Mated to the Playboy Wolf: A BBW Valentine's Day Wolf-Shifter Romance Page 6

  As soon as she was on and had steadied herself, Matt took off, running at wolf speed, which was beyond anything a human was capable of. Shifters could run so fast that to the naked human eye, they looked like a blur. Tessa felt a little nauseated, then afraid, excited, and free at the same time. It was hard to put into words.

  Matt had loved the look Tessa had given him as he shifted, even though it had been the opposite effect of what he had planned to stir inside her heart. He had hoped he would be able to freak her out a bit, make her understand the reality of his life. Instead, she had looked upon his wolf body in awe, almost with love in her pale blue eyes.

  It was ironic that he was the determined one, and Tessa the more reserved one. Now, as things were becoming clearer to Matt, she seemed to be the one who was certain of their relationship, while he was the one freaking out. He felt a little like he was getting what he deserved. He should have listened to Claudia; he should have held himself back. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Tessa now that he’d slept with her. He was just a little concerned that he had moved too fast and too carelessly to properly consider the outcome of his actions.

  Matt loved being in his wolf form; it was how he felt free and alive. With his four paws hitting the ground and fur warming him up, he truly felt like himself. Plus, the amazing running speed he was capable of was a huge bonus. He was sure a quick, sustained run would help clear his mind. Then, he would have to stop and talk to Tessa. He would have to tell her the truth. For now, his plan was to run until he felt the tension leave his muscles, then head back to the cabin for a serious chat.

  ***

  As she stepped onto the porch and waited for Matt to shift so they could go inside, Tessa felt confused. The day had been a roller coaster, and she had no idea which part followed now. Would it be an up, like the run, or another down, like the way Matt had been so distant and silent when they had woken up?

  She shuffled into the kitchen behind him, her heart racing, while she waited to see what would happen. There were so many questions swimming in her head, but she knew that even if she found the courage to ask them, he probably wouldn’t give her straight answers.

  Matt had his own thinking to do, and as he stirred the sugar in his cup of coffee, he tried to find the right words to express his thoughts and feelings. He knew his behavior was odd, and that he was likely making Tessa feel uncomfortable, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Better to hurt her now than to destroy her in the long run.

  “I’m sorry,” he eventually said, sitting down opposite her.

  He handed her a cup of coffee, but she made no move to take it, which told him all he needed to know about how much he had already upset her.

  “I know I’m acting a bit like a crazy person today.”

  She didn’t say anything, but she bit her lip in the most adorable way possible. That distracted him for a moment.

  “I just think you should know that I’m not good enough for you.”

  “What does that even mean?” Tessa asked in the calmest voice possible.

  Anger, confusion, and hurt swirled around in her stomach, almost making her sick. Matt was acting like a big baby. Would it be so bad if she threw caution out the window and told that to him?

  “I didn’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day…”

  There, it was out. His subtle admission that he was, in fact, the biggest jerk alive.

  “No,” she snapped, shaking her head. “That can’t be it. You don’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day, you go out to a bar and pull the first girl who makes eye contact with you. You don’t log on to a mail-order bride website.”

  His excuse was stupid and feeble, totally bogus! Tessa refused to accept it. If she accepted it, then she had to also accept the fact that she had screwed up again. She had to admit that she had some sort of super power to attract douchebags into her life.

  Matt hung his head in shame. She was right. He hadn’t logged on to the Alma Vera website because he was lonely, but because he wanted more. He felt, however, that he had gotten in too deep, way over his head. It was difficult for him to process these new conflicting emotions, especially since he had never felt like this before.

  “I… I think I’m just scared?” he chuckled. It didn’t sound right given the situation. “I’ve never been in a proper relationship before, I don’t really know how to be someone’s boyfriend, let alone fiancé or husband.” He looked into her eyes, wanting her to understand the depth of his apology. “I just don’t think I’m good enough for you.”

  Tessa did her best to be the mature one. This felt a little too much like an excuse, like a reason to get away from her. She couldn’t help but recall all the times she’d been rejected before, and she couldn’t believe she was back there again. She blinked repeatedly, trying to keep the frustrating tears at bay. She didn’t want Matt to know how much he’d hurt her. Also, tears would make her look like a victim, and that was the last impression she wanted to give him. She didn’t want to let him know just how much power he already had over her.

