Chapter Fourteen - Chase

Keith took the to-do list and glanced over it. “I’ll have one of the she-wolves run to the store and grab this for you,” he said. “Thanks, Keith. Wait, do me a favor and don’t ask Tiffany?” Keith gave me a look. “I think Willow will rip her throat out if she comes in with more stories about doing things for me.” Keith laughed. “That sounds about right. I’ll make sure she doesn’t know about it, Sir.” I walked back to the pack house, finding Derrick walking with a few warriors. “Have you seen Willow today, sir?” he asked. “Yeah, she’s in my office helping me with some things. Do you need her?” Derrick smirked but shook his head. “It’s not important.” He seemed genuinely happy that she was spending time with me. I wasn’t sure how he would react since I forbid them to train together. Derrick seemed like a good wolf. One that truly cared about Willow. When I got back, Willow was on her knees, going over both stacks of paper. She looked up from the stack and took a drink of a water bottle she must have grabbed. “I’ve found a couple of wolves I remember from my youth that left without being mated. I’m making a list,” she said. “Good. We’re making progress,” I said. I knew this wasn’t the type of work that Willow wanted to help with. But it was a way to keep her busy, and selfishly enough, to keep her close to me. I continued on the alpha report that I needed to have done by the meeting. Before I realized it, two hours had gone by. Keith knocked on my door and stopped in the doorway. “I don’t mean to interrupt, Chase. Have you seen Alpha Gerald today?” “I haven’t,” I said, sitting back in my chair. “What about you, Willow?” She shook her head. “He’s been MIA lately. Have you called him?” “Called him. Mind-linked him. I needed to see where he put the pack credit card to grab the things from the store. Did he leave it with you?” I opened my desk drawers and pulled out a moneybag. “Take cash. I’ll see about it tomorrow sometime. Perhaps he is taking some time to himself.” Keith took the cash. “Do either of you want me to bring dinner up?” Willow shuffled some papers and went to stand up. “I have kitchen duty for dinner tonight. I’ll grab some before I clock in.” “Actually,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. “You can miss one night. Bring up two plates Keith. Thank you.” Willow looked relieved as she sat down; her pretty eyes shifted toward mine, and then back toward her paper. We fell back into work until Keith brought our plates up. “Thank you, Keith. Do you want to join us?” I asked. I prayed he said no. I wanted to spend the time with Willow without Keith overhearing. “I’m actually getting to eat dinner with my mate tonight,” he laughed. “My daughter said she needed some time alone with the baby.” “That’s great. I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Keith nodded and left. Willow watched as I brought our plates over to the table, and sat down beside her. I opened the container to grilled chicken with onions. “This smells amazing,” I mumbled. She grabbed hers and took a big unladylike bite out of it. “Yum,” she said. “I’m starving. Roast and chicken are my favorite nights." Willow pushed her papers out of the way. “What pack did you grow up in?” she asked. “The Legacy Pack. It’s a few towns over,” I said. “You were a warrior?’ I nodded. I didn’t miss the look of longing on her face. “Did you enjoy it?” “I did,” I said, not wanting to lie. “I fought in many pack wars. However, it was hard. The killings. The fighting. It was a lot on my body and spirit. I was glad when I realized I was an alpha, and your father offered me his position.” She didn’t respond. That was when everything went to hell for her. Willow was about finished with her plate when her fork stalled above her food. I watched it drop and she brought her leg up underneath her chin. Had she seen something that triggered a memory of her mother? Was she uncomfortable? Was it her heat? A silent tear rolled down her cheek, and I turned to face her. “Are you okay—,” She curled into a ball and fell over onto the floor. Then the scent of her heat hit me. She-wolves could go through weeks of symptoms before their actual heat. It was sad to watch. “Willow,” I said, touching her shoulder. “Do you need me?” She whimpered while turning onto her back and arching it upward. Do something, my wolf growled. I didn’t want to push my limits, but when her gaze lifted to mine, I saw the desperation. Crawling over her, between the couch and the table, I settled between her legs. My body hovered over hers, touching her enough to give her relief, but hopefully not pushing my boundaries. Willow reached up and wrapped her arms around my deltoids, pulling me flush with her quivering body. The position, the heat, it was gnawing at my insides. I wanted to bury my head into her neck and sniff her. Kiss her. But I waited, letting her ride out the roll of symptoms through me. Seconds ticked by before she went limp beneath me. I pulled back to see relief on her face and went to pull away, but she caught the edge of my t-shirt. My breath caught in my throat. Willow’s eyes were full of lust, full of need. I watched her pulse thumped in her throat, and the look on her face turned from confusion to come and get me. Lowering myself back on top of her, I stopped an inch above her mouth and waited. “Say it,” I whispered. “Say what you want from me.” I didn’t want to misread any situation. I wanted her to give it to me straight. “This doesn’t mean I don’t want to become a warrior,” she whispered, and it made me smile. “This means, I can’t take another second without you kissing me.” “I think we can meet on the middle ground here,” I said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her fingers tightened in the hem of my T-shirt. “More,” she mouthed against me. I diminished the sliver of space between our mouths and kissed her. It was more blissful than I ever imagined kissing my mate. Her taste, her smell, the way she tangled her fingers into my hair. My wolf brimmed the surface, forcing ungodly things out of my mouth, and she swallowed them. I placed my flat palm against her waist and pulled her closer. She gasped, opening her mouth for me and I slid my tongue between her lips. It danced in the flavor and warmth of her mouth. Willow moaned my name but I swallowed it, trailing my palm up her side to her neck, and angled her mouth so that I could get better access. My wolf began to push against my skin, encouraging me to do things she wasn’t ready for yet. I tore my mouth away from hers and rested my forehead against hers. “I didn’t want to stop,” I whispered. “Why did you?” she whispered back. I opened my eyes. “Because I want to take it slow. I want to prove to you that I’m not some domineering alpha who only wants what’s between your legs.” She swallowed and nodded slowly before I sat back and helped her up. I could smell her desire, but I could also taste her innocence. There was a hesitation about her that made me want to savor her. I cleared my throat while grabbing the to-go containers and walking them to the trashcan. She sat crisscrossed on the floor when I walked back over to her. I looked at her, and she laughed. “What’s so funny?” I asked. She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just … that was better than I imagined.” “So, you imagined it?” She narrowed her eyes and turned her attention back to the papers. “I want to work on this a little longer,” she mumbled. I took the fact that she was allowing me to help her, and being in the same room as a step in the right direction. It beat her jumping from the window when I walked into the room any day.