Chapter 34

Kouga stared at Kagome as she turned and ran. Lust was a hot iron brand that molded his body and pumped through his veins. Greed and rage twisted inside him. Because he was excessive in his need for her—he didn't so much as want another male breathing the same air as her in that moment. The Run was full on and there was no going back from the effects of it.

It didn't matter what he'd said earlier. Every sane thought was gone from his mind. The danger of taking her under the Wanning Gibbous was of no consequence to him. He was driven by sheer blood lust and the need to mark what was his. He wanted to bury his body so deep in hers that she would never be free of him, not even in death.

He wanted to burn her soul with his until they melded into one.

His tongue slid over his swollen gums, and he tasted the sweetness threatening to spill there. He was going to drown her with that Mating hormone. Just another thing that she didn't know about, nor was she prepared for.

She'd run just like she was told. But you should never, ever turn your back on a predator. Kouga melted into the forest. Not even a whisper of breath echoed his presence. She must have forgotten—there was nothing better a Wolf liked than the chase.

If Kouga didn't hear the pounding of her heart, he sure as hell would hear the pounding of her feet. She didn't even try to run quietly. She burst through the foliage as if the fires of hell were on her heels.

They probably were.

Kouga would never hurt her, but…

Run.

Just one word and it sent a shiver down her spine. She'd never seen that look in his eyes before—that was a whole different side of Kouga.

The Wanning Gibbous does something to us.

It sure did.

The look in his eyes had been surefire control. There was determination and dominance that she had never seen there before.

It scared her in more ways than one.

She honestly had no idea where she was going. She had no idea where Reiko or Ayame was. The only thing that she knew was that she was being hunted. She could feel his eyes on her, but no matter how hard she looked or where she looked, she couldn't see the glow of his eyes. She didn't hear the echo of his footfalls.

There was nothing but the sound of her own panting and feet running along the forest bed.

But he was fucking watching her.

And if he caught her?

Her entire body burned with exhaustion. It felt like she'd been running half the night. She knew she wouldn't be able to do it much longer. Exhaustion was a real thing, and she was about to collapse; her spiritual energy was on low tap the more burned out she was.

Her head jerked up—she felt him. A split second too late. His weight hit her from the side. He took her down mid-run—just like his animal counterpart the Wolf. There was nothing gentle in the pounce. She was prey. She hit the ground hard with a muffled 'oof' behind her lips. Twigs snapped against her fingertips as she clawed her way out from beneath the weight of his body.

He gripped her ankle and yanked, dragging her back towards him before flipping her over. Where did she think she was going? Blue eyes bore into her as he rose up over her. Demonic energy butted up against her spiritual—she couldn't help it. She was too frustrated to control it. The challenge was clear.

His lips twisted in a silent aggressiveness. There would be no challenge. He wanted submission.

Her throat worked convulsively as he took her hands in his and then lifted them above her head, holding her wrists together in one of his. Her chest moved in time with the uneven breathes she was taking, and Kagome grew still when he trailed a clawed fingertip down her cheek. It followed a path downward, tracing the vein on the side of her neck. His closed his hand around her throat. She knew he could feel her pulse throbbing against his palm.

Oh my.

"Kouga?" Kagome whispered.

He didn't answer her. Instead, his head dipped. He kissed the shell of her ear. His fingers tightened and she could feel all five claw tips.

He was warning her. A silent threat.

"Submit." Kouga murmured against her ear—a single breath. A single word. Just like before, just as threatening.

Heat unfolded in her belly and that same heat flooded outward, flushing over her skin. She tugged at her hands, and he lifted his head, as if drawn by the movement. Heat rushed up and down her spine when their eyes met. He rose up over her in an instant and he swooped.

He kissed her.

She wasn't expecting it. It was fast and spontaneous. It was rough and bruising against her lips. He tasted different and Kagome moaned from the sudden onslaught that his pumping tongue brought. It was hotter and stronger than any of his other kisses. It was sweet, almost melting against her tongue. She couldn't help but follow the withdrawal of his tongue, but he was right back where he started, thrusting back inside.

The more she took, the more he gave and the more she burned.

Kouga always gave her time to adjust. He always teased. He always coaxed her. There was none of that this time. It was one thing after another. There was no adjusting. His hand dove beneath them and he hauled her hips up against his, undulating against her. Heat radiated from his body. Pure heat. She could feel how hard he was through their clothing.

Her back arched.

With a shuddering gasp Kagome jerked her head to the side. Kouga was suffocating her with his kiss.

He was in her face in an instant. How dare she? His hand speared up and he cupped the lower part of her face, his fingers laying against one cheek while his thumb lay against the other. "No." Kouga snarled. "More.'

Her denial ended in silence as he took her lips again and Kagome moaned against the sudden thrust of his tongue all over again. More of that sweet taste. She drew on his tongue, sucking on it, and his growl vibrated all the way down her throat.

If you're part of the Pack, you don't submit. And that means to everything.

Wasn't she supposed to be fighting? Kouga had told her to. Even if it meant fighting him.

You never submit. Not if you have a choice.

