. It’s my wish to someday be your mate. If you’ll have me.”

  She didn’t know what to say. Of course she had slept with other members of the flock before. They had approached her, more of a taboo, and enticed her to have sex, but she knew it meant nothing. Those she had been with before had only wanted to count her for a conquest. Then again, they sated her needs as well. Belik did not want to have her for another notch on his belt. But was it a good idea to take this step with him now? She chewed her lip for a moment. Even if all of this was an elaborate hoax, a ruse to just claim he had had sex with her, it had been a long time since she had been with anyone. Her emotions were all riled up, and the fire stirred inside of her. It only made the need for release all the more insatiable.

  “I saw how you looked at me before when I was naked. You desired me.”

  She nodded. “I do. I mean you are very attractive. I just —”

  “Want to be sure I’m not going to leave you after the first time? Maybe this is all a game to me? That all of this might frighten me away?”

  “Yes. That’s part of it.”

  Belik brushed a stray hair from her cheek. The gentle caress of his fingers on her skin made her heart skip a beat. The longer she was around him, the more she was falling for him. It was a gentle fall, where she was learning to trust her emotions with Belik. As with Christopher, everything always blazed. “I won’t ever hurt you. I’ll go with you wherever you go. Please say yes,” he whispered against her ear and nibbled on it.

  “Yes.” All her self-doubt about being with him fell away. This was the first step for her to learn to trust another of her own kind.

  Belik traced the expanse of Illiana’s jaw. His supple caress trailed down her cheek and over the line of her throat. The pleasure of his touch wound through her and settled between her legs. He pressed his lips to the top of her right breast and ran his tongue over it until he stopped at her heart. He left his mouth there. His other hand slipped under her dress and down her belly, tickling a line until he stopped at her navel. Illiana drew in a quick breath, never taking her eyes from his. The fire inside of her had fanned out and rode her nerves almost as if it were using them for fuel. The longer he touched her, the more turned-on she was.

  “Are you afraid?” he asked.

  She stared into his eyes and saw the trepidation in his as well. Her stomach quivered from the idea of what was going to happen with them. Illiana wanted it to happen, but it was crossing a line she thought she would never cross. He was giving her a choice.

  “I’m not afraid. Are you?”

  “To be honest, I’ve thought about this for a long time. I want you so bad. I can hardly believe this is happening. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want you to be dissatisfied. You have me up on a pedestal I don’t deserve to be on.”

  Belik squeezed her breast until she gasped. “You have every right to be on that pedestal and up so much higher. All the others who spurned you are fools. And I won’t be disappointed. Everything about you is beautiful.”

  His words made her smile. She undid the sash that held her dress closed and slipped it off, leaving on the scarf and her necklace
. It fell to the ground and left her naked before him. She took in a deep breath and then met his gaze once more, feeling completely vulnerable.

  “You don’t know how wonderful you truly are. I wish you saw yourself as I see you.”

  She felt her cheeks sear from his words, and Illiana truly wanted to believe them. All her life she had been told she never fit in. She was told that her looks were never good enough. Christopher had always accepted her for who she was. I can’t think about him right now. This is about Belik. He’s telling me he cares for me and wants to show me. He accepts me for who I am. “I see myself in your eyes, and I know how much you care for me.”

  He pressed his lips against her throat and nipped. “All these months I’ve watched you with the fire. And all I could think of was how wonderful you’d be for a mate. I can barely believe you’re here with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” She brought him to her lips and kissed him slowly, savoring the taste of his lips. She trailed her hands down his sculpted chest and grasped his firm cock through the thin material of his pants.

