15. The Wolf Of The Moonstruck Night

**XANDER**

To think I had once doubted whether Maeve was my mate or not, seemed like a comical notion now. She was, well beyond the realm of doubt, my mate. The chosen gift for the Moon Goddess herself.
The moment those three sweet words tumbled out of her quivering lips, I enveloped her in my arms in less than a second, bundling the petite frame into the heat of my embrace.
Fates, I have never been so hard and emotional at the same time, shuddering with the insane crave to make her mine right this second. The pull between us was almost crazy. The more I felt her, the tighter my insides coiled. My wolf raged beneath my skin, wanting to leap out with every animalistic desire to devour her right this moment.
Fates, I need to shift.
I need to be one with the wolf in me to calm my senses enough to hold her without the savage thoughts
Maeve sniffled into my shirt and slowly tried to break the pose as I quickly tucked her head back into my chest. I knew that the second she would stare into my eyes, she would invariably notice the glittering lust, and this time, I would truly have no explanation at all.
What seemed like an eternity later, my heart slowed down and I regained better control of my desires. I calmly released her, without taking my hands off her shoulders. As expected, she wobbled a little to find her footing.
“You are feeling better now?” I asked softly.
Maeve nodded, without meeting my eyes. “Thank you.”
Taking hold of her chin, I tipped her head and captured her innocent gaze. “You don’t ever have to thank me for holding you, kitten.”
Maeve’s flush over spanking was uninhibited. But what was starting to trigger me was the strong scent of her arousal. Somewhat, she was unaware or confused by the strong surge of emotion. “I am…really sorry,’ she stuttered listlessly, “I just…”
‘Shh.” I cooed. “It’s all over and forgiven. We won’t talk about it anymore.”
Maeve bit her lips, contemplating and finally acquiesced with a brisk nod. It was only then her head swung around and landed on the discard shorts. She wanted to lunge for it, except I quickly picked it up for her and handed it over.
“If I were you I wouldn't exactly put them on right now,” I said, as she was about to lift her legs and then pointed at the wooden chair behind her. “Or think about sitting on that.”
My smile didn’t falter as she gave a flabbergasted look. “I can’t just remain half-naked in your home,” she blabbered.
I looked into her eyes, reading the knowledge and strength battling against her circumstances and decided to offer some comfort. “Hmm. You are right. Come with me.”
I tugged at her elbow, as gently as possible, and walked her towards the couch. “Where?” Maeve inquired, nevertheless following my suit.
“Let’s get you comfortable.” I plopped down on the seat and patted my thighs in an indication to join me.
Maeve gaped at me in shock, her mouth falling open. And it was funny that my words could still surprise her, all things considered.
She shook her head vehemently in disbelief. “You can’t be seriously…asking me to sit on…”
“My lap?” I finished for her and then nodded. “Yes. Trust me, it’s the best place for your sore ass right now.”

