His body was tense and stiff, from hours spent hunched over the bed. Kael had been up for days, pacing, watching, and waiting for Nova to wake. He hadn’t been aware of how much time had passed exactly, and didn’t even remember closing his eyes.

  However, it wasn't the grounding weight of exhaustion, or smell of vinegar and pine that had blinded his senses over the past few days that Kael had registered upon waking. It was the fact that it was cold and silent, and there was no warmth beside him.

  His eyes snapped open, and his hand reached out, grasping nothing but empty blankets.

  Nova.

  Kael shot to his feet so fast the chair nearly toppled over, the blanket he’d had covering him sliding unnoticed to the floor. His pulse thundered in his ears as he swept the room, scanning for any trace of her.

  There was nothing, no signs, no note, it was just empty, and almost eerily silent, and due to all his cleaning her scent was nearly non-existent.

  She had just woken up. She was still healing. Where the hell did she go? Kael thought frantically.

  His heartbeat hammered wildly as he stalked toward the main room, yanking open the door. Empty. The storage room? Empty. Bathroom...empty.

  He turned sharply toward the entrance, fingers clenching into fists. He had left the latch unlocked for emergencies, but she wouldn't…would she?

  She did.

  The door was cracked open. Of course she did.

  Kael cursed under his breath, shoving it the rest of the way, the crisp night air rushing past him. His eyes immediately scanned the dark, the silent woods stretching out before him.

  She was nowhere to be seen.

  Kael inhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down, but the panic gnawed at the edges of his restraint. This was unlike him, he was always solid, and unshakable. Pull yourself together! He scolded himself angrily, but the very idea of her alone in an unknown place in the middle of the night, especially after having been out for several days, sent something clawing at his insides.

  His muscles tensed, already pulling at the edges of his control. He didn't fight it. Bones snapped, muscle stretched, heat surged through his veins as he shifted mid-step. His fur bristled as his claws dug into the dirt, and he immediately went to work locking onto her trail.

  It didn't take long to find her, she hadn't gone far.

  A few miles ahead, a sleek black wolf moved through the trees.

  Her coat gleamed beneath the moonlight, black as shadow, flickering faintly with embers that trailed through the night like dying stars. The fiery flecks in her dark eyes shimmered as she stretched her limbs, moving with unrestrained ease, as if she didn’t have a single care in the world.

  Kael's lips curled back in a snarl.

  She was enjoying herself.

  Relief hit him, seeing her ok, awake, and alive, but it barely made a dent in his anger. She was just wandering around out here, completely unaware of the hell she had just put him through, and he was livid.

  Kael pushed harder, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds.

  Nova turned just as he approached, her bright eyes flashing.

  She barely had time to react before he lunged.

  The impact sent them both tumbling through the brush. Nova yelped, twisting mid-air, her body coiling as they hit the ground.

  She shoved at him, snarling, black fur bristling. Kael! What the hell—?!

  Me what the hell?! What the hell yourself! Kael snapped, pinning her down. What the hell were you thinking?!

  Nova bared her teeth, struggling beneath him. I was thinking that I needed a little fresh air!

  Kael growled, his chest pressing against hers, muscles taut with barely contained fury. You left! Alone.

  I took a walk! she snarled, shoving at him again.

  His claws dug into the ground beside her, his breath hot against her face. Don’t lie to me Nova.

  Nova snarled back, teeth flashing. I thought I was doing you a kindness!

  Kael's breath came sharp and uneven. Kind? His voice was lower now, rougher. Kind would have been waking me. Kind would have been leaving me any kind of indication that you planned on returning. So what sort of kindness were you performing then, hm?

  Her breath hitched.

  I woke up, and you were gone. His chest heaved, his voice barely above a growl. After everything. After nearly losing you. After holding onto nothing but the hope that you would come back— He cut himself off, fangs clicking shut.

  Nova blinked and stared back, unsure of how to respond.

  Kael exhaled sharply, pushing off of her and stepping back. You don't get it.

  Nova scrambled to her feet, shaking out her fur, hackles raised. No, I do get it, Kael. You’re scared, and you think that you can protect me by locking me away in some hole.

  Of course I’m fucking scared! I’m scared of losing you! I have spent days worried sick about you" His voice broke into a snarl, his anger bleeding out, his wolf already trembling with rage. But locked away? Are you fucking serious? YOU followed ME, remember?

  Nova's tail flicked sharply, her own frustration igniting. I was fine! You're overreacting! He was right though. He was right about all of it. She had intended on leaving, feeling that she had become a burden to him. He had never forced any decision upon her.