  He groaned and kissed her harder. At that moment, Belik picked her up and deposited her on a soft patch of moss by the pond. Belik slid down her body and began kissing her leg, planting kisses along her flesh. Illiana giggled when he came to the inside of her knee when he hit a ticklish spot. He ran his free hand over her stomach, feeling all over her curves. She had never felt so complete with anyone before. Belik sucked on the inside of her sensitive thigh. His lips sent shivers all through her. He sucked in her skin while his hands skimmed along her sides and cupped her breasts. Illiana glanced down and saw him looking straight at her. The corners of Belik’s mouth turned up when he settled his lips over her clit. Illiana lifted her hips to get closer to his tongue. His tongue flicked over her bud. The feelings running through her were taking her to another world.

  Her nerves twisted and came alive. The wolf wanted to join the fun, too, so she let it in and gave over to the primal side. The fire moved along her nerves, and the air tried to cool her all at the same time. As the breeze brushed over her skin, it only ignited the pleasure centers in her body. Belik’s tongue worked magic over her buried nub. Her unspent bliss was building. The higher he was bringing her, the more she was nearing the edge. It seemed she soared above the trees on her own wings and the raven was above to dive down. He sucked on her clit and then plunged his tongue deep into her already wet pussy. Illiana clenched her thighs around his head. He wound his arms under her knees and separated them once more. Belik sank his tongue into her depths and sucked her clit at the same time. She pushed her hips into him and rode the waves of ecstasy. The flames burned in her mind, and they lit up every darkened corner. All she wanted was to have them consume her.

  “Belik . . . oh, yeah,” Illiana screamed, coming from the flicks of his tongue. She soared higher and was engulfed in the flames.

  He licked her one last time and slid along her body until he straddled her. The thin material of his pants made her wanting worse because all she wanted was to have his dick buried inside of her. The pants needed to come off. Illiana sat up and starting kissing his chest. Belik sighed as she took a nipple into her mouth and bit down on it. It firmed in her mouth. She dragged her nails down his back. He cried out and crushed her between his thighs. Illiana circled her tongue around his nipple before looking up. He was already taking in great gasps of air. She slid her hand over his pants, feeling his erect cock, and pushed them around his hips. Once she began to stroke him, Belik caught her wrist and held it.

  “I’m pleasuring you, remember?”

  “Can’t I have a little fun, too?” Illiana asked. “I thought this was about the two of us getting to know one another?”

  “We are. But I enjoy this.”

  He placed a few kisses along the side of her throat. She moaned when he stopped. None of her previous lovers had been attentive. They were all out for a quick bout of pleasure. Belik was trying to be so sweet with her, and it all felt so good. Now she needed him inside of her. So much bombarded her mind that she wanted him in all ways. The passion inside of her throttled her heart against her rib cage. It would burst if he kept on torturing her. The flames of yearning would consume her. She wondered if he could feel the heat on her skin from the fire burning within her. Or maybe the wind was keeping her too cool. She was not sure if he could feel either one. Illiana placed a hand on Belik’s cheek. “I’m ready. I want you.”

  Belik gripped her breast and squeezed it. He smiled and rose from her, leaving her bare. Illiana already missed the warmth from his body. He slipped his pants off and then pressed his lips against her thigh. She ran her hand down his thigh and grasped his shaft, before spreading her legs and guiding him into her wet, waiting pussy. He started a rhythm between them, pumping in and out of her slowly. She pressed her body against his and let the ardor building in her wash through her body. He dove into her harder. She gripped one of his thighs while he plunged into her pussy and hit her clit with his dick. Illiana tried to breathe with him, taking in small breaths to slow her climax, but it wasn’t working. Her muscles clenched. The fire inside of her jumped until it burned her up. The wolf was already there, just waiting for her to give in. What would Belik do if she lost total control?

  Illiana clutched her lover’s shoulder, digging her nails into the flesh. She kissed along his neck and bit into his flesh. She loved his taste and licked his collarbone. Belik plunged into her again. Illiana cried out. The ecstasy of the orgasm swept her away. She held him close and wove her fingers through his hair. Once she came down from her high, she focused on his lips nipping at her throat, working down to her breast. Illiana loved the feel of him inside of her. He thrust into her a few more times and came. Belik slipped his hand from her breast and began to rub her clit again.

