Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2023 Lila Fox

  ISBN: 978-0-3695-0756-3

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Lisa Petrocelli

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  CLAIMING MY MATE

  Carnal Lust, 2

  Lila Fox

  Copyright © 2023

  Chapter One

  Simone glanced at the red light that started to blink on the dashboard several miles back. She had no idea what it meant, but she didn’t think it was good.

  She was on her way to meet her friends Brenna and Nicole, and she didn’t think she was more than ten miles from the town she was looking for. The scenery was beautiful, but it was unlike anything she’d ever seen. She was born and raised in the city and couldn’t remember if she’d ever touched a tree. She knew there wasn’t any grass around where she lived except next to some sidewalks.

  The car sputtered, bringing her attention back to the present. “Oh, no, no, please don’t do this to me!” Simone cried. “Just go a little bit farther.”

  The car decelerated, and then a puff of smoke came from under the hood. She pulled over to the side of the road, and it was barely crawling when it sounded like it coughed, and then nothing.

  She put the car in “park” and turned the key before pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. After several calming breaths, she pulled her phone out to call and found she had no reception. Hell, what did she think? She was in the middle of nowhere. She hadn’t seen a car since she left the last big town, which was an hour ago.

  God, nothing had gone right for her lately. She’d been fired after working at her job for six years, and the CEO had given his niece her position. Her boss called it downsizing. She called it bullshit.

  One of her best friends was being stalked, and she was terrified for her. The guy was certifiably crazy and unpredictable, which made him even scarier.

  Then the apartment building where she lived had a bedbug infestation, so they were told they had to move out until it was taken care of. She shivered in revulsion. God, she hated bugs, and the thought of a swarm of them taking over and crawling in all her things made her want to scream.

  So, a decision was made between the three friends. They chose to leave the city together. They’d talked about it for years, but it had never been the right time. They needed this push to move forward, but Simone had to admit she was terrified to be away from the city. The country towns didn’t have anything she was used to. She doubted wherever the hell she’d been going—some town named Wolf something or other—would have a Starbucks, or plays, or nice five-star restaurants. But she’d adapt because she would rather be with her friends in the country than in the city alone and without them. All of them had shitty upbringings and very little family left. When they met in high school, they gravitated toward each other and had never left each other’s side.

  Simone tried to calculate how many miles she’d have to walk to the town, and she knew she’d never make it by the time it got dark because the light was already dimming. Plus, she would bet her savings there were some dangerous animals in the forest around her. Didn’t all forests have meat-eating animals? Something had to eat the rabbits and squirrels, or they’d take over, right?

  Something thumped against her trunk. Her head snapped up, and her stomach twisted with anxiety. The first thing she did was make sure her doors were locked. She turned and glanced out her back window before looking in her rearview mirrors, and nothing.

  She lowered the driver’s side window an inch so she could listen for anything.

  Nothing was there. The relief was enough to relax her abdomen, reminding her of her most pressing problem. Right at the moment, her biggest issue was that she needed to go to the bathroom, and there wasn’t one for miles. She had no idea how to do it outside, but she couldn’t wait any longer. It felt like her bladder was going to pop.

  She had nothing to pee in the car and refused to pee in her pants, so she looked around for a Kleenex and opened her driver’s-side door. She carefully looked around before making her way to the back of the car. She scanned the area before she pulled down her pants and leaned her lower back against the fender, and God, the relief was worth the humiliation of peeing against her car. It helped that no one would ever know about it except the birds and squirrels.

  Simone wiped herself, pulled up her jeans, and got a bottle of water out of the car to wash her hands. When that was done, she felt almost human and more optimistic about her situation.

  She stretched her shoulders and looked around the area. If she weren’t terrified, she’d think the place was really beautiful. Maybe later, when she got settled and learned more about it, she’d appreciate it more.

  A soft scuffing sound behind her made her turn. The sight before her was something she couldn’t comprehend. It was huge and hairy but wore jeans, a flannel shirt, and boots. The fact that the thing had snuck up on her without her hearing was something she couldn’t understand. Her head was tilted all the way back so she could see its face. Jesus, the thing was a giant.

  “A-are you a bigfoot?”

  The thing smiled and then shook its head. “No, I’m your mate.”

  Simone couldn’t seem to grasp anything at the moment. She thought she should be terrified, but that wasn’t what she was feeling. Something about the thing calmed the alarm she would have normally felt, which was crazy.

  “Are you one of those mountain men that take women and make them their bride, and no one ever sees them again?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m just a man.”