Her eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head when he suddenly rolled his hips against her. He was rock hard against her stomach. She tugged at her hands again—he released her lips to trail a burning path down her throat. Everywhere his tongue touched, she burned in the most wonderful way. She freed one hand, and it sank into his hair, twisting in the strands.

He let go of her face and then gripped the neck of her shirt and yanked it to the side. The material stretched, baring the slope of her shoulder.

Right there. His head snapped up when her soft hand pressed against his chest.

Her world reeled at the swiftness in which he shifted, slamming both of her hands down on either side of her shoulders. Each hand gripped a slender wrist. The sound didn't pass his lips, but Kagome felt the rumble of a growl in his chest. She saw it in his eyes. A fierce determination and sheer dominance.

It sent a chill down her spine.

"Mine." Kouga snarled out the single syllable. Kagome realized that he hadn't spoken a single full sentence since he'd found her.

He'd warned her that he might not be himself.

He looked like he was waiting…waiting for what?

He bared his teeth down at her in a savage like manner.

Soft pink light began to flow beneath where he held her wrists and Kagome held her breath. Neither one of them moved as the soft glow hummed above their heads. She knew she was burning his palms with the soft flow of power.

Kouga wasn't letting go.

She was challenging him, even if she didn't realize it. The rumble started in his chest again before echoing past his lips. He released her finally, but Kagome didn't see an inch of pain in his eyes. She brought a hand up between them and placed her palm against his chest, her fingers spreading wide. She wasn't thinking about how much or how little energy she had left. She didn't think she had enough to send him flying backward, to be honest. But his body did just that. He flew backwards from the sudden force of spiritual energy pulsing from her palm. He landed on his back a good 15 feet away.

Kagome was tapped out and she knew.

She sat up cautiously, never taking her eyes from Kouga's prone figure in the distance. Trembling fingers touched her lips. His taste lingered there. It was like a sweet addiction that she wanted more of. Her skin tingled hotly where his tongue had tasted. It made her want to crawl over to him and beg him for more. Kiss her. Just let her drown in the taste of whatever he'd done to her.

Her heart stopped and then started to pound.

Kouga sat up slowly, staring at her with twin blue pinpoints. His gaze lowered to his chest. A blackened handprint stood out in contrast against the center of his shirt. She'd burned the skin beneath, but it was healing just as quickly as his palms were. The shirt, not so much. He folded his arms across his stomach and whipped the shirt over his head. His eyes met hers as he started towards her slowly but surely.

"Kouga?" Kagome took a step back. She saw that same determination in his eyes from before. He looked…

The chase was the best part.

Her mouth dried. She'd fought and it had excited him.

She was excited.

She was human—she couldn't hide what happened to her body like they could. His kiss had left her with a burning fire and sweet lust. She'd be a fool if she thought he couldn't smell it. For her life she couldn't move. She was frozen to the spot, her eyes glued to his chest and the way his abdomen muscles flexed with those too sure steps.

His hands lowered and he gripped the sash wrapped around his waist. That too landed on the ground. He flicked the button on his pants open.

"Kagome."

Her eyes jerked up to his. He said her name.

"I suggest you run."

It took her a moment to realize he'd spoken a full sentence. His voice was rough around the edges. Her fight or flight response took full mode, and she ran.

Kouga pounced.

He took her down before she'd even taken a full three steps. He was that quick, clearing the distance between them in a single jump. She hit the ground harder than the first time and then his hand was on the back of her neck. She pushed up and he pushed back, his fingers a death grip around the back of her neck.

He applied a slow steady pressure until her cheek touched the grass. He held her like that, crouched over her from behind. He didn't let up and he didn't let go. He put her in a vulnerable position.

"Submit." Kouga snarled the words almost viciously.

Kagome couldn't speak past the constriction in her throat and the need pumping through her. She couldn't move—he wasn't hurting her, but she couldn't move. She lifted her head by inches, but the pressure pushed her head right back down. Heat poured against her back like a furnace, and it took her a moment to realize that he was naked. She couldn't see him all the way because of her position, but he was naked. The sharp prick of claws threatened to break skin when his fingers tightened.

"Submit." He said again. Brutal intensity spoken low.

He wasn't giving her a choice. The position said as much.

Kagome nodded, her heart thundering in her ears, she couldn't force the words past her lips. She couldn't speak at all. Terse silence filled the empty air surrounding them and she waited—could he hear her heart pounding? God, it was so loud in her ears. What felt like centuries passed before she felt the grip on the back of her neck loosen.

The hand around the back of her neck slowly slid around to the front. He pulled her up like that, his grip just as dangerous as before until she was upright on her knees, and he was behind her. His thumb pushed up, forcing her head to the side. He hooked the fingers of his other hand in the neck of her shirt and tugged it to the side.

First things first.

"Mine." Kouga growled the words out against the side of her neck. He stared at the expanse of smooth skin. A small bruise stood out against her pale skin, the two small wounds. He'd done that. He'd given her just a small taste not too long ago of what he was about to do. His kisses were driving her crazy? That hormone coated his canines, desperate to sink inside her skin. He leaned into her, letting his cock press up against her from behind, muted by the feel of those damn pants she wore. He kissed the smooth skin, leaving a wet trail with his tongue.