  Overreacting? Kael snapped, stepping closer, his fur bristling. Do you know what it felt like to wake up and not find you there? Do you even care?

  Nova stiffened, her own anger burning just as hot. Of course I care, I don’t think it was you that started to burn down the world on my behalf, was it!?

  It was too much.

  Kael's muscles tensed, his eyes flashed red, and then, an ancient force pulsed through the space around him. The ground trembled, and the sky crackled. Power surged hot and violent through the air, and then Kael appeared to grow in size. Darkness poured from him, and a snarl ripped through the night, as Fenrir took over his body.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Nova barely had time to react before Athena took over, rising to meet his challenge.

  This wasn't just an argument anymore. This was a war of wills.

  The two titanic forces collided.

  Fenrir struck first, his massive frame crashing into Athena, forcing her back. She twisted, jaws snapping, her ember-lit fur flaring with heat, as she bounded away. Their bodies met again, claws raking, teeth flashing. The earth trembled with the lashing of their bodies against its surface.

  Dirt exploded beneath their paws as they spun apart. Fenrir prowled, massive and commanding, his golden eyes fixed before him, every step a warning. Athena however, didn’t retreat. Her stance was solid, head lowered, ears flat, lips peeled back to reveal glistening fangs in challenge.

  A warning growl rumbled from his chest, deep and thunderous, but Athena would not be dissuaded. She answered with one of her own, sharper and colder.

  And then they moved.

  Fenrir struck with the weight of a wrecking ball, barreling toward her with jaws open wide. She ducked beneath his charge, her shoulder slamming into his ribs hard enough to stagger him.

  His teeth snapped inches from her throat, but she jerked her head aside, her muzzle grazing his ear before she surged forward. Her body collided with his, claws tearing across his flank, leaving crimson lines in their wake.

  He reared up, snarling, and brought his weight down on her, pinning her briefly beneath him.

  Fenrir was stronger and more experienced, but Athena was faster.

  She drove her hind legs into his stomach, kicked hard, and sent him stumbling backward. He regained his footing, circling with a new caution in his step. She didn’t give him time to adjust. She lunged low, biting into the thick fur at his neck, shaking violently.

  He roared, twisted, and threw her off. She hit the ground but rolled and sprang back up, already charging again.

  They collided, and his jaws clamped onto her shoulder, but she didn’t cry out. Instead, she slammed her forehead into the side of his head with brutal force. He let go with a snarl. He had been trying to go easy on her, unsure of how much she could take after just healing, but she’d left him no choice.

  Athena lunged again snapping at his throat, but he caught her, slamming her into the earth. She broke free, coming back with even sharper force, refusing to yield.

  Submit, Fenrir growled.

  Make me, Athena snapped.

  The night hummed with energy, a charge heavy upon the air.

  This time, when Athena sprang at him, he ducked, hitting her full-force in the chest with his shoulder, slamming her onto her back. The ground shook with the impact. She struggled against him violently, and her jaws closed around his shoulder, sinking deep, but he didn't flinch.

  Fenrir caught the scruff of her neck, snarling. SUBMIT!

  Athena thrashed, but he didn't let go, and continued to exert more pressure.

  Her breath heaved, rage warring in her chest.

  You already belong to me, Fenrir rumbled, voice edged with finality. But if you need me to prove it, I will.

  Athena's growl wavered.

  Fenrir tightened his hold, shaking her, his snarl deepening. Enough!

  For the first time, Athena faltered.

  The fire in her eyes flickered.

  She thrashed, but his weight held firm, pressing into her, demanding submission.

  A tremor ran through her frame, and slowly, painfully, her fight began to wane. Her growl softened and she stilled.

  Fenrir exhaled, his grip easing slightly, but he did not move. The battle was over and Athena had yielded, but the tension still hung in the air, lingering, like it was about to reignite.

  The fight hadn't settled everything, it hadn't really even ended. It had only reawakened something deeper.

  Heat surged between them, raw and unrestrained, their bodies still locked together, breaths heavy, hearts pounding.

  Then, Athena shifted and Fenrir followed suit.

  Their forms unraveled until they lay tangled together, still in a violent intermission, their breaths shallow, and eyes locked. Fenrir held Athena down, his body tense, his muscles taut, his eyes daring her to make a move. They grew dark, and he tightened his grip on her wrists, leaning into her, crashing his lips into hers, reckless, and desperate to taste her. She was his, and while she may have yielded, he wasn’t done.

