Jase

I had forgotten there was another mess to sort out once I returned Krissy to her own house.

She was still fast asleep in my arms, so I carefully deposited her in her bed, landing a kiss to her temple as I pulled the covers up to her chin.

Her mother's picture was the first thing I rescued from the floor. The frame was still in good shape, the glass front the only thing that needed replacing. I set it down on the coffee table and launched a search for a broom and dustpan.

A kitchen drawer had been ripped from it's slate in the melee and damaged. After sweeping and even a little mopping, I conducted another search for tools to fix the drawer.

I wasn't satisfied that I had done all I could until the last cushion was in place.

To my pleasant astonishment, Krissy's bottle of whiskey had survived. I poured myself a double shot—to match the two free drinks I'd served the doc the night we met. Shit, was it really only two days ago?

I'd been privy to a few conversations the recently mated pack members had in regards to meeting their females. How they never felt so out of control and somehow certain at the same time. It seems like such nonsense until it happens to you. As much as my nature needed me to dominate my mate, I would equally worship her, do anything to make her happy.

Swallowing the amber liquid, I knew what she needed more than anything right now.

Fates, please help me find the answers.

Krissy

I may have been deep in slumber, but my body knew when Jase no longer held it. His touch had kept me serene. As soon as Jase tucked me away my brain started to replay the events of the afternoon as a nightmarish time loop. Every time the gun fired it was like a cannon blast echoing through my skull. I felt my own throat constrict when Mort gasped for air. A part of me knew it was just a nightmare but I did nothing to try to snap myself out of it.

Or did I?

Stop.

It was my own voice but it wasn't me, exactly. I looked around for the source. Jase was next to me like he had been when Mort died—except he was wearing the suit of black armour from the first time I dreamt of him.

The nightmare around me faded away. Jase faded away.

I was back in the woods where I'd been bitten, minus my young self and the cougar.

Please, just stop.

I blinked and there I was. Dressed differently, like something out of a renaissance fair, but I was looking at me.

"Wh-what am I doing?"

Don't spend another second feeling remorse.

I could hear her…me…whoever, still in my voice, yet her mouth never moved.

"I killed two—"

Monsters. You defended yourself. And your mate.

Jase in his armour materialized beside her.

Malice is not in your true nature, but survival is. Trust your instincts like you already trust him.

Jase's eyes glowed the yellow-green of his wolf. I felt a flutter in my belly as her skin started to glow ethereally.

"Who are you, really?"

Both of them smiled at me warmly. In my voice she replied.

You know me. You hear me everyday.

I awoke, calm but still a little confused. Had I just had a conversation with my own personal Jiminy fucking Cricket? I recalled how Jase spoke of his wolf like it was a separate entity he shared one body with. If that was my shifter half I was addressed by, she wasn't doing a damned thing to tell me what kind of animal she was! And she'd apparently gone quiet for now. I felt alone in my own head, which should have been a comfort. It wasn't.

I took a slow, deep breath before climbing out of bed. I stretched my arms and felt the tugging irritation of the bandage inside my elbow. Ripping away the last evidence of the day's nightmare, I tossed the bandage in the wastebasket as I walked over to my bedroom window. I peeked outside as I re-secured my robe around my torso.

The sky was painted in shades of orange and red, announcing the setting sun. My neighbourhood was quiet and my driveway was empty. Was I alone?

I stilled. Then smiled. No, I heard several weighted footfalls and knew they were his.

I stepped softly down the short hallway to discover the mess I'd made earlier had vanished. Jase had cleaned up for me. He was leaned against my island counter, lost in thought. Sensing me, he looked over to see me fighting back tears. Alarmed at first, he leapt forward to comfort me. Then I started to laugh softly and his posture relaxed, though he still pulled me into the span of his arms for an enveloping hug, applying a kiss to my forehead for good measure.

Over his swollen bicep I spotted the open bottle of whiskey on the counter.

"Making yourself at home, I see." I teased.

"Just collecting what you owe me, Doc." Jase retorted.

I pulled back to look up at him, lips pursed into a smirk."So we're even now?"

His answering smirk was all wolf. "Nope. Not even close." His expression sobered as he looked me up and down, gauging me. "You alright?"

I took my time to consider. "Yeah. I think I am."

Jase nudged me towards my sofa. We wound up sitting as we had the night before…perhaps a little closer together, if that were possible.

"The last thing I ever want is to put you in any danger." Remorse was clear in his voice and face.

"I know." I assured him. "I think fate had other plans. Today certainly made a few things clear to me. Added a few new puzzles too."

"Krissy, I give you my word, together we will find the answers."

"Together…" I echoed, locking eyes with him through my lashes. "I like how that sounds." I sat up on my knees to match his sitting height. Bracing myself with a hand on his shoulder I leaned in and kissed him, softly at first, but inviting Jase to take it deeper.

Jase squeezed his eyes shut and pulled away, looking pained. He forced out a long, slow exhale. "I'm sorry. After the fight and everything that's happened…I'm just afraid I won't be able to control myself."

"You mean your wolf? The desire it has to mark me?"

