Chapter 1 PART 1 - A GAMMA'S KISS Prologue

PROLOGUE. Carlos and Shaila Carlos - 18 years old Shaila - 12 years old CARLOS. "Did you say you made this?" I asked Shaila, holding the cinnamon bun in my hand. It was my second piece, and though I already knew she didn’t bake it, I still asked. I was giving her another chance, to tell the truth. She nodded her head, her eyes beaming as she looked at me with her hands clasped behind her. "Did you like it? Or should I add or remove something?" There was a bakery near their house that baked these buns, and I’ve been buying them there since... forever? So I knew where these came from the moment she showed me these. I initially thought I should tell her about it, but I changed my mind. Suddenly, I didn’t have the heart to hurt her 12-year-old’s heart. Which I found strange. I was so used to being frank with her, crushing her confidence on certain occasions, but not today. Maybe tomorrow again. I shrugged my shoulders before I answered her question. "Yes, they taste really good. Just perfect. Thank you.""So, did you find your mate?" She asked almost immediately after I replied. I almost choked on the pastry I was munching with her question as if she knew anything about mates. My birthday was yesterday. I turned 18, and for shifters like me, it was the moment we were all waiting for when we could finally scent our mate. But I wasn’t sure if I was one of them. I was happy just to be playing around, one female after another. Why settle for one when you could have a taste of many? "No. I didn’t." I winked at her as I took another bun from the plastic pouch she gave me earlier and took a bite. She breathed relief, and I knew what it meant, but I just ignored it. "Maybe your mate is still not 18.""Maybe." It didn’t slip my eyes the way her eyes sparkled the moment I agreed to her words. Shaila was only twelve, but I knew she had been crushing on me since, I fucking had no idea when. Probably when she first saw me. To be honest, I didn’t care. I was used to the attention given by the opposite sex. I’m the Gamma’s son, soon to be the Gamma of the Pack, if and if only — Caspian, the future Alpha of the Blue Meadows Pack, would choose me to be his Gamma. which I was certainly sure he would because I was hell-bent on proving that I was fit for the position. I knew I played around with females, but they only came second to my training and workouts. I’m a warrior, first and foremost. It was my goal in life to be a Gamma like my father. "...or maybe I don’t have a mate," I added, smiling at her as her face dropped before it warped into a scowl. "You have a mate. You just need to wait for her.""Yeah, whatever." I chuckled. "Hmmm… but will you let me know if you find your mate?" She asked. She bit her bottom lip as she waited patiently for my answer while I finished the one I was eating first. "Why?" Oh, that was a stupid question. Of course, this little girl would want to know when her heart would be broken. "Hmmm... Because I keep track of who finds their mates or not." Smart answer. But I’m not buying it. "Really, you keep track of everyone?""Yes." She answered proudly. "So tell me who’s mated with Gerald? He found his mate recently." I asked, chewing the last piece of the pastry she gave me. Gerald was her brother’s best friend. "Hmmm… I don’t know.""And Theresa? She got mated a month ago. She’s your neighbor." She swallowed as her eyes watered. "I want to go home now.""Okay. Thanks for the pastries." I told her nonchalantly and I knew I had broken her heart again. But I had no idea how she would get the hint that whatever she felt for me wasn’t meant to be. I knew it was just a childhood crush, but it had been going on for years. There were other boys her age who wanted her attention, and yet she followed me around like a lovesick pup. Damn, I hope there was an easier way to tell her to not waste her time on me, but then, I was enjoying the food she would give me from time to time. So maybe I will just let her do what she wants. I was pretty sure, soon, she would find someone else more interesting than me. I watched as her little frame walked away, her head hanging low and her shoulders sagging. The sight of her crushed my heart. Maybe I should stay away from her and forget about the pastries. Sweet little Shaila doesn’t deserve to be broken by someone like me.

