Chapter 10

Lilly

After an hour of chasing each other around, wrestling and hunting rabbits with no luck, his wolf bumped its head into my belly, signaling playtime was over.

He was tired and we both were panting, ready for a drink.

We padded over to the stream, lying on our bellies as we lapped up the cool spring water that flowed from the riveted earth, enjoying our time with our wolves.

I stayed in control of my wolf's mind just in case-

In case she caught a whiff of Grace and decided it was time to show her what it means to encroach on our territory.

She wouldn't think twice about ripping out the pup growing in her womb.

A feeling that strong will have a wolf ascending completely, blocking out their host's intrusion.

My wolf lived off instinct, wanting what was rightfully ours.

Thoughts of eliminating the threat weren't out of the ordinary for any wolf.

Dan's wolf and mine lay side by side, licking each others faces in a friendly, loving gesture before going belly up in the sunshine.

We were enjoying the warmth that caressed our bodies.

After a while of relaxing in our wolf forms, we shifted back to skin.

Shifting back to human from wolf is a little less painful than shifting to wolf, so I didn't let out any screams this time.

Wolves don't notice one another when they are naked, bare from any coverings because it is something we are used to, only your mate would react and Dan wasn't that

We dressed, slipping on our shoes as well before he took my hand, guiding me back down the hill top of the Forrest towards the pack house.

His soft voice filled the air, the only other noise being the Forrest's floor crunching under our steps.

"I heard you had a talk with Zain, that he came to see you?" He questioned and I only nodded in response.

He flashed me a look that said 'continue'.

Signing in irritation, I relented.

He'd never stop questioning me until he got an answer.

"He told me he wouldn't mark her," I said.

"What?" He asked, surprise evident in his voice.

Didn't he know this?

He nodded for me to continue as we kept on our path.

"He told me how it happened, how she didn't know her heat was coming and he couldn't sense it. He couldn't resist, being an unmated wolf and this is the result then she over heard him saying he wouldn't mark her and would leave that option open for me no matter the outcome of the pregnancy," I let out all in one breath as I felt the familiar constricting of my heart, our play time long forgotten.

The contempt I felt for that woman was beyond anything I could imagine..

His hand squeezed mine softly, flesh molding to flesh in a friendly manner.

"Oh Lilly, I'm so sorry," he said to me lovingly. "Are you going to-" he alluded before he continued talking, "wait for him?" He asked and I could tell he was very curious and I just shrugged.

"I can't, I can't put myself through that, waiting like a desperate mate… In hopes she miscarries,l replied letting out a sour laughter.

"He said it himself that the first ten years he would raise his pup with her still around. Taking up residence here so he could be near his pup and once he would be 10 years old, he would allow the pup to go with Grace back to her pack to begin training since that's their way and the pup would be coming to spend summers here with him, how could I live like that?" I questioned incredulously

"Its a constant internal battle Dan, everything in my wolf says to mark him but I won't allow her. Everything in him wants to mark me but I won't allow it, not while this mess is going on. I just don't know what to do anymore,"

I said as I kept my eyes to the ground.

The broken pieces of my heart shaking inside me, wanting to feel our mates touch to soothe us.

My wolf wanted her mate no matter the consequences but I was on a different page.

I don't act on instinct. She does.

The slight anger towards the she wolf was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

This was her fault.

"I'm sorry Lilly but I don't think my brother is worthy of you. He can't ask you to wait," Dan said. "Watching from the side, hoping something happens because If it doesn't, you'll only think about that. The resentment of not being his first pup's mother would eat at your wolf," he added and he was right.

The wolf side would never forget that.. And neither would I.

She would look at that pup as a menace..

Shaking me head, I kept the battle between my heart and my head at a minimum.

I am not going to think about the what ifs.

I need to live in the now.

As we made our way out of the clearing toward the pack house, I felt a warming sensation over my entire form.

Finding his eyes instantly, Zain was near the lake with a crying Grace.

He seemed agitated with her but once his eyes found mine, they softened.

My heart sped up as we couldn't take our eyes off each other.

That is, until he noticed Dan's hand still intertwined with mine.

His face contorted to one of fury as he stood, back straight, hands closing into tight fists at his side.

"Dan let go." I whispered.

Dan frowned at me before looking up, seeing his brother, glaring at him as his nostrils flared, veins popping out of his flawless tan flesh.

Anger radiated from him and a growl could be heard yards away from where he stood.

I let go of Dan, walking toward the pack house.

Alone.

He stood there, glaring at Zain with just as much intensity.

Two brothers, fighting with each other over me.

Dan trying to protect me and Zain being insanely territorial.

I managed a peek at Grace who looked on at Zain with narrowed eyes before I looked away, not wanting to imagine her with my mate.

Walking inside, I decided to let it go.

This wasn't my fight but I felt awful coming between two brothers but they both felt a sense of belonging towards me just in different ways.

They needed to hash this out, just the two of them and alone.

You don't come between two male wolves with something to prove.

Regardless of age.

Before the door even could close all the way, I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of crackling and shifting, followed by feral growls.

The ones that come from fighting wolves.

They were going to tear each other apart.

Turning, I bolted back outside into the sunlight, the sight before me sending me into a panic.

I let out a scream.