Jase's eyes were dejected. "It's not just the wolf anymore."

Inwardly I was overjoyed, but I kept my face somber, asking. "Why didn't you shift during the fight? Surely as a huge wolf you could have ripped Mort apart?"

Jase shook his head. "I was trying to avoid him shifting. I didn't want a half ton grizzly going after you."

My stomach dropped, so did my jaw. "Mort's animal was a grizzly bear? What was Malcolm's?"

"Hyena."

My eyes widened, a curt huh leaving my throat. "That actually explains so much."

Jase's face lightened a little at the comment. Still a little deflated he said, "Maybe I should go out and shift now. Go for a run."

I was giddy at the thought of seeing him as a wolf at full strength. My only encounter so far had been a battered and unconscious one. Plus the three seconds there was snapping and snarling in my face.

"Or another option," I also felt like I didn't want him to leave right now, even if it was only for a short time. "You could just…mark me."

Jase bristled next to me. "Say that again?"

I soldiered on. "I know it's only been a few days, and some eventful ones to put it mildly, but I don't think I could stand it if you ever walked away from me. You've woken something up inside me, something powerful and scary and wonderful! If you're just staying out of some sense of obligation, be honest and tell me now. But if you know in your gut, in your heart and soul that you can't be without me for another day of your life, then mark me."g

Jase seemed stricken, mind still at war with his heart. "I've told you what I'll have to—"

"Jase!"

I grabbed his hand, lifting my shirt to press his fingers against the scar over my hip. "I might know better than anyone what has to happen. I can handle it."

Jase stared down at the bite mark, caressing it with his fingers, sending shivers through my limbs, stirring my loins. He caught the reaction, I knew well enough by now through my scent, and met my eyes.

I don't know what compelled me, but I grabbed one of my sofa pillows and smacked him across the face with it before leaping from my seat and dashing towards my bedroom.

Jase caught up to me before I even reached the hallway. I squealed with giggling laughter as he tossed me over his shoulder and carried me the rest of the way. He landed two sharp slaps on my ass cheeks before sitting me on my bed. The sting silenced my laughter…and spurned my arousal.

Jase leaned over so we were nose to nose, entrapping me between his arms as he braced himself on my mattress.

"Two things you need to know about wolves, Sweetness. One, never run from a wolf unless you expect to be chased."

I bit down on my bottom lip, fighting back the grin. My voice was thready. "And two?"

"Alpha males have a primal need to be dominant over their mates. Disobedience is met with swift punishment."

My breath hitched. "I don't understand."

His wolfish grin was back in full force. "You will."

Jase

Easing her alarm, I kissed Krissy deeply, like she wanted me to before. For an alpha wolf, a punishment wasn't about malicious pain, it was about reaffirming dominance. In fact, it was a lot more about pleasure for both partners. I felt like a part of Krissy already understood, she just wasn't in tune with it.

I broke away so we could both catch our breath and relieved her of her robe, casting it away to land aimlessly somewhere on the floor.

"That little scheme of yours today was pretty risky, Doc." I chided the redheaded vixen. "Frankly it hurt my feelings to have my virility questioned."

Krissy started to apologize. Instead I sharply rose to my full height and yanked her to her feet with me. I spun her away from me and bent her over the bed, both her hands pinned under one of mine to the mattress.

Her breath already speeding up, she gasped when I thrummed both her butt cheeks with another hard slap. I rubbed my palm over them to dull the sting, and felt her lean into my hand. She didn't seem to find punishment off-putting so far.

"I've got to say I'm curious though," I leaned over to speak softly into her ear, taking the opportunity to nibble the lobe while I was there.

Krissy was pleasantly responsive to it. Her voice was hushed. "Curious about what?"

I smirked against her ear. "What did you pour out of that test tube, exactly?"

From this close I could feel her face flush. "Oh. That. Um…well…last week I had to tell one of my clients that their Doberman stud was a dud."

I had no words. So I laughed. "Sweetness, I don't know whether to be insulted or impressed that it worked!"

"It was a snap decision." She admitted. "I wanted to buy us time. Any amount of time."

I turned Krissy's face to meet her eyes. "I don't ever want you putting yourself in danger. Not like that. Fuck Krissy, attacking a shifter—"

"He was pointing a gun!"

"Shifters can survive bullets."

"To the head?!"

It's happened once. Only once.

"It's possible." I replied lamely.

Krissy opened her mouth to argue again. I landed another onslaught of slaps on her ass to help her think better of it. She tried to wrestle away, haughty, but my grip was iron.

"What did I say about running, Sweetness?" I rumbled.

Changing tactics, I tugged her shorts and panties off her ass, letting them drop to her ankles, and used my knee to spread her legs wide.

"Jase, oh—!"

My free hand moved between her legs, cupping her pussy. Krissy's fingers curled to dig into the bedspread.

"I'm claiming you, Doc. Which means, I'm claiming this sweet pussy of yours. From now on, I'm the only one who gets to pleasure it. Remember, you don't come until I say."

