I could feel the movement of a vehicle as I woke slightly disoriented and tried to remember where I was squirming slightly. I felt tucked into a warm embrace and tried to recall whose it could be. My eyes fluttered open slightly. I saw Logan and Conner in the front seat quietly talking. That’s right… I had left the Sulfur pack. My face grew hot as I remembered whose arms I was entangled in. I glanced out the passenger window as I tried to think of a way to get out of this situation and not make it awkward. I didn't remember falling asleep or how I had ended up in his arms.
My eyes widened as I saw a strange creature dart through the trees. “Stop the car!” I shouted as I tore myself out of Sion’s arms. I pressed my face against the window as the car came to a screeching halt. I instantly flung the door open and jumped out. I began frantically searching for the creature I had seen.
“What is it?” Sion was by my side standing slightly in front of me in a protective stance. He lifted his nose in the air as he searched for the scent.
“I couldn’t see it clearly but there was definitely something large…”
“I can smell it.” Logan said in a low growl as his eyes wandered over the landscape.
“There are many different shifters around here. Why did we need to stop?” Conner asked and I looked over at him.
“It’s just…” I shook my head. It was probably nothing. I had just woken up and my eyes were still adjusting. “Sorry, my eyes were probably playing tricks on me.”
“If it’s important to you we can take a moment and investigate it.” Sion said turning around to look at me.
“No, it isn’t. And now that I think about it this wasn’t a good idea to stop.” I looked over at Conner and Logan apologetically. I could have potentially put their alpha in danger. “Sorry, I just realized this could have been a bad situation and I know better.”
Sion reached his hands out and cupped my cheeks directing my gaze to him. “You don’t have to apologize. We are capable of handling ourselves. Now…” His thumb caressed my cheek. “What do you think you saw?”
“It was like a centaur… but it looked… furry.” I chewed on my inner lip and heard Conner snicker.
“Well centaurs are hairy—” Conner started to say but I clicked my tongue and turned my head out of Sion’s hands.
“I don’t mean like that. I mean furry-furry. The hair was longer. It was like… it was almost like a wolf’s coat.” I watched as Logan shrugged looking at me.
“It could have been a wolf.”
I had to clench my jaw and refrain from smacking him upside his head. I know what a wolf looks like. However, I did just open my eyes and didn’t have supernatural sight right now. So, most likely I didn’t see correctly.
“I’ll go take a look. If you think you—”
I shook my head and smiled up at Sion. “No, I had just woken up and my eyesight isn’t what it usually is. I’m sure it is nothing.”
“I can at least go look at the tracks.” Sion said and I could see the flash of concern on Conner and Logan’s faces. The last thing they wanted was to have their alpha tracking down some unknown creature in the middle of nowhere.
I pushed off on my foot to reach for him, completely forgetting the tenderness of my ankle. I winced and Sion’s arms instantly lifted me up. Man, it sucked to not have my healing. On the bright side Sion was now completely focused on me so he wouldn’t go chasing after the unknown. I gave him a half sheepish embarrassed smile. I wasn’t used to being carried or held. Heck I wasn’t even used to hugs.
“Let’s get you back in the car. You need to be careful.” Sion said in a soft gentle voice. I looked down at my bare feet feeling a bit embarrassed looking at the dirt covering my toes.
“I’m not going to break.” I breathed out quietly as he eased me into my seat.
“I know…I know…” His hot breath beat against me, and I felt my insides ignite with desire. I could not deny that I was attracted to him. It was just like before when we first met. I felt like I needed to be near him. “Stay put… I’ll be right back.”
I reached out and latched my fingers around his hand. He halted and stared at me. What was I supposed to say? I didn’t want him to go and look for the tracks. It could be dangerous, and I couldn’t even help fight. I would be in the way. Í also didn't want to sound pathetic and ask him not to leave me, which was the only thing I could think of to say to make him stay. I could feel the evil revealing flush rise over my face. I bit my bottom lip as I stared into his eyes. His sweet eyes began to darken, and I could hear the rate of his breathing pick up.
He leaned back in and pressed his forehead against mine. “How am I supposed to keep my self-control when you look like this…” It was like a magnetic force pulled us together and my arms were now around his neck. His lips consumed mine as his warm tongue slowly probed into my mouth. Pleasure filled me. I was consumed by his taste and feel and his smell. The intimacy of his tongue on mine had my body demanding more. I wasn’t thinking… I was just responding to him. Some primitive force was making me lose myself in the madness of it all.
One of his hands held my face possessively as his tongue continued its invasion in my mouth. I wasn’t even trying to resist the erotic appeal of his exploring tongue. I felt as if I was being absorbed in his sex.ual magic that was starting to awaken exciting tremors. My need for him was growing by the second, my hand entangled in his hair, not wanting him to break away from me.