  “If you want me to go, then just say it,” she told him coldly. “I’ll get my stuff now, go back to the agency, and you’ll never hear from me again.”

  When Matt jumped up from his chair, shocked by her reaction, Tessa knew she had applied the right strategy. The solution wasn’t to beg him or try to make him tell her more so she could empathize with him. What she needed to do was to be clear, cold, and direct. They either did this right, or they didn’t do it at all.

  Matt wanted to agree with her, tell her that she should leave, but he couldn’t end it like that. He remembered what she’d told him about her exes, and he didn’t want to be one of those guys. He didn’t want to break her heart and ruin her future just because he had been an idiot and she had trusted him.

  “No, no… I don’t want you to leave. I mean, if you want to, if I’ve hurt you too much… I would never ask you to stay knowing you’re unhappy.” He paused for a second. He wasn’t sure he was making any sense. His words couldn’t describe half of what he meant. “Look, it’s not you. It’s me. This is all my fault.”

  “It’s not you, it’s me,” she sneered. “Yeah, we’ve all heard that one before. Just forget it.” She stood up. “If you’re telling me the truth, and you don’t think you’re good enough for me, then you shouldn’t have contacted me in the first place. Now that you have, don’t you think it’s up to me to decide?”

  “I… I…” he stammered, a little blown away by her passion.

  “Stop being a coward!” she yelled at him. “Tell me exactly how you feel, without all these little games only horny teenagers play!”

  Matt was taken aback. He had never been called a coward before, but, then again, he had never acted like one, either. He couldn’t believe she had yelled at him, but her raised voice did manage to make her words lodge into his brain.

  “I like you,” he muttered. “I like you so much that it scares me.”

  “So, you’re worried because you proposed? You’re scared that we’re moving too quickly and I’ll want to be mated to you like… today? I just want to understand you here.” Tessa reached out and took his hands into hers. “We don’t have to move that quickly if you don’t want to. You already know that the idea of marriage freaks me out a bit, too. Why don’t we just date like normal people for a while? See how it goes… Then, if it works, we can discuss marriage, children, hybrids… whatever.”

  Tessa herself felt better when she told him they could take things slowly. After all, when he had asked her to become his bride, just two days before, she had been ready to run away, too. She completely understood him. They both needed time. And no, she wasn’t scared that Matt would change his mind. Not anymore. He was still there, standing in front of her, his hands in her own. He hadn’t pulled away, hadn’t asked her to leave, and when she had suggested it, he had actually told her he wanted her there. He wasn’t rejecting her.

  “Are you sure?” he asked sheepishly, looking at he
r through his eyelashes. “I don’t want to be an asshole, I just… I want to do this right.”

  She pulled him to her and kissed him lightly, instantly feeling happy and relieved again. There was no way they weren’t going to end up mates. It felt like fate, like they were meant to be, but it was better to take their time and savor each and every moment.

  “I suppose so,” she teased, looping her arms around his neck. “But just because you’re cute.”

  “Well, that’s true,” he grinned, his expression turning back to normal. “I am worth the wait.” But then, his face turned a little more serious. “I don’t ever want to hurt you, you know?”

  “Me neither,” Tessa replied. Everything he said warmed her heart. “Now, come on, let’s take advantage of this cabin and the beautiful view while we’re here. I’m tired of arguing. Not a good way to start a relationship, am I right?”

  Matt’s eyes lit up. A deep growl escaped his lips when Tessa pulled him out of the kitchen, her intentions obvious in her eyes and the wicked smile on her plump lips. They’d gone from fighting to walking towards the bed in a matter of minutes, and it was all thanks to the wonderful way Tessa had handled his outburst. Sure, he was freaking out about commitment. How could he not after he’d spent so many years living the bachelor life? But with Tessa by his side, willing to take things as slowly as he needed, he could do this.

  As she kissed him passionately, her hands running up and down his chest and abs, Matt knew she was the one for him. All he had to do was stop himself from ever fucking up the amazing thing that they had, and the perfect thing they were working to achieve in the future.

  THE END

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review and helping other readers make an informed purchase by telling them what you thought, what you liked and didn’t like. Your review will also mean a lot to the author, as your opinion might influence what she writes next. Thank you!

  MORE VALENTINE’S DAY NOVELLAS

  Are you looking forward to more Valentine’s Day shifter goodness? Then make sure you Subscribe to my Newsletter to be the first to find out about my next releases! They will all be live on Amazon and free in Kindle Unlimited before February 14, 2017.

