Rescued by His Lone Wolf Mate (2 page)

He wondered what he should do now. Even shifters were
affected by his anomaly, so the best course of action would be to leave.
"I really appreciate the help, but I have to go now."

"Wait!" the stranger blurted out. "Please
wait. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Something in the stranger's voice tugged at a small part in
Dani's heart, that stupid little hope that had made him embark on this journey
to begin with. He suddenly knew the stranger would not attack him. Perhaps he
already had someone waiting for him at home? The thought was strangely
disheartening.

Just the same, Dani waited. The stranger didn't seem to have
expected that reaction. He made a noise in his throat, and then passed an
agitated hand through his hair. "Hi," his rescuer said.
"Right... Err... Hi."

"Hello," Dani answered, bemused. After what they'd
just experienced, a greeting was definitely not what he expected.

The man looked straight at him and gulped. He opened his
mouth, only to close it seconds later, doing a pretty interesting imitation of
a fish. For some reason, Dani found it comforting.

"You wanted to talk to me?" he prodded softly.

"Right. Yes. First of all, I think I should introduce
myself. I'm Connor... Fleming."

The latter word came out after a very distinctive pause, and
Dani scowled, wondering if his new acquaintance was lying about his last name.
Banishing the thought, he decided to give Connor a chance before branding him
as a liar. "Daniel Fuller," he replied, "but my friends call me
Dani."

He had no idea why he'd said that, but it drew a warm, wide
smile from Connor. "Dani. I like it. Suits you."

The heat in those dark eyes made Dani burn down to his toes.
He took an involuntary step back. "T-Thank you," he managed to
stammer.

Connor must have realized something had spooked him because
he lifted his hands as if to point out he was harmless. "Look, I'm not
good at this, at words, at explanations, so I'll just be honest with you here.
You're a shifter, right?" Dani nodded hesitantly, and Connor continued,
"Well, I'm a werewolf. And I know this is the worst possible time, but the
moment you stepped into that diner, I knew... I knew you were my mate."

Dani's eyes widened as he tried to process what Connor was
telling him. It was not possible. Sure, he knew werewolves could mate other
species, but Dani had never heard a single one of his kind ever being a
werewolf's other half. Their ways of life simply didn't match. "That can't
be. I'm a rabbit shifter. We don't have mates."

He regretted his words when Connor's face fell, a flash of
agony coursing through the werewolf's dark eyes. It was quickly hidden, and he
smiled, not looking in the least bit resentful of Dani. "I understand.
I... I won't force you into anything." He paused, as if struggling for
words. "But... I couldn't help but overhear you're headed into Willow
Cove, and you seem scared. Even if we can't be anything beyond acquaintances, would
you at least let me accompany you there?"

It was a horrible idea. Dani should be running away in the
other direction, but he was too busy trying to hold himself back from reaching
out to Connor. He wanted to smooth away the lines of pain creasing Connor's
brow, to bury his fingers in Connor's dark hair and see if it was as soft as it
looked.
 

In that moment, he truly wished he could have been Connor's
mate. But it wasn't possible. Connor didn't have someone waiting for him, after
all. He was simply imagining things, and the best thing Dani could do was stop
this before it went any further. He owed Connor that much.

As such, he blurted out the worst possible thing he could
come up with on the spot. "Why should I trust you? You're just a
stranger."

Connor grimaced. "I suppose I am, but I... I swear on
the moon herself that I'd rather die than hurt you. Besides, I was on my way
there too. Could be fate."

Fate. Dani wasn't sure he believed in destiny, but he still
couldn't turn away from Connor. Despite knowing it wasn't right to manipulate
Connor, something inside him craved the warmth Connor offered. Before he could
stop himself, he nodded and stepped forward. "Okay then. You've got
yourself a travel companion."

Chapter Two

When Connor had made his mate the offer to join him on the
trip to Willow Cove, he hadn't actually been considering specifics. His wolf
had whined in pain and rejection, acknowledging the loss of what could have
been the most beautiful thing in his life. But beast and man, Connor was
stubborn, unwilling to just give up, and he had clung to whatever hope he had,
to Dani's presence, if not his heart.

