Taming Her Heart by Marisa Chenery Page B

my fate. I’m not going anywhere with you if it means I’ll end up on the tip of your wickedly sharp sword.”
    “What would you rather do? Wait around until you finally run into another of your kind? I can tell you right now, you’ll be considered weak and fair game. You’d come out the loser in a fight. And I know for a fact you wouldn’t survive it.”
    A look of uncertainty flashed across Chris’ face before he blew out a deep breath. “All right, I’ll go with you, but you have to promise me you won’t just up and kill me without giving me a chance to defend myself. My life has gone to the loo enough already.”
    Dolf held out his hand. “You have my word.”
    Chris hesitated for a second before he closed his around Dolf’s and they shook. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
    “It goes against my honor to do anything less. Come on, I have to stop somewhere first.” He sheathed his sword at his back and then willed it away.
    He led Chris to his car. The other man whistled. “You have a sweet ride, Dolf. Any chance I can take it for a spin?”
    “Not in this lifetime,” Dolf said with a snort. He aimed the remote on his keychain at the Porsche and pushed the button to unlock the doors. “Get in.”
    Once they were both buckled in, Dolf started the car and drove away from the curb. He had no idea what Raed would say about him bringing a werewolf to the mansion, but Dolf still didn’t know what else to do. As their leader, and onetime king, Raed would have the final decision. But he had to make a stop before returning home.
    Having driven this same route every night for the past couple of months, Dolf could do it with his eyes closed. It didn’t take too long to arrive at his destination. He pulled over to the side of the road and looked at the house across from where he was parked.
    It was torture, but he couldn’t not go to Maggie’s house and check to make sure she was safe. She was his mate, and it was his right to protect her. Each time he came, he hoped like hell he’d be able to catch a glimpse of Maggie. Something just to tide him over for another day. So far, he’d driven away disappointed each time, and feeling as if he were no closer to making Maggie his.
    Out of the corner of his eye, Dolf caught a shadowed figure walking down the sidewalk toward the house. His whole body seemed to come alive when he turned his head and saw it was Maggie. Alone. That had him growling softly as he shot out of the car and headed to intercept her before he could think about what he was doing.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing walking around outside at night by yourself?” he asked gruffly. “It’s not safe for you.”
    Maggie came to a sudden stop, her eyes widening. “Stay away, Dolf. Leave me alone.”
    Dolf fisted his hands at his sides, fighting the urge to pull her close. Standing in front of her, smelling the scent that was uniquely hers, made his cock go instantly rock hard. Inside, his wolf threw back its head and howled, longing for his mate, wanting to claim her. But he made no other move to get closer, not when he could smell her fear and hear the sound of her heart beating at too fast a rate.
    “Then answer my question,” he said in an even tone, not wanting to scare Maggie any more than he knew she already was.
    She took a step back. “It’s none of your business.”
    Dolf had to stiffen his body to stop himself from closing the gap between them. “It is, and you know the reason why. Tell me,” he said through gritted teeth.
    Maggie shook her head. “I won’t accept you. Not ever. I can’t.”
    He showed no outward sign of how much her words had hurt him. It felt as if someone had taken his sword and stabbed him through the heart. “That might be so, but it doesn’t make it go away. Not for me. You’re my ma—”
    She quickly cut him off before he could finish. “Don’t even say it. I don’t want to hear it.”
    Dolf sighed. “I’ll let it go for now. Just tell