“Alpha, are you wanting us to take a walk or—” I heard the amusement in Conner’s voice as I broke apart from Sion’s lips. My hands pulled away from his hair in embarrassment. The fuzzy world around us met with reality. I can’t even begin to explain how mortified I was. I was in a heavy make out session with their alpha. It was like I knew they were there but, in that moment, I didn’t. All I could think about was Sion.
We just looked at one another panting against each other’s lips. I watched as he struggled to reign his wolf in as his eyes finally returned to hazel. His eyes instantly were laced with concern as he studied my face.
“I’m sorry Clover… I didn’t mean to—” Sion began to say but I raised my fingers up to his lips to silence him. He might be an alpha of his pack, but he wasn’t forcing me to do anything. I willingly kissed him. He didn’t force it.
“It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t want it. I’m perfectly capable of saying no.” I could see the instant relief in his eyes and something more. His eyes held a tender gaze on me as the corner of his lips curled upwards. I could feel my heartbeat accelerating and then a pulsating burn ignited in my head. A part that had been quiet letting me know she was still around.
“Clover?” Sion went to reach for me when the concerned voice of his beta had us all looking outside of the car.
“Alpha!” Conner said urgently.
Sion pushed out of the car and stood tall as he gazed at the creature. It was like I had said. It was a centaur only with fur. It was like a wolf’s coat over the body with a half man torso. I moved to the edge of the car, throwing my feet out so that I could see better. I could feel Sheena stirring inside of me but not breaking free.
The centaur seemed unphased as he stared at us from a distance. Only he wasn’t staring at us… he was staring at me. Sion realized this too and a murderous growl rippled from his throat. A deadly aura grew as the centaur finally looked away from me and to Sion. The centaur didn’t seem hostile. He was just quietly observing us. Then he turned and galloped over the hillside disappearing from view.
We were all quiet for a moment trying to decide what we had just seen. Was it just some weird mutation that his fur was like that? A crooked smile reached my lips and I looked over at Conner and Logan. “Good thing I am not a person to say I told you so or anything. Because this is an appropriate moment for that.” I was given a small half smile by Logan, but the men remained focused on the distance. Okay, they were going a little overboard. I was just curious what I had seen. They were making a mountain out of a mole hill.
“What do you think about that?” Conner said and I heard Sion sigh as he shook his head.
“What is that thing doing in this area…” Sion mumbled, and my brows furrowed in confusion.
“It was a furry centaur… I hardly think it is worth this much over analyzing.” The three men didn’t say anything. So, I clicked my tongue and with a slight smirk I said, “It’s a shame he is gone. He looked so fuzzy. I wanted to run my hands through his fur.”
Sion turned his head to look at me. I recognized the possessive eyes as they wandered over my body. I knew that would get a reaction out of him. No mate wants to hear their mate talk about touching another. Even if they were fuzzy.
I held my breath as Sion cleared the distance between us. He knelt in front of me as his hand rested against the side of my head. “Are you okay?”
I had forgotten the brief feeling I had of my wolf with the excitement of the centaur. I tried to reach out to Sheena, but it was completely quiet. The connection wasn’t there, and I frowned with a loud sigh.
“I felt my wolf… I didn’t hear her, but I felt her presence. It’s gone now though.” I watched as Sion nodded his head and Logan snickered quietly to Conner.
“I bet she was aroused by her mate.” Logan teased as I stared into Sion’s eyes.
I didn’t think about this possibility. Maybe it was helping pull her out of her wall of solitude to be around Sion. I wonder if I slept with him if she would come back. Or am I just saying this to give me a good excuse to sleep with him? I watched as a sly grin spread over Sion’s lips. “I don’t know about her but I sure as hell was.” He winked at me and then shut my car door. I felt my face burning and I looked down at my hands. This is not what I had planned when I decided to come with Sion. I wanted to give myself time to mentally sort things out. At this rate I was going to be in his bed tonight. I needed to slow down. There wasn’t any rush, right? I wanted to get to know him more and his pack.
“Let’s get back on the road.” I heard him say as everyone piled back into the vehicle. He scooted in beside me and I felt the heat from his body. It was comforting and it was nice. I leaned into his side, and he took my hand into his. His thumb moved in massaging circular motions against my skin. I couldn’t help but recall when his hands moved over me when no clothing had been between us. I remembered those hands on me and tried not to.
I might not have my wolf to tell me if Sion is my mate, but I couldn’t deny there was a connection between us. I was drawn to him like a flower seeking the sunlight. My body was constantly seeking his touch even while I was trying to keep my distance. Yet, all I could think about was him holding me tight as he once had.
Could this be the mate bond I was feeling?