At the time, he had not realized how torturous it would be to
travel with his mate. Since they were riding on Connor's bike, Dani wrapped his
slender arms around Connor and his hot chest pressed against Connor's back.
Connor's senses were assaulted by everything that was his mate, the scent of
his hair, the softness of his skin, the warmth of his breath. He had trouble
remembering how he'd ever felt cold in his life.

It was miraculous that he managed to focus on directing the
bike through traffic, but focus he did, out of sheer determination. He had
promised to get Dani to Willow Cove and he would not put his mate in any way at
risk through recklessness on the road. Sure, feeling the powerful bike between
his legs didn't really help his arousal, but he tried to keep it out of his
mind.

To his credit, he wasn't the only one affected. Even if Dani
had said Connor wasn't his mate, Connor could still scent desire on him. It
made him want to pull over and claim Dani right then and there. Of course, he
didn't. He respected Dani's choice, no matter how hard—in more ways than one—it
was for him to accept.

For the most part, both of them were silent throughout the
ride. Connor had not realized it until now, but being a lone wolf had put a
real damper on his social skills. His mate seemed naturally shy—perhaps a
consequence of his rabbit nature, as well as whatever he was trying to evade.
Either way, when they stopped for the night, Connor was faced to brave his
misgivings.

He parked the bike in front of a motel on the freeway and
took off the helmet he didn't actually need. "We should eat and get some
rest," he told his mate. "We'll probably get to Willow Cove tomorrow,
but we need to find the place at a decent hour. I don't actually know their
address, and the last thing I want is to make a poor impression."

Dani nodded, worrying his lower lip much like he had in the
diner. "Do you think they'd help me? Us?"

"You? Very likely." Following a sudden impulse,
Connor brushed his thumb over Dani's cheek. "I'm not sure anyone can
resist those pretty eyes of yours. As for me, probably not, but it's worth the
attempt."

He had not wanted to express his doubts to his mate so quickly,
but in all honesty, he would be very relieved if the Lone Wolf Pack consented
to take Dani in. If that was the case, he would appeal to Alpha Simmons's
goodwill, explain the situation and request the permission to stay in the
nearby forest as a wolf. It was the most he could hope for at this point. And
okay, if he'd stopped here to further delay their separation, he didn't think
anyone could blame him. As for himself, his past wasn't exactly conducive to
trust from an Alpha who didn't even know him, but seeing Dani safe would be
enough.

Dani scowled, not looking very happy at Connor's words.
Connor didn't want his mate to be sad or upset. They'd probably have so little
time together. At the very least, Connor wished to make Dani smile. "Don't
worry about it now. Let's grab a bite. You're probably very tired."

"Not really," Dani replied. "All things
considered, I didn't do much traveling on my own today. If anything, it's been
relaxing."

Connor grinned, even if his heart clenched at the knowledge
of the hardships his mate must have endured. He decided to address that later,
when they were in private.

They secured the bike in the parking lot and entered the
small not-quite-restaurant. A bored waitress took their order—a salad for Dani
and a hamburger for Connor—while several truckers gave Dani the evil eye. For a
few seconds, Dani moved closer to Connor, but then, he straightened his back
and ignored the onlookers.

It was a little harder for Connor to do the same thing.
Everything inside him screamed to tear some limbs, and he probably would have
done something stupid if anyone had come one inch closer. After what had
happened earlier, he felt particularly protective of Dani. Thankfully, only the
waitress approached when she brought their order—to go.

Connor paid quickly and ushered his mate out of the diner.
"Sorry about that," Dani said apologetically. "People always
zero in on the fact that I'm different."

Connor scowled, wanting nothing more than to wrap his mate in
his arms and hold him close. "Don't apologize for closed-minded idiots. I
have no idea why you feel you're at fault, but just being yourself is no
crime."