  His free hand grazed down her side and he pressed his cock against her, making his desire known. She gasped and he dropped his face into her neck, grazing her mark with his teeth, igniting the flame. She moaned, rubbing against him, her body reacting to his every touch, wet with need.

  She deserved to be punished though, and Fenrir didn't hesitate.

  The heat between them had grown sharper, wild and unrestrained, fueled by the fight still lingering between their bodies.

  His breath was heavy against her ear, his grip firm as he spun her around. His muscles coiled with the lingering pulse of dominance, his body still tense from the battle they had waged moments before.

  Athena was still resisting, and it only made him want to dominate her more. Her body trembled against him with need. She was practically dripping, still, she wouldn't give in.

  Fenrir pulled her tighter against him, rubbing his cock against her ass. His tongue teased the curve of her neck, and while cupping her breast with one hand he surrounded her mound with the other, and began massaging her.

  She arched involuntarily, and squirmed, trying to suppress her desire.

  Still fighting.

  His teeth grazed against her shoulder, a sharp warning. "Say it," he murmured, voice rough, dangerous.

  She refused.

  Fenrir began drawing slow, deliberate circles over her clit.

  Her breath hitched, but she didn't yield. Not yet.

  He smirked, "Still fighting me?"

  His fingers teased, moving torturously slow, deliberately giving her just enough to leave her wanting, but never more.

  Athena bit back a moan, her body betraying her as heat coiled deep in her belly.

  She twisted, trying to gain back some kind of control, but he was stronger. He held her tight, keeping her exactly where he wanted her.

  He slid a finger inside her and her body clenched around him, instinctively reacting to the pleasure despite the fire still burning in her chest.

  She trembled.

  He added a second, dragging his thumb over her clit in a slow, maddening rhythm.

  A sound caught in her throat. Her breathing hitched, sharp and uneven.

  "Say it," Fenrir murmured against her ear, his voice nothing but gravel and hunger.

  She shook her head.

  He chuckled darkly and began rolling her nipple between his fingers.

  She whimpered, craving more, but still, she resisted.

  He thrust his fingers deeper, this time teasing her asshole and clit as one. Her head tilted back, and her lips parted in a silent gasp.

  "You're mine," Fenrir growled, his voice commanding.

  She shuddered.

  "Say it," he whispered again, his teasing becoming more deliberate, his movements more aggressive.

  Athena was shaking now, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her fingers clawed into the dirt, her body betraying her at every turn.

  She hated him for it.

  And she wanted more.

  Fenrir felt the shift before she did. The way her body relaxed, the way her legs spread slightly wider, the way she stopped fighting quite so hard.

  He grinned against her neck, his fingers still coaxing her.

  Athena whimpered, her breath ragged.

  "Say it," he ordered, his tone deep and unyielding.

  She clenched her teeth.

  "Fenrir," she pleaded, her voice strained, frustration and need tangled together.

  His fingers stilled.

  Athena whined, the loss of friction unbearable.

  "Say it."

  Her entire body was on fire, trembling, desperate. A shudder wracked through her, humiliation and desire blurring together until she didn't know where one ended and the other began.

  Her nails dug into him and her head fell back, her voice breaking.

  "Yours," she gasped. "I'm yours."

  For a split second, he stilled, his entire body reacting to the surrender in her voice.

  Then, with a growl, he moved.

  His fingers withdrew, only to be replaced by the hard length of him pressing against her entrance, stretching her, filling her completely in one smooth thrust.

  Athena cried out, pleasure crashing over her in waves.

  Kael pinned her down and began venting his frustrations onto her. He moved with a raw intensity and possessiveness, like he was trying to express all of the anger and pain, and worry she had put him through.

  She arched against him, breathless, desperate, wild.

  There was no tenderness here, just fire, and hunger, and a desire that consumed them both.

  Athena matched him, her body becoming unhinged. Her walls clenched around him, and he snarled, his grip tightening, pushing deeper, harder.

  He felt her unravel before she did.

  Athena's body tensed, the pleasure cresting too fast, too hard. She let out a broken cry, her release tearing through her.

  Fenrir followed, his body seizing, his growl reverberating through them both as he thrust deep one last time, spilling into her, marking her in every way that mattered.

  They collapsed together, bodies tangled, breathless, the air thick around them.

  For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing, the scent of sweat and heat, and the weight of everything between them.

  Fenrir then drew her into his arms and held her tightly, sealing her mark with a kiss, and a silent promise to always be hers.