Chapter 22

Hey guys... and so I've gone back to first person because I've been trying to change it to third but it seems I keep missing some words and thus the story becomes confusing at times. Sorry about that.


Over the next few days, I spent most of my time focusing on school, family, and my new family. Not necessarily in that order, though. Peter made good on his words, he could hardly contain himself.
Everyone was excited - there were new pups that had wandered - unmated females - even Emery was rooting for one of the boys to become her mate. I, on the other hand, was preparing for my first official date with Peter.
Somehow I was afraid to be alone, which was actually silly because I'd been alone with him many times before, but something about this day being a date that made it different from others.
"Why are your palms sweating?" asked Peter.
We were in a cave that he said he'd discovered when he was younger and often retreated to when reality became too much for him until he could face it again.
It's located at the lowest point of Yellowstone National Park. The trees were used to camouflage the place. Inside, there's a creek that flows so far I can't see it, a bright red couch and a mini-fridge.
"I don't know." I lied terribly.
If he heard it, he didn't say anything about it. One of the things I loved about Peter was that he knew when I was uncomfortable or uneasy in that moment.
He smiled a reassuring smile and said as if he couldn't read my mind. "If you're worried about me killing you, don't you think I'd have done that by now?"
I smiled regardless of my inner feelings. I wrapped my arms tightly around my body as I realized I was shaking.
"Can't we call this day a date?" I asked, looking at the waves crashing past the rocks and rising just a few inches higher.
He looked at me for a long time, studying my face, and I wondered what he was seeing. Hopefully, he didn't see the agony I was feeling.
He lingered for a second and then smiled. I noticed that his warm smile didn't consume his eyes. They were ice green and made me wince with nervous tension.
"Okay." He looked away, gawking.
"You don't understand, do you?" And if there's one thing he doesn't like, it's feeling left out.
"It's really okay." He averted his eyes and gave me his back.
"Beast."
At the sound of his nickname, he turned, and I could see frown lines on his forehead that didn't belong there. I stepped closer to him and brushed them aside with my palm. Absently, I ran my hand over his cheek. Automatically, he leaned against my touch. I was sure he wasn't the least bit aware of his actions.
"I know you don't understand, but it's ..." he raised an eyebrow as if to say, "You've no idea. I didn't even pause. "I've never done this before. This is my first date, and it doesn't help that you look flashier than I ever will."
He looked down at himself and I followed his gaze, he was wearing jeans, a white matching t-shirt, and a leather jacket.
"I doubt it. You're the star tonight. No wonder the sky is gloomy. You're outshining the stars. And to prove it, there aren't any tonight."
I didn't know what he was talking about; to me he was the real star, shining even brighter than the sun. I didn't understand how he could see anything in me other than the simple girl who looked at me in the mirror.
"I'm lucky to have you," I said throatily. Were those tears stinging my eyes?
"No, I'm the lucky one." He said with abandon.
At first I didn't understand his words, but when they finally settled in my mind, I couldn't believe them to be true. I was the lucky one, I was lucky to have found someone as sweet, as affable, as caring, and as adorable as he was.
"I doubt it."
"Hey." he said, hugging me tightly by the shoulders. It wasn't so tight that it hurt, but it was tight enough that I'd to look him in the eye. "Never doubt what I say."
"As long as you promise to do the same."
"I hate promises, but for you... I promise."
He walked around me and clapped his hands, the light dimming slightly. "This is so no one can find us or see us."
"With all those thick trees out there, I don't see how anyone with or without wolf eyes could see this place. I know I wouldn't."
"Come." He said and beckoned me over to him where he was staring at the creek.
I walked with long strides. I didn't know I missed his presence at my side until I realized the distance between us. Although it was only a few feet, it felt like we were miles apart.
He hugged me sideways, which made me shiver. I wasn't cold, but maybe it was because of the warmth radiating from him. It obviously overwhelmed me.
"I made us something to eat." he said and moved away from me, taking with him the warmth I immediately missed.
I looked to where he was kneeling with a white cloth in his arms. "Come sit next to me."
"How come I didn't see this?" I asked, pointing to the well-organized dinner service for two. There were fragrant vanilla candles that gave his face a beautiful glow. Somehow he seemed darker, prettier.
"You were too busy looking at my face."

"No, it wasn't me." If it was me, it wasn't of my own free will.
He smiled that smile I loved so much. No one had a right to look like him. No one had a right to be that gorgeous. "Are you sure, because I've caught you staring more than a dozen times."
I ignored him. If there was one thing I liked about him, it was that he never lost, or was it because I let him win just so I could see his grin. "You can't cook." I finally said.
"Yes, of course I can." He lied with a smile that took my breath away. I put a hand on my chest; I swear his smile would be the death of me.
"Okay. I can't keep up this facade with this look on my face. I can't cook, sue me." He smiled again, and in that moment I knew I couldn't refuse him anything. "But I did manage to get Stephaney to make all this." He pointed to the food.
"And how did you manage such a thing."
He looked away guiltily. "I guess I kind of promised him something."
"You're scaring me." I stared at him in disbelief.
He smiled, his eyes watching me intently as I moved closer. "I told him you'd go fishing with him."
"What?" I asked, trying to sound unconcerned but failing. "I'm going to kill you," I said, putting my hand lightly on his throat. He pretended to choke.
I laughed and when I pulled my hands away, I accidentally grazed my mark on his shoulder and he stiffened.
"Why did you've to do that?" he said with agonised breath and gritted teeth.
I pursed my lips and looked down at the food. "I'm sorry." I really was. I knew what a buddy's touch on the stain did. The feeling it triggered, the desire it aroused, or the need it served.
He moved as far away from me as possible, which was a good idea, because I couldn't keep my hands to myself. I noticed how it was getting closer and closer to him. It was as if my body had a mind of its own and I couldn't fight it. I didn't.
I touched the mark again and he looked up at me with a pained look. I knew the position I'd put him in, but I couldn't fight it. Even if I could've, I don't think I'd have stopped.
With one swift movement, he turned us around and gently placed my back on the floor. He hovered an inch or two above me.
"Peter." I said in a desperate voice. "Please." I don't know what I was begging for.
But he seemed to know, because he sank his teeth into my neck and I arched my back. It hurt at first, but a moment later, when I felt my blood rushing through, all I could do was hold him tighter, silently begging him not to let go of me. I felt like a molten liquid under his firm, strong grip.