10.

Even though I still felt a little embarrassed after what I've just done back in that parking lot, I couldn't contain that secret smile that kept making its appearance over my lips from time to time as I sat there in silence, thinking about what he'd said to me. He told us that we're pretty. He thinks that my wolf is pretty.

I felt like doing a happy dance. Even my wolf was squirming around inside of me with giddiness.

Wait. No. Bad Jessie. We don't "fraternize with the enemy", remember? We shouldn't immediately believe him just because he's our mate! I mentally scolded myself and my wolf too, stifling our joy. We couldn't trust him.

"I'm sorry," I suddenly heard him say out of the blue, my brows furrowing before I rather hesitantly turned my head to look at him.

"What for?"

I tried not to stare too much at his attractive profile, hearing him blow out a tired sigh, those beautiful eyes remaining trained on the road as he quietly explained,
"For openly displaying gestures of affection towards Carrie right in front of you,"

"I'm barely even realizing right now that it was all happening because sometimes, I could faintly feel small traces of your wolf's scent on her. Your scent. And it was making me feel so...attracted,"

My cheeks bloomed with colour at the sound of that, nervously chewing on my bottom lip. I knew why that had happened. Like I said before, my wolf liked Carrie and felt safe around her and sometimes, she would come out for a little bit whenever it was just the two of us, just to feel her. She must've unintentionally left traces of her scent on Carrie, and that was why he was able to feel it.

"It's okay. You didn't know and neither did I. I can't be mad at you for something you weren't even aware of. I mean, it's not like I didn't find you attractive like, at all but still, it wasn't enough to make me actually jealous or anything," I casually explained with an equally timid smile and a shrug, watching him quickly turn to look at me with what could only be described as awe plastered on his handsome face.

My face felt so much hotter now, unnerved by the way he was staring at me. So I rushed to avert my gaze to the windshield, my heart jumping in my chest as soon as I saw those headlights coming closer and closer.

"Holy shit keep your eyes on the road!"

I squealed with terror, just in time to make him pull at the steering wheel and avoid that oncoming car from the opposite side.

"Jeez, are you trying to get us killed?" I nervously said with a hand over my chest, struggling to calm down my poor racing heart.

"Sorry," He sheepishly replied with a timid grin, quickly averting his eyes back on the road.

However, for some reason, I couldn't help but notice how he kept throwing furtive glances at me from time to time, his constant attention on me making me feel kinda flustered.

"What?"

"Nothing," He blinked as he stared at the road ahead, a visible tint of red coating his cheeks.

"Whaat," I insisted with a whine in my voice, coaxing him to tell me what was going on.

"Nothing," He tiredly exhaled,
"It's just that, I've just found you and you're already making me fall in love with you," He rather shyly confessed, that pink tint in his clean-shaven cheeks becoming stronger.

"What am I gonna do with you?"

Holy shit. He did not just say that. Mmh-mmh. Nope.

My eyes were wide as saucers now, my heart beating a hundred miles per hour as I sat there and stared at the road ahead like a damn fool, suddenly feeling so uncomfortable.

**

I couldn't utter another word for the rest of that ride, rendered speechless as I sat in that car seat like it had pins and needles in it, my mind going on repeat over and over again on those words he'd uttered to me.

Holy crap.

My eyes were still wide, fallen into a trance-like state. Even my wolf felt fidgety.

Goddess. What is this male doing to us?

Damn this. Damn this cunning bond.

I felt so nervous now that I could barely even endure sitting next to him. And the moment he finally parked close to my house I sprang out of that damned seat as if it were on fire, getting out of that car before he could even try to utter another word to me.

I rapidly made my way straight towards the front porch, abruptly stopping as if being zapped as I lastly realized exactly what I was about to do.

"Shit,"

"What?" His smooth and sexy voice sounded from right behind me, making me startle and turn around to face him.

"I can't go in there!" I complained, my heartbeat and breathing increasing with panic.

"Why?" His dark brows furrowed, curiously peering down at me.