  “Belik, please. I can’t . . . ”

  He didn’t stop but fondled her faster. Illiana held onto him to keep herself anchored inside of her flesh. Once she reached climax, she screamed. Illiana’s body continued to shake from the aftermath of her orgasm. Belik held her to him, still sheathed inside of her. She tried to breathe and calm her fevered heart. He settled on top of her and kissed the place above her heart.

  “I love you, Illiana,” he whispered next to her ear.

  Illiana sighed. Complete contentment suffused her body. Belik rested his head on her chest. The weight was comforting, but knowing that he was going to stay with her no matter what, warmed her heart even more. She ran her fingers through his silky hair. She’d never imagined that he would make her body sing with such delight. He stirred emotions she thought she had only for Christopher.

  “That felt wonderful. Are you okay?” Belik opened his eyes.

  “I’m fine. But I think we should go.”

  He glanced at the horizon. “Yeah. Your mother’s going to be wondering where you are. Don’t want the leader of the flock to think I kidnapped you.”

  Illiana kissed him. “Maybe it’s the best thing. Maybe tell them I was eaten by a wolf or I got lost in the woods.”

  “Your mother would never believe me. And she’d look for you.”

  “Probably.”

  Belik touched her face and smiled. “You know, there’s still a while yet before it’s completely dark out. Even then we can fly back. Maybe we can stay a little bit longer.” He nuzzled her neck.

  Illiana wrapped her leg around his. “I think I’m up for that.”

  Chapter Seven

  Illiana glanced up at the moon. In three nights it would be full, which signaled the gathering of the clans. The ravens were preparing for the jamboree, and her mother had been in negotiations with the alpha to make sure everything was in order. Lelana had hardly given her any thought. Even her aunt was busy meeting with the priests from the wolf pack to be sure all the correct rituals were observed in case they did something wrong. But she knew that Christopher was waiting for her. Well, he was not waiting for her. He was waiting for the black wolf with whom he had
become intrigued. She smiled and thought of the times she had gone to visit him. After the third meeting, he had stopped trying to chase her down and eat her. He had not turned her over to the rest of the pack yet or revealed her to Jalisa. So she knew that somewhere he was intrigued with her.

  Belik slid his arm around her middle and nuzzled her neck. His comforting presence put her at ease. The past few weeks they had been together, her heart had grown to encompass him. She was spending time and learning more about him the longer they were together. His fingers snuck under her robe and cupped her breast. She held in a moan from the quakes of pleasure that zinged through her. He nipped her earlobe and pinched her nipple.

  “You look so beautiful bathed in the moonlight.”

  She turned in his grasp and wrapped her arms around his neck, molding her body to his. In the last couple of weeks, Belik had made her feel more alive than she ever thought she would, just from his acceptance of her. He was the first man to ever really accept her curves without thinking she was some abomination. Illiana was not completely comfortable yet in her own skin, even with the wolf blending in with her body, but she was getting there. Much of it had been thanks to her man. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him quickly. He traced his fingers down the front of her robe and began untying the belt. Belik slipped his fingers along her stomach until she squirmed because he hit a ticklish spot.

  “You did that on purpose.”

  “I did. I admit it, but I can’t help it. You’re the most amazing thing in this whole forest.”

  “Are you going to be watching over me tonight, too?”

  “I planned on it. Unless you don’t want me to.”

  Illiana felt the wind stir her hair and trail over her bare skin. It almost seemed like a sigh. “Of course I want you to. I’m still amazed at how well you’re handling this.”

  He pushed a piece of hair that had been blown into her face out of the way. The simple touch of his skin made her wet. She almost caved in and decided that she wanted to spend the night in his arms, but she was not going to give up on Christopher. Illiana’s plan to be accepted into the pack was still moving forward.