  She snorted. “Pull my other leg.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “What does that mean? Why would I do that?” he asked.

  “It means I think you’re lying.” God, couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut and maybe rush to the car and lock herself in? That would be a normal human reaction, right?

  “I’m not. I’ve waited for you a long time.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Wait. We’ve never met, right?”

  “No. But we don’t have to, to know we’re mated.”

  She looked behind her at the open car door and then back at him.

  He stepped in-between her and the car and closed the door. “You won’t get far, baby.”

  “Listen, you wouldn’t happen to have a way to get me to the next town, would you?” she asked, trying to distract him. She pretended to see something over his shoulder, and when he turned to see what it was, she made a run for it.

  She didn’t even make it to the ditch before he’d wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground. She struggled a bit but knew it was useless to try to fight.

  “I’m proud of you for trying, mate.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder with wide eyes. “Are you serious right now?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll never lie to you.”

  He started walking toward the forest.

  “Wait, what are you doing?” she asked.

  “We are going home. It’s getting cold out, and I don’t want you chilled.”

  She tried to struggle. “Stop. Listen, don’t I get a choice?”

  “Absolutely. There are a lot of choices you’ll get to make. Just not right now. It’s my job to protect and take care of you, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “What about my car and all my things?”

  “I’m sure someone from town will take care of them for you, but you really don’t need anything because I’ll provide you with everything you want.”

  She gasped when he lifted her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. She tried to kick him, but he just chuckled and smacked her ass. She couldn’t feel it because of her jeans, but the thought that he had spanked her made her smack his ass.

  She regretted it a second after when her palm stung from the contact. Her heartbeat throbbed against her breastbone when he stepped inside the tree line. “Wait … I…”

  He threw something over both of them. It was like a net made of plants and flowers.

  “What’s this?”

  “It will help with your scent.”

  “Are you telling me I stink?” she asked. She tried to push the net off her, but it covered them and touched the ground. When she tried to lift it, she couldn’t because the damn thing was heavy. She couldn’t understand how he could carry her and this blanket thing at the same time.

  He bent forward, and she heard him snap something.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m putting on my shoes.”

  “You have on boots. I saw them.”

  “I know. They are kind of like snow boots but thinner, and I can walk in them easily.”

  “Why?”

  “So, they don’t see my footprints,” he said.

  “Are you a convicted prisoner who escaped from the nearest prison or mental institution?”

  He chuckled. “No.”

  “And you’re sure you’re not one of those bigfoot things?”

  “I’m positive.”
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  The further they got away from the car, the more her fear rose. A shiver raced down her body when his hand slid up and down her leg, trying to soothe her.

  “Don’t, mate. You have nothing to be afraid of.”

  “How did you know I was scared?”

  “I smelled it.”

  “And you think I’m just supposed to trust you?” she asked.

  “I know it’s hard right now, but I guarantee you will.”

  They seemed to walk forever, and he never tired.

  “I can walk.”

  “No, I don’t want you tired or injured. It’s not far now.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I already told you. I’m taking you home.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  They went up a rocky hill and then into a cave. The chill started to permeate through her clothing the deeper they went.

  “We’re just about there, and then I’ll get you warm.”

  He pushed what she guessed was a door and then shut it behind them before pulling off the plant net. He tossed it aside, and then set her on her feet. He held her shoulders to give her time to get her bearings back.

  “How are you doing, mate?”

  “I’m a little dizzy.”

  “I’m sorry. You were upside down a long while.”

  She exhaled and then nodded. “I think I’m good.”

  “On the safe side, let’s sit you down. I’ll cover you up while I build the fire.”

  He sat her on the sofa closest to the fireplace and pulled the blanket from the top down and around her. She cuddled under the blanket and watched him. He had to be six and a half feet tall. His hair and beard were long and black. His eyes were a dark green, blended in with the forest surrounding them. Simone wished she could see more of his face, but he’d let his hair grow until it passed his shoulders. He had a full beard and mustache, so all she saw was his upper cheeks, forehead, and eyes.

  Simone watched as he lifted a log about three feet long and as round as her waist and placed it in the huge stone fireplace like a twig.

  “Can I know what my kidnapper’s name is?” she asked.

  He looked over his shoulder with a raised brow. “Really? Kidnapper?”

  “What do you call it?”

  “Claiming my mate.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what that means.”

  “I’ll explain it, but first, I need to take care of you. Are you getting warmer?”

  She nodded. She was actually toasty.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “No. I’m too nervous.”