**MAEVE**

To say that I was outrageous and flushed crimson would be an understatement. The ill-fitted cotton top I was wearing barely went past my hips and I was standing half-naked in the middle of his living room. And my panties? Well, they were definitely useless in this situation.
“Come here, kitten,” he insisted in that voice of his, deep and rasping that immediately sent my heart into beating hundred miles per hour. I could never understand the thrill of being around him in uncomfortable and shameful circumstances, but it very well drummed my heart faster.
Xander gently drew me down on his lap, cradling me against his chest as if I were some child. Although, compared to our sizes, I was truly a midget to his towering frame.
“Ow,” a small wince escaped my lips, almost involuntarily, as my sore back propped over his slacks. It was still very much throbbing from the spanking.
I have been spanked! The thought alone made me cringe.
I could barely believe the reality, if my ass weren’t such an indication.
“See.” Xander smiled. “That’s why I didn’t let sit on the chair.”
somehow, I didn’t find it funny and scowled. “You are the reason I can’t sit now,” I muttered, sounding more factual than petulant.
That caused his grin to grow wider. “Well, you got off easy, kitten.” And to accentuate his words, his palm rested over my panty-clad ass and circled the warm skin to awaken some of the ache.
He held me for a long time until I almost dozed off on his lap. It was only when I insisted that I absolutely have to return to my apartment that he helped me slip into the shorts and let me go.
————————
Back home and into the safety of my apartment, I thought hard about him. I didn’t understand this man. No more than I understood my own feelings around him. He scared me and thrilled me in equal measure, making me yearn for the dull ache in an indescribable way. On one hand, he was high-and-mighty about punishing me for breaking in, and on the other hand, he was manly enough to cradle me in his lap.
How could I possibly give in to this?
On top of all, my anxiety and restlessness simply melted with his presence. I have been getting a sense of relief and peace around him, no longer haunted by the visions or restlessness.
Xander was truly miraculous to my wrecked nerves. I was neither plagued by headaches nor cruel visions, having all my thoughts orbiting around him. It’s like I would not have to think about anything other than him.
That night, I went to bed in vain. I tossed and turned a million times in a futile attempt to find the best position to sleep and came up with nothing. Also, every time I turned, my back still hurt a little - a constant reminder of the vivid incident. Dejected, I got out of the bed and decided to go for a run.
It wouldn’t be the first time that I have to jog around for hours in order to get physically tired to achieve sleep, but it would certainly be the first in Prescott.
Grabbing the hoodie and AirPods, I quickly locked the door and headed out. There was a park nearby where I often went for a run in the wee hours of the morning, and as expected, it was blissfully empty at this hour of the night.
Right now, I wanted to block out the entire world and simply get lost into the blaring music. So the first thing I did was turn up the volume of my iPod and took a few laps of the park under the streaming silver moonlight.
It was mind-numbing and exhilarating, just the kind of meditation I was used to it. The rush of adrenaline in my veins did the trick, carrying me into the realm where exhaustion ruled by mind, body and soul and propelled me to run faster by the second.
I don’t remember how long I ran, but it was only when my legs gave out and I was panting for air, did I stop. On the nearest bench, I slumped down slowly and stared at the sky above me. It must have been nearing midnight, I thought, as the silver light spilled and seeped into every crevice of the place.
Being a city girl, I have hardly taken the pleasure to lie down on a grass and watch the moon like it was tonight. The sight was…extraordinarily beautiful.
The exhaustion worked like a charm, blocking out everything else as I unhurriedly made my way back to the apartment. And instead of taking the usual, longer route, I decided to take a shorter one that crosses through the woods.
I really hoped that a long bath and longer sleep would make her feel like a normal person.
Everything about the night was quiet and uneventful until a sound from the woods suddenly caught my attention. It was loud, typically between a husk and snarl. Against my better judgment, I gingerly walked towards it for a closer inspection as the sound only grew prominent. It wasn’t a snarl or husk anymore, more like a growl of an animal.
Animal? It wasn’t even a forest, my stupid brain argued.
But all logic and sensibility flew out when my eyes landed on a pair of glowing amber eyes. It was no ordinary animal—it was a freaking beast.
*A wolf.*
I froze on spot, shivering in fear and unable to comprehend the next course of action. The sheer size of the beast was so enormous that I could not move for the life of me.
The animal moved like a dark shadow, snarling and stalking towards me. And I did the stupidest thing I could do—I tried to run. As luck would have it, my legs tripped over something, making me stumble onto the ground like a hapless prey for the animal before.
I could see the wolf baring its teeth, ready to launch itself until a human roar rented the air.
“Maeve!”
*Xander?* I gaped at the direction where the sound came from.
I heard his voice before the enormous size of him emerged out of the shadows and his eyes glowing like a fire. And no, it was no dream at all. I was not mistaken by any length.
But the glowing eyes seemed to be the least of all surprises.
In a splitting second, his body turned and twisted on the ground. A ferocious howl ripped through the silence of the night as I watched an enormous brown-furred beast emerge out of him and prowled on the other wolf.
The rest was all blurry.
I opened my mouth, wanting to cry for help but stars danced in my vision and I blacked out in the woods.

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***Well, well, the big-bad wolf is out of the bag. What do you all think is going to happen now? How is Maeve goign to take it? I am excited to know thoughts on it! And thank you my lovely readers for supprting me.***