"Why? You're seriously asking me why?"

"I reek of you, and Nathan too! Not to mention that I'm so freaking wasted I can barely stand on my own two legs!" I hissed at him with desperation, careful not to raise my voice as I didn't want to be accidentally heard by anyone who might be up inside the house at this late hour.

He didn't seem to understand though what seemed to be the problem, that confused expression still etched onto his features.

Of course he wouldn't. He wasn't the one growing up in a house full of fearful and suspicious lone wolves!

*Oh, fuck it.*

I blew out an annoyed sigh and stumbled out of that alley, simply leaving him there and went around the back of my house, looking up at the window that belonged to my room.

"Shit. How in the hell am I going to climb up there now?" I mused out loud, trying to figure out a way to go all the way up there without falling or hurting myself as my reflexes still felt kinda numb right now, thanks to that strong gin. And to top it all, my wolf wasn't helping either, her scolding growls only managing to annoy me further. I knew that I screwed up and that I was still drunk as a result! I didn't need a freaking reminder!

I had to try though. It was way better than having to face my parents or my auntie Mary and uncle John in this state.
I knew that Leia and Archie were going to be pissed at me too but at least they weren't going to punish me or shut me out for crying out loud!

"What?"

Jesus!

I almost screamed with fright at the sound of his masculine voice caressing me from behind for a second time tonight, startling again. I whipped around to face him, this time a little faster than intended and thus actually managing to stumble and lose balance, almost on the verge of making acquaintances with the ground if it wasn't for his fast reflexes and strong hands that easily caught me, firmly holding onto my waist.

"Whoah, easy there,"

My cheeks burned as I immediately felt those tingles in my tummy as a response to his warm touch on my body, unwillingly losing myself into those chocolate eyes as I made the stupid mistake of peering up at him, noticing that tender look in his gaze.

*Oh, sweet Goddess...*

His marvellous sandalwood and spice scent invaded my senses as I stood there, trapped in his hold, slowly falling under his spell. His smell, his looks, the warmth of his body...everything he represented made me feel so entranced.

He made me feel so intoxicated that I almost didn't notice that I was unconsciously pushing myself closer and closer... Until that very second when I suddenly noticed that we were actually so very close to kissing, my eyes widening with alarm before I pulled myself away at the very last moment.

Holy shit!!

"No, no," I shook my head and started to anxiously pace around, struggling to clear that haze and calm my racing heart.

Oh my days! I almost kissed him!!

"You gotta stop doing that!" I pointed an accusatory finger at him, my entire body shaking with nervousness and astonishment at what just happened.

Well, almost happened.

"Stop what?"

"Stop...that!" I chaotically waved a hand at his face and body, hearing his sexy chuckle as I anxiously paced around for a few moments longer, mentally panicking.

I needed to get away from him. I needed to get away from him as quick as possible. He was starting to mess with my head!

I abruptly stopped pacing and made my way straight towards that wooden panel made for flowers that was attached to the house, blowing out a huffing sigh before I started climbing it with determination. I was going to get away from him and reach the safety of my room, no matter what. And I was going to do it right now.

Screw all this. Screw his charms and that infuriatingly delicious scent of his!

"You're shitting me," I heard him say with incredulity from that spot where I'd left him, so I paused and peered over my shoulder at him, angrily hissing,
"No I'm not. Do I look like a fucking jester to you?"

But he only chuckled again in response and lightly shook his head, making me huff an annoyed sigh and ignore him, set on continuing with my task at hand.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to do much else as I suddenly heard that dooming crack, feeling my shoe slip right before my hands followed.
I couldn't stop that frightened shriek from escaping me as I felt myself falling, right before I landed into a pair of strong arms with a breathless "oof".

"Well hello there," My breath caught up within my throat as I found myself staring into those entrancing eyes, my gaze lowering to notice that cheeky smile gracing his sensual lips.

Holy crap, why do I keep making things worse for myself? I was just trying to get away from him, not have him closer!