  Released on January 19, 2017:

  Amazon US | Amazon UK

  Jocelyn Blackmane is one of the few female Alphas in the world. Even though she is tough and independent, her status doesn’t make her life easy. As all female shifters, she is unable to bear children, so it’s difficult for her to find a mate. When her Beta, Ryan, shows he is interested in her, Jocelyn doesn’t know what to do. A relationship between an Alpha and a Beta would only complicate things.

  Released on January 25, 2017:

  Amazon US | Amazon UK

  Kevin is the Beta of the Crescents pack. He never considered taking a mate, until he met Ashley Woods, a sassy, curvaceous beauty who stole his heart. But Ashley is not particularly interested in wolf-shifters. Her life is perfect, and she doesn’t need the complications that come with becoming a shifter bride.

  Released on January 30, 2017:

  Amazon US | Amazon UK

  It’s been ten years since Caleb’s girlfriend passed away, but he’s still heartbroken. His newfound feelings for his best friend, Rosanna, don’t make things easier. However, Rosanna is determined to show him he doesn’t have to feel guilty for moving on.

  Coming February 10, 2017:

  Sexy dragon-shifter Astrid has never thought she would find a mate in her business partner, James Harington. She belongs to the most ancient and noble shifter species on the planet, and he’s only a human. To say they are an unlikely match would be an understatement.

  THE ALMA VENUS UNIVERSE

  Lovely reader,

  The characters you’ve just met in this book, Mated to the Playboy Wolf, are part of a wider series. The characters you’ll meet in my next Valentine’s Day novellas belong to the same wider universe. If you want to know them better, learn about their background, and meet the other characters mentioned in their stories, then please check out my Alma Venus Shifter-Brides series:

  Amazon US | Amazon UK

  Free in Kindle Unlimited

  Dive into the world of the Alma Venus Shifter-Brides! Get four standalone novels at an incredible price, and enjoy the stories of four beautiful, amazing women who are trying to make their own destiny in a world where humans are an inferior race!

  The peace treaty between humans and shape-shifters was signed over a century ago. One of the clauses says that humans must provide shifters with young brides to give them heirs and ensure the perpetuation of their species. Today, all over the world, special boarding schools take girls from orphanages and give them the most exquisite education, preparing them to become brides for the enemy. If a bride reaches the age of 25 and no shifter wants to buy her, then she is given two options: serve in a shifter brothel, or starve on the streets. Society would never accept a bride who failed to accomplish her duties.

  Sold to the Alpha – Avelyn is determined to regain her freedom and never marry a shape-shifter. When Alpha wolf Max Blackmane buys her, she uses all the tricks she can come up with to escape. Before she knows it, she falls in love with him. But Max has dark things in his past, dark things he keeps hidden in the dungeons under his castle.

  The Hidden Alpha – Amelia has always wanted to marry a wealthy shifter and live a simple, normal life. She is bought by Seth, the Beta of Clan Sylfur, for his fox-shifter Alpha, Blake Sylfur. But her husband ignores her, and Amelia falls in love with Seth. Her betrayal might ruin her forever.

  Claimed by the Dragons – Delyse has waited for three years for her Alpha, ancient dragon Eric Drekinn to wake up from his hibernation and claim her. When she finally meets her husband, she’s already in love with his Beta, Viggo. What she doesn’t expect is for the two dragons to agree to share.

  Taming the Alpha – Claudia is worried that no shifter will ever want to buy her, and when Karl Blackmane shows up, she wonders if he bought her just because her friend, Avelyn, insisted. All she wants is to make Karl happy, but his dark, twisted past threatens to ruin their marriage.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Cara Wylde loves to write about strong, feisty women and their hot Alphas who will do anything to make them happy. Her books are filled with romance and just a dash of mystery, suspense, and that eerie atmosphere she fell in love with reading too many gothic novels. With a master's degree in Comparative Literature, she can't help but play with tropes and themes from various genres, trying to come up with fresh perspectives on the paranormal characters her readers love so much. Vampires, shape-shifters, demons, witches... Cara will always make sure they get their own twists.

  When she's not writing, Cara is reading, planning her next story, or daydreaming. Her idea of pure heaven is a day filled with nothing but her laptop, a huge coffee pot, relaxing music, and a new, exciting project.

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