Dani's lower lip trembled and he looked away, hiding his eyes
from Connor. Hating that he couldn't provide better comfort, Connor guided his
mate into the hotel. The woman behind the counter noisily popped her bubblegum
as they approached.

As she listed the prices of the available rooms, Connor
hesitated. He wanted to respect his mate's boundaries, so maybe it would be
better to sleep separately. If he did that, though, he'd have to leave Dani on
his own. Connor's wolf rebelled just at the idea of abandoning his distraught
mate, and he found himself blurting out, "We need one room until
morning."

He paid up front, as per her demands, and received the key.
He was greatly relieved when they finally made their way to the room, and
retreated behind closed doors—at least until Dani's gaze zeroed on the double
bed.

Connor rushed to explain. "I'll sleep on the floor. I
just didn't want to leave you alone, but if you're uncomfortable, I can go take
another room, or—"

Dani shook his head, interrupting him. "It's fine. I
feel safe with you."

His smile was honest and relieved, and his eyes glinted with
something like decision. "Did you mean that—what you said earlier? That
it's okay to be different?"

"Of course," Connor answered. He paused, trying to
gather his words, to be eloquent for the first time in many years. "No one
individual is exactly the same as another. Trying to make it so is just painful
and pointless. For us shifters, it's particularly foolish. We are what we were
born to be. It's as easy as that."

Dani's eyes filled with tears and he crumbled to his knees in
the middle on the room. "Not me. I'm a freak."

Connor rushed to his mate's side and finally followed his
instincts, wrapping Dani in his arms. He didn't say anything. He just held on
and let Dani cry on his shoulder. He highly suspected these tears were long
overdue. The moon only knew Connor could empathize—he'd had similar breakdowns
when he'd first become a lone wolf.

Finally, Dani's sobs began to fade and he retreated from
Connor's arms. Connor let him go, but he reached for Dani's cheeks and gently
wiped his tears. He didn't ask, but Dani told him anyway.

"My parents banished from my warren. Our people... I
don't know how familiar you are with my kind, but we're a very matriarchal
society. For us, the most fertile female is the leader of the warren. Two weeks
ago, I came of age, and we were all tested for fertility. It was kind of obvious
from the beginning that something was wrong. Other males in the warren had been
looking at me oddly for a while. But I didn't expect... It's so crazy. It
turned out I could conceive, bear young like a woman. It's a miracle my mother
didn't kill me on sight."

"Is that why you wanted to go to Willow Cove?"

Dani nodded. "When I first heard about that pack, it
seemed like a sign. Surely, I could find someone there who could understand.
I
 
just feel like... I can never escape
it, escape what I am. It haunts me every step of the way. People stare at me. I
don't want to be this... This freak." He looked up at Connor and grabbed
Connor's hands. "I'm sorry, Connor. I... I really wish I was your mate,
but I'm not. I exude a natural pheromone, courtesy of my little condition. It's
why those humans attacked me to begin with. The scent... It does something to
people, to men in specific. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to take refuge
with the Lone Wolf Pack. They all have mates, so they wouldn't be interested in
me. But for you.... Your wolf probably translated that unnatural pull into a
mate bond."

Connor gaped. Dani was obviously being honest, and his dark
chocolate eyes begged for forgiveness and understanding. And Connor could have
forgiven Dani anything—but this, this was one thing he refused to accept.
Thankfully, he didn't have to.

"Baby, you're hurt. I'm guessing you've been suffering
because of this pheromone thing ever since you left the warren." Dani
nodded hesitantly, and the fact that he didn't pull away further encouraged
Connor. "I'm not them. It's true that I want you. Moon be blessed, I want
you. But I would never force you into anything, never. I understand if you
don't believe me, but I know in my heart that this is true."

"Connor..."

Dani's pleading expression cracked the last barriers in
Connor's heart. He couldn't prevent this. He had to explain, to make Dani see.
"Dani, listen. I'm a lone wolf. I was banished from my pack over forty
years ago. Ever since then, I've been alone, on the road, running."

Dani's eyes widened. "But... Why? How?"