Kagome swayed on her knees. His motions were slow compared to how aggressive he'd been before. It left Kagome reeling, especially with the way he kissed her skin so lazily.

He grew still behind her.

She swore he wasn't even breathing. He'd kissed the unblemished skin of one shoulder while cupping the other—his thumb slid over the scar there. He lifted his head slowly.

Kouga tugged the shirt down even further until it was a tight loop around her arms—until both shoulders were bare. He knew where he wanted his Mark to go. He'd just kissed it. Smooth skin. So perfect. But he stared down at the thick scar that blemished the curve of her other shoulder. His lips twisted in a silent snarl. That wasn't right. That shouldn't be there. Rage filtered through him at the sight, and he bared his teeth in the semblance of a wolf.

How dare she? How dare he allow it? In some parts of his mind, he knew why that was there. He knew it was nothing more than scarred skin—but he couldn't see past the rage. Between the Wanning Gibbous and the Run and his Demon blood pumping through him—he couldn't see past the rage.

She wasn't going to be walking for weeks by the time he was done with her.

Kagome cried out at the sudden pain that tore through her shoulder when he bit her. Sharp. Piercing. Stabbing. One of his arms wrapped around her waist, jerking her body back against his, keeping her upright. His teeth pierced through thick scar tissue and down beneath. He bit down harder than he had to. The growl he gave was savage, rumbling against her skin and the blood slicking his tongue. He bit down savagely like the Wolf he was until all four canines were carved into her flesh, until his normal teeth left indentions. Only the canines would scar, but he didn't care.

No Mark would ever shadow his.

He took a step forward and then used the arm around her waist to force her to her knees—but he never let go of that bite. He held it deep, not a single drop of blood escaping as he followed her down. He leaned over her fully, his chest against her back, her ass against his groin. He gripped the waist of her pants and jerked them down roughly until his cock butted up against the curve of her bare skin.

He positioned and he thrust.

Kagome cried out. She nearly screamed. Oh God, he was inside her and he was moving. There was no waiting. There was no tenderness. There was only the sudden feel of his cock thrusting in and out at a harsh pace. It was a sweet mixture of pleasure and pain because her body was ready—slick and hot. And oh God, he was bigger than before. She swore he was.

This was a truly different side of Kouga.

He hunched over her because he was not letting go of that bite. He took her hard, his blue eyes burning. The only thing that kept her from falling face down was the hand around her throat.

Slap, slap, slap. The sound echoed around them in repeat, his hips coming in contact with her ass every time. With a vicious hiss of breath Kouga jerked his head back. He never let go of her neck; each thrust shoved her right into the palm of his hand.

Kagome sobbed at the heat filtering through her—it was sudden and harsh. Her throat burned with both pain and heat. It was moving inside her like wildfire and her body clenched around him, desperate for relief. Over and over, the rough slap of his hips against her ass, his cock stretching her. In and out. In and out. Over and over. Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap, slap, slap. He growled against her back.

The hand wrapped around her neck disappeared seconds before he was fisting it in her hair. He pushed roughly and she fell forward, her cheek pressing against the grass. She moved and he shoved her right back down until his fingers twisted in her hair, keeping a firm grip to keep her in place. She could see him from the side—and his blue eyes were staring down at her with savage intensity. His lips were pulled back, permanently showing sharp teeth.

That was how he wanted her. Bent over. Submission. The perfect image of a female submitting to her Alpha.

She'd never seen Kouga so violent—he looked angry—he looked fierce. All of that energy was thrusting between her thighs. She turned away, her expression twisting from the insane heat pumping into her. She buried her face against her forearm, the fingers of her other hand gripping clumps of grass.

"Now." Kouga bit out, releasing her head to grip both of her hips. "NOW." He demanded in such a fierce tone as he yanked her hips high up against him until her knees left the ground. He thrust high and hard against her and held there.

The position put her at a disadvantage because she could feel him so much deeper—she knew why when the release hit her out of nowhere. Her body convulsed around him as it rushed through her. She sobbed, her fingers clawing at the ground at the heat and explosive sensation. It was pure agonizing pleasure. Nothing in her life could have prepared her for what was tearing through her from the inside out.

Violence exploded from Kouga's lips—he held there for a split second. Until he felt the way her body tightened around his. And then he was thrusting again—he couldn't not. He pounded into her, his hips slapping loudly against her ass. Growls erupted from his lips continuously, he was truly a wild animal. A Demon. He didn't care about how tight he held her hips, how roughly he jerked them back in time with his forward thrusts.

He was focused on one thing and one thing only.

His thighs tensed and he could feel it building, tightening his balls. It was rushing through his cock, stretching, swelling.

The rough groan he gave had her eyes opening; Kagome felt him go still behind her—she felt his cock grow impossibly harder. It swelled at the base, stretching her lips wide to fit the sudden roundness inside her—she felt his cock twitch and then warm wetness throbbing inside her.

He sank against her like a dead weight with another rough groan. Kagome let it knock her knees right out from under her. She didn't care. She was too exhausted to move. And from the way his body was so heavy against hers, he was, too.

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