A Howling Heart
Chapter forty-five

Fae's POV.

This is ridiculous... he can't just pretend my mother isn't a part of my life. She's been all I've ever had.

My mother means the world to me.

I won't abandon her.

Pulling my hand from his, I sulk angrily beside him, and he groans.

"Fine. I will bring you there. But you will only rest your head in my bed from now on."

"Fine. But please bring me to her."

He huffs but grabs my hand again and hurries me through the woods until I eventually get out to the street.

God, the longer I'm near him, the more revitalized I feel.

Like our connection is strong.

It's amazing.

I move to his jeep and hop in before he climbs into the driver's side. I gaze at him in the moonlight, eyes moving down his powerful jaw and full lips, to his muscular neck and chest, to his thick arms and large hands. I swallow as I feel heat stir inside me.

"Fae..." He repeats my name in that warning tone. The lust in his words is unmistakable. "Stop, Anima Mea."

I chew on my lip nervously. "It's hard...I can't fight it."

I squirm eagerly in my seat, overcome by my own desire for him to claim my lips possessively as an Alpha would. Images of him kissing my neck, his hands trailing along my bare thigh, make my cheeks blaze with blush and make him jerk the

car.

"I won't be able to concentrate on anything but you..." He groans when I inhale a sharp breath, his hands tightening around the wheel as he glances at me, his eyes unable to stay away from my lips.

"Oh, Fae. I cannot wait to claim you as my own. Forever. But not yet. So close but not yet."

I swallow my groan of frustration. "When?"

"Tomorrow."

I gasp. I am happy it will be soon but angry that it isn't right now. "I didn't know it was so soon."

He blows out a frustrated breath. "Not soon enough."

"I can sense your desire, Fae. I can feel it moving through your body, pumping through your veins like something that needs a cure... me."

He inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring as he groans with satisfaction and shifts in his seat.

The way this man matches my desire is so attractive. I come undone in his presence. I'm unable to contain myself.

That thought makes me blush and causes my body to continue reacting to him.

Matias reaches for my hand, squeezing it tightly and reassuringly as he continues driving. "I know it's hard, but it will be worth the wait. You are worth the wait as long as I have you forever."

I don't know if it's the adrenaline, the chivalry, or what, but everything he says is just the right thing to say right now.

"You are so beautiful, Fae. From the first moment I saw you, I've craved you. I've needed you more than I've ever needed anyone else. You are my life, my love, my everything."

I squeeze his hand back reassuringly. "That means a lot to me, Matias."

I pray my mind is shielded as these thoughts run rampant, but I can't help dwelling on my past. Growing up, I felt awkward, not tan enough, not tall enough, my hair was not shiny enough, and just overall unattractive, but here this man is saying I am everything and more. It feels utterly surreal.

"You are everything and more, Fae."

He has access to my thoughts.

I shoot him a look that makes him back down and give me a lop-sided grin.

"I know you can't help yourself from poking around in my mind, and it irritates me sometimes, but that was sweet."

I can feel the connection between us. It's pulling me to him.

I can't resist him. Not anymore.

I don't want to. I want him to take me. I want him now and forever.

"Can you control your thoughts for a moment and behave?" He chastises teasingly.

"Do you seriously want me to?"

He licks his lips, and a sultry expression forms on his face with a hint of seriousness. "No, I do not."

I gasp when he pulls to a stop on the side of a road surrounded by trees. The trees give us a shred of privacy, but I don't believe any of that is a concern in our thoughts. Not when he's pulling me into his lap to press a passionate kiss against my lips.

An explosion of happiness and excitement goes off the moment our mouths touch. Adrenaline spikes, pumping through my veins with incredulous speed until I'm shaking from the kisses, and I feel that animal part of me awaken. Fate beckons me, urging me through the gentle caresses of his hands on the side of my face to accept him with open arms. Accept my future with open arms.

The deeper the kiss goes, the more I feel any shred of protest within me resolving. His mouth commands mine to give and give more of myself, and I gladly do. A shiver rolls down my spine. He releases a hand from my face to stroke my back. Every touch is nothing short of brilliant. He awakens each sensitive part of me emotionally, physically, and mentally, his kiss penetrating as deep as my soul until I feel the familiar sting of tears in my eyes-tears of pure joy, of pure yearning. I've longed for a connection like this for years in my sullen life.

Seeing love evade my mother so effortlessly had scarred me into thinking I would never find my true match.

"Fae," he groans against my mouth before pulling away from my lips to nuzzle my neck. He inhales my scent, and another groan leaves his lips before I feel him pressing a trail of kisses down my neck. "Matias," I sigh his name.

His eyes flash that deep red of the wolf, and my mind and body burst with emotions and longing. I become frenzied as I press my mouth to his, tongue sweeping his bottom lip until I've savored him endlessly on my tongue. Too good to stop.

Too good.

"Have to claim you. Have to make you mine." He growls words in my head as we kiss passionately. His hands are on my waist.

He is mine.

"Yours."

Forever. "Always."