*Goddess, you are cruel!*

I was just about to politely ask him to put me down and take his hands off of me when his attention abruptly averted, a frown creasing his features as he stared at my house for a moment.

And before I could even take another breath he'd already manoeuvred me around in his arms as if I was a freaking ragdoll, draping me over his shoulder before he ran away with me straight to the back of my yard, hiding us behind the shed.

I squeaked at the ticklish feeling as he placed his hands on my hips and slid me off of his shoulder, placing me back to my feet before one of his hands moved to cover my mouth, the other wrapping around my waist to keep me close against him.

*What the hell is he doing?!?*

I breathed fast and hard through my nose, still so shook and confused as I obviously had no idea what just happened, my cheeks though flushing again as I was suddenly very much aware of the way his powerful body was pressing up against my own, making me feel every ridge and every contour.

*Oh...*

My eyes widened a little bit, my traitorous body warming up in response, sending a pleasurable impulse and a trickle of liquid heat straight to my nether regions as I could feel *that* too against me, pressing up on my lower abdomen through his sweatpants.

*That's his dick!!* Holy sweet hell, I had his rock hard dick digging into me like a fucking lethal weapon!

That was it. I was about to die. I was about to die right there and then.

Utterly mortified with our current situation, I timidly raised my gaze to peer up at him, watching his handsome features contort with a frown as he took an inquisitive sniff and lowered his gaze on me, those chocolate eyes abruptly switching to black.

*Uh oh...*

I let out a small and startled squeal as I suddenly found myself swiftly spun around and facing the wooden shed. My eyes widened, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest as I felt his hand wrap around to fist my hair, his other arm holding my hips in a steel grip as he forced me flush against his muscled body. I forced myself to ignore those arousing sparks and the feel of his very hard manhood pressing up against my butt-cheeks, my feet barely touching the ground as he was actually holding me a little higher against him.

My laboured breathing synced with his, scared to move or even make a single sound as he held me plastered against him like that for a while. I could feel the caress of his hot breath over the side of my bared neck as he'd tilted my head to the side with the help of that grip on my hair, holding me tight but still not enough to hurt me.

"Don't.move...please," his pleading voice sounded almost pained, feeling that slight tremble in his breath as it continued to caress my skin, making me tingle.

"I won't. I swear," I squeaked out in response, squeezing my eyelids shut in an attempt to stifle that powerful wave of desire washing over me at the feel of my mate holding me like that.

I knew what was happening. He'd scented me. He'd scented my arousal and lost control of his wolf.

Shit.

My wolf whined within me, torn between that desire to couple with her mate and the fear of him actually hurting us and even taking our freedom by simply leaning a little closer and sinking his fangs into us as his mouth was so damn close to my neck. Hell, I could almost feel the featherlight touch of his lips against my skin!

I was so fucking scared. I didn't want him to mark me. I didn't want him to take that choice away from me!

So I stood as still as possible, fighting that slight tremble in my body as he held me like that for a little while longer before abruptly letting me go, my legs still shaking as I turned around to face him.

He let out a desperate exhale as if being for too long underwater, his hands balling into fists at his sides as he gazed at me with a pained look on his face.

"No...I need to stay away from you tonight. Our desire for you is too strong," he breathlessly said, my heart pumping inside my chest with urgency as I desperately fought that pressing instinct to run away. I had to. I had to try and control my movements if I wanted to survive this night with my neck and pussy untouched.

"I'm..." I swallowed, taking a step sideways whilst pointing in a suggestive manner towards my house, watching him vigorously shake his head with disapproval.

"No, you're not gonna be safe there," he almost growled out those words, making me startle with fright.
"I have to take you back to Nathan's," I watched those eyes flash golden for a second, scaring the crap out of me.

"O-okay..." I quickly agreed with a rapid nod of my head. Shit. I was about to agree to anything if that meant that I would be safe from him.

So I stood there and waited, watching him take a few deep and calming breaths before starting to walk back to where we came from, my legs stumbling as I struggled to hurry after him.