  He took off the jacket he had on and then his boots before he sat down beside her. At first, she stiffened, but she was actually starting to lean toward him as they stared at each other. It was the weirdest sensation she could only describe as finally coming home. She was in the place she was supposed to be all along.

  “Have you ever heard of shifters?” he asked.

  It took an effort to pull her attention away from her feelings and concentrate on his words. “Like the people that can turn into animals?”

  “Yes.” He nodded.

  “Kind of. I think I read about some in fairy-tale books when I was a child. Why?”

  “I’m a shifter.”

  Her eyes widened, and then she snorted. “How about we say you’re a little crazy instead? I’d believe that faster than the other bullshit.”

  “It’s not bullshit.” He sighed when her grin widened, and he stood. “I’m going to shift and turn into my wolf.”

  She laughed. “Okayyy.” It will be interesting to see how far he went with this tale.

  “Do not be afraid of me, mate. The wolf or I would never hurt you.”

  He started pulling off his clothes.

  She held a hand out. “Whoa. Now, wait a minute, big guy…”

  “I have to, or I’ll rip them. Before the night is over, you will be intimately used to my body.”

  She should be thinking about what he just said, but her brain became muddled as each piece of clothing dropped to the floor. He took off everything and stood in front of her in all his glory, and damn, he was the best-looking man she’d ever seen. Everything about him was huge, including his very hard cock that pointed straight at her.

  She was staring at his cock one second, and the next, she was face to face with a huge black wolf. Her mouth dropped open, and she couldn’t grasp what had just happened before her very eyes. When it finally dawned on her, she tried to scream.

  The wolf sat and whined. Her mouth snapped shut. He used his paw to touch her leg.

  She had to be dreaming because this kind of stuff didn’t happen in the real world. Right? Or was she finally losing her mind?

  Chapter Two

  When he caught her scent in the forest, he thought he’d finally lost his mind. He’d struggled to hold onto some of his sanity for years, but now he thought he might have failed.

  In his pack, if male wolves didn’t find their mate by a certain time, their bodies were racked with pain daily, and their minds deteriorated over time and became more like a feral wolf they couldn’t control. Female wolves had it easier. Their bodies ached, but nothing close to males, and their minds weren’t affected if they didn’t mate. They also didn’t live as long as mated ones.

  The closer he got to the road, the stronger the scent of vanilla and strawberries got. He knew who she was. His father had explained what happened when he found his mate, he just never thought it would happen to him. He prayed every day of his life for this moment, and it was finally here.

  His father told him that her scent would draw him to her instantly, and his cock would become hard for the first time in his life. He would immediately want to mate with her. His father was right. He’d been miles away and still smelled her.

  Blake watched her use the fender of her car to brace herself so she could take a piss. He smiled a few times because she was so clumsy. He guessed that was the first time she’d ever done something like that.

  When she was facing the other way, he crept up behind her. As long as he lived, he’d never forget the first question out of her mouth about being a bigfoot. He was so proud of her when she didn’t get hysterical. She was even mostly docile on their trip home, but too much of it was because of her fear, which he hated.

  Now he sat in front of her in his wolf form, trying to think of something to ease her fright. He crept forward, slowly laid his head on her lap, and looked up at her. She inhaled and shuddered before she reached out and touched the top of his head.

  “This is what you want, wolf?”

  He whined and nudged her hand to keep petting him. He needed her to feel free and safe around him. Blake thought he’d been doing a good job of holding back the desire to mate, but her touches and the scent of her arousal were slowly driving him insane.

  He turned back into a man but still knelt in front of her with one of his large hands on her thigh.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m doing surprisingly well. Now, I want to know why my body feels like it’s burning up inside, and I have the intense urge to…”

  “Mate with me?” he asked.

  “Yes. I guess that’s one way to say it. Now tell me why?”

  “Because we are mates. You’re the only woman in the world I could ever make love to and build a bond with. Humans that have shifter mates are different in a way. You can live a normal life. You might not feel fulfilled, or you might feel like something is missing, but you’d be fine. If we don’t find our mate, we have physical pain, and the male slowly turns into their wolf and can’t shift back. Others go crazy, and others kill themselves before that happens.”

  “You … you’re in pain?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’ve lived up here for six years. “

  “Oh my God, you’ve been up here for six years?”

  He nodded. “The last time I talked to anyone was two years ago. I see one guy sometimes when I have to get supplies, but we never talk.”

  She pressed a hand over her mouth. “But you’re so young.”

 

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