The painful memories came rushing back, but they didn't hurt
so much anymore, not with Dani's warmth there anchoring him. "It's an old
story. I was very young. One of our pack elders became interested in me. He tried
to... force me."

"Oh, Connor. You don't have to tell me if you don't want
to."

"But I do, that's just the thing. I was barely a child,
by werewolf standards. He didn't think I could fight him off, but I did. I
suppose it would be easier for me if I said what happened after that wasn't on
purpose, but... I don't know if that's the case or not. All I know is that I
killed him, and at the time, it felt good."

Dani didn't speak, but Connor didn't expect him to. He'd
never said this to anyone, not even to his parents when he'd explained what had
occurred. "I should have been executed for it. He was a preeminent figure
in the pack, and no one really believed him capable of such an abomination. No
one except my parents, that is. My father believed, and he was Alpha. He
couldn't keep me from being punished, but he managed to get me exiled instead
of killed.

"I hated him for it, you know." Connor smiled
bitterly. "Being a lone wolf... It does things to people. We're not meant
to be on our own. Without a pack, we slowly lose ourselves. I forgot how to
feel, Dani. I was so cold, so cold inside, like everything but the most basic
instinct of survival was gone. And then, you stepped through the door of that
diner, and suddenly... Suddenly there was color in the world again. I could
breathe. I could think. No pheromone can do that. It's not possible."

His throat hurt, and he realized that he'd spoken more in the
past ten minutes than he had in the last week. It was worth it, though, so
worth it, because the doubt and the pain finally faded from Dani's eyes. He
threw himself into Connor's arms and held on, far tighter than someone of his
build should have been able to.

"You are different. I knew you had to be. No wonder I
couldn't let you go."

"So don't," Connor replied. "Don't ever let me
go."

He hadn't planned on taking things further, since it was
pretty obvious that right now, the last thing Dani needed was to be pushed into
sex. No sooner had he spoken the words than Dani was shoving him down, pinning
him to the carpeted floor. Connor opened his mouth, intending to protest, to
tell his mate this wasn't necessary. He forgot all about his good intentions
when Dani climbed on top of him, his ass nudging Connor's now very interested
cock.

Through some sort of miracle, Connor managed to gather his
wits and his control over his vocal cords. He gripped Dani's hips, keeping his
mate from moving. "Dani? Baby?"

"I want this, Connor. I want you to touch me, to show
me." Despite Connor's hold on him, Dani ground against Connor's cock,
pointing out exactly what he wanted. "I thought I was imagining it. I
couldn't understand it. I was afraid. But I'm not afraid anymore, not when
you're here. I can believe in you."

It was more than Connor had ever expected when he'd reached
out to Dani. How could he resist? His wolf howled as the truth of Dani's words
settled in his bones, buzzed over his skin. Nothing else mattered but this
moment of genuine rightness.

And maybe he should have pulled away, given Dani some more
time to think about what he was doing. He didn't. Instead, he slowly released
Dani's hips, caressing his mate's sides and thighs with reverent fingers.

"And I want you, so very much."

The words were bland, inadequate, unable to convey everything
Connor felt. But that was okay, because Dani understood anyway.
 
He smiled down at Connor and reached for the
buttons of his shirt.

It was then that Connor noticed how much Dani's hands were
trembling. He would have been taken aback, but Dani wasn't the only one who'd
gained understanding through this conversation.

He gripped Dani's palms in his own and for a few seconds,
just held on. Dani froze, not moving a muscle. Their eyes met, and they just
smiled, the urgency building up inside both of them fading into the background.

As carefully as he could, Connor slid out from under Dani.
His mate released a sound of protest, and that sweet little whimper got to
Connor's head like a drug. He couldn't keep himself from leaning in and
pressing his mouth to Dani's.

Dani tasted sweet and fresh, and surrendered to Connor
openly, eagerly, like there was truly nothing he wanted more than to be here,
in Connor's arms. It was intoxicating, and Connor's wolf demanded more. He
thrust his tongue into Dani's mouth in a vain attempt to sate his thirst for
his beautiful mate.