Flicking my wrist I laid out a flurry of light slaps between her legs, making firm contact with her clit. Her responsive gasps and dampening folds relayed her surrender. She waggled her ass against the front of my jeans, eliciting a response from my own loins.

I ordered her to remain still as I stripped off my clothes, briefly allowing her to stand straight so I could peel her camisole off over her head, leaving nothing but flesh on either of us.

A shiver, heated like fever chills, shot straight down to my spine as the head of my cock made glancing contact between Krissy's legs and I was already half lost. With bruising grip on her hips, I pushed into her, both of us moaning at the sensation. She clenched around me as I slowly arced in and out, grinding backward to take me deeper. My eyes rolled back and I squeezed them shut to rein myself back in. I had to remember what I was trying to do for Krissy. I wanted any pain marking her might bare to be overwritten by as much pleasure as I could summon for her. I had to draw this out longer. I pulled out. Krissy whimpered her displeasure at the loss, waggled her ass again to tempt me. Playfully, I pressed my middle finger between her ass cheeks and circled the rosette pucker with the faintest touch of the pad. With a shocked inhale of air, Krissy squeezed her cheeks together in resistance to the unfamiliar intrusion.

I chuckled deep in my chest, pulling Krissy up with my unoccupied arm around her waist to spoon against me. "Relax Sweetness. As pleased as I am to know you're still a virgin this way, I'll resist the desire to fuck your sweet ass…tonight."

Krissy reacted with a husky laugh that sent me into a lustful fog.

In record speed I had her face-up underneath me in the middle of her bed, my mouth fastened to one breast. Her fingernails dug into my scalp as I sucked and nipped from one to the other, then began to work my way up to her blushing lips. My tongue penetrated her mouth the same moment I penetrated her entrance. I swivelled my hips as I swirled my tongue but I couldn't call it fucking. Fates help me, by this point I was already making love to the pale creature beneath me. I didn't just want to claim her body, I wanted to honour it.

I lifted my head away to watch her and found her return gaze struggling to focus against her body's growing yearning for release. The hungry eyes of my wolf had to be the ones she saw at this moment, I could feel my teeth elongate as serum coated them. Krissy was blissfully unafraid, the delicate hands still capturing my hair, lightly encouraging me, in sync with every thrust of my hips.

I abruptly replaced my cock with my mouth on her slit. Fastening my lips around her clit, sucking and flicking it aggressively. Howling a wanton cry, Krissy began to hump, shamelessly rubbing her pussy into my face.

"Yesyesyesyes, yes! Please, Jase! Now! I need it now!"

A growl erupting from my wolf, I slid three fingers in to stroke her G-spot as my other hand came down on her belly to hold her in place.

"Now, Sweetness."

Her hands flew out to claw at the sheets as she shattered.

My eyes found the scar on her hip before seeing red.

The wolf pounced.

And the instant I felt the flesh sliding down my throat the world stopped.

The taste of copper lingered on my tongue.

FUCK!

I was paralyzed for a moment, unbelieving at what I had just done. Two things happened next. I smelled the saltiness of tears and watched as a thick line of blood started to flow from Krissy's hip to the bedsheets.

My worst fear was in front of me.

I hadn't just bitten the woman I loved, I'd torn into her.

"Fuck, fuck, FUCK!"

Panic blooming, I licked at the gaping wound, knowing even the special healing properties in my saliva couldn't seal a bite this big.

Heart pounding in my ears, I scantly heard Krissy's faint pleas.

"JASE!"

Only when I felt her hand on my shoulder did I chance a look at her face.

Sweat from her brow mingled with tears from her eyes and my wolf whined, retreating with tail between it's legs. The flesh I'd stolen soured my gut and I wanted to flee to purge myself of it. Something in Krissy's eyes rooted me to the spot.

"Jase," She said my name again with a gentleness I didn't deserve.

"Krissy, I am so—"

"Stop. Breathe." Krissy was clearly in pain, yet her concern was directed at me.

"Sweetness, I need to get you help—"

"Move one inch from my side, Sir Knight, and I swear I'll neuter your wolf!"

I was dumbfounded.

Krissy closed her eyes briefly, her face contorting as if she was concentrating very hard. I sat up on the edge of the bed but made no other shift. She held open a hand to me and I took it.

Immediately I felt a surge of energy pass between us.

"I dreamt while they had me unconscious at the clinic," She disclosed. "It was a memory of the day I was lost in the woods." She looked down upon my violence and I ashamedly followed suit.

To my shock and awe, the bleeding had already all but stopped. As I continued to stare, the inner flesh started to slowly knit back together.

"I was never afraid that day, at least, not until the cougar was killed."

I returned my eyes to hers and saw there what she was about to tell me.

"I'm not afraid now, Jase. I love you."

Not for the first time, it seemed as though her beautiful skin was glowing.

What on earth is this magical creature I find myself with?

"I love you." I declared, voice choking with emotion.

"And now I'm yours, forever. My knight in black armour."

I didn't understand the last part, but yes, she was mine.

I climbed back onto the bed next to her, wrapping her carefully against my body, determined never to let her go again.