Chapter 2 001 - A Gamma's Kiss

CARLOS. I entered the warrior’s lounge, and I was immediately welcomed by a yelling female voice. Seriously? Why would anyone take their problems at home inside the warrior’s facility? This was not the first time that this thing happened, so I reminded my warriors that none of their females should come or attack them inside the facility. This place was our relaxation area, and I wanted the atmosphere to be just that. But surely, someone forgot to restrain their girlfriend. I might have to tell them to carry her out and they could continue outside. I chuckled at my own thoughts. This was the reason I didn’t do relationships - no female, no problem. I let out a sigh as I entered the room and nodded at the few warriors around who acknowledged me before heading straight to the small kitchen where I thought the voice came from. And there I saw Santo. His face was furious as he stared at the petite female talking too fast in front of him. Shaila. His younger sister. "What’s going on?" I interrupted, and Shaila’s head tilted in my direction. Her eyes narrowed before she turned her body around to face me and released her wrath on me. "You too! You have no right to meddle in my affairs! Who gave you the right to threaten my boyfriend?" She snapped at me. "Ex-boyfriend," I corrected her. "He ran away like a coward with no dick.""Just because you’re a Gamma, you think you rule over everyone! I don’t care what my brother told you about him! Jasper is my boyfriend! And you have no right to tell him to fuck off from my life!""Seriously, Shaila, you can do better. You simply have no taste when it comes to men.""Probably! How would you explain that I was crushing on you when I was younger? Simply because I have no taste when it comes to men! But leave me alone with my life! I don’t need anyone to watch after me! I’m not a kid anymore!" If looks could kill, I would be dead now. Her small frame was filled with rage, and the way she balled her fists only showed how hard she was trying not to hit me. "Enough, Shaila. Go home. You’re not needed here." Santo snapped at her, before picking up his towel and water bottle. He glanced at me and nodded his head, "I’ll be at the grounds, almost time for my training." I nodded back and didn’t say anything until he walked out of the room. I could hear feet shuffling around the lounge area as warriors began to leave for their training. "Are you done being angry?" I asked her, crossing my arms against my chest. "I hate you." Anger was still radiating from her body. "Do you want to hit me?" She didn’t answer, but her fist flew and hit me on my arm. I shifted my body, angling and flexing my arm to her front so she has better access. Her jabs were nothing, but the veins in her neck were showing. She was really fucking mad at me. "More…" I taunted her, but my expression was stoic. And another jab came and more and more. I was just staring at her as she vented her rage on me until she was tired and rested her hand on the small table beside her. Her knuckles were already red. "Feel better?""Why did you do it?""I don’t know.""You don’t even know him." Fuck him! Of course, I knew him. I knew the players around this area. Jasper, her ex-boyfriend, was from the neighboring Silver Moon Pack, and I knew he was dating someone. So it came as a surprise when Santo, Shaila’s brother, came to me and told me Jasper was dating Shaila too. And he wanted him away from his sister. But Shaila wouldn’t hear of it. She thought Santo was just being an exaggerated, overprotective brother. We waited for a week to see if Jasper would break up with his current girlfriend, but he didn’t, and he was still stringing Shaila along with him. I knew it was none of my business, but when Santo asked for advice, I told him we’d give the guy an ultimatum to choose Shaila or his other girl. Well, he didn’t even explain and just fucked off, and started ghosting Shaila until he told her we told him to leave her alone. I’m a playboy too. But I don’t do relationships. I fucked and then I was gone. That’s why I opted for older females. They knew what they were getting into. No strings attached. Less complications. Play with younger females and they will cling to you because they think they’re in love. Love doesn’t exist. It’s the fucking mate bond that makes relationships work, so why the fuck do people waste time falling in love just to throw them away when their mate appears out of nowhere? That’s fucking unfair, right? So why waste time when you can have fun instead until your mate pops out of thin air? "He’s not good for you, Shaila. He was fucking another female while dating you.""But you fucked around too!""But I’m not dating you!" Her body jolted from the way I snapped at her and I fucking regret it the moment her lips quivered before she was able to find her composure. "What I mean is, I don’t have a girlfriend. I fuck and I go. But certainly, that’s not what Jasper was doing. He has a girlfriend and he’s toying with you.""But what if I was okay with him playing around?""What?" I growled. What the fuck was wrong with her? "Can you hear yourself? Go find a man who will be loyal to you.""What if all men are like you? Then there’s nothing left for me. So I might as well join the fun! Why do only men get to play around?" I brushed my palms against my face in frustration. I had no fucking answer, but how do I tell her I didn’t want anyone to take advantage of her? She was, after all, my little Shaila. My innocent girl. And I didn’t want her to be used and abused by men like me. "Listen, sweetheart." I held her arms as I tried to catch her gaze. "Go home. Don’t let Jasper make you feel like you’re worthless, because men like him or men like me, we don’t deserve females like you. You deserve better. And besides, your mate is probably just around the corner, waiting for you to turn 18. Stop wasting your time with pigs.""You don’t understand..." Her chest heaved as she stared back at me. "What I don’t understand?""You always get the girl you want. But I know I can’t. What if my mate doesn’t want me?""Of course, he will! Why wouldn’t he want a sweet girl like you?" I chuckled and smiled at her. It was meant to make her feel better, but then it backfired on me. "You. You never wanted me. So stop pretending I’m easy to fall in love with. At least Jasper... he wants me." She said it straight to the point, before removing my hands from her arms and turning her back on me, leaving me speechless as I watched her walk away.

Chapter 3 002 - A Gamma's Kiss

CARLOS. Tonight is a full moon. I knew Shaila would be shifting tonight. I haven’t seen her for weeks. The last time I saw her was when I teased her about her new haircut and she got pissed off. A few weeks ago, she arrived at the training grounds with short hair to bring something for her brother. She didn’t look bad - in fact, she looked sexier and older. But I missed her long hair. I missed the innocence in her face that I was used to. I was kind of surprised by my reaction. I thought I preferred older women, but when she showed up looking older than her age, I flipped out. I teased her and told her I would hunt down the person who cut her hair because she looked terrible. I couldn’t forget the disappointment on her face before she left without saying a word. And I never saw her again, until tonight. She showed up with long hair. I was baffled for a moment. How could she have gotten it back so quickly? Well, fucking hair extensions. She didn’t say a word to me for the rest of the night and just listened to my instructions about shifting. And then I sensed her anxiety when everyone started taking off their clothes. She didn't want to be naked. I saw her approach Andrea, timidly, and using my werewolf hearing, I listened to their conversation. "Are you not taking off your t-shirt, Miss Andrea?" Shaila started by asking her. Andrea shook her head. "No. That's why I have a loose shirt on me. I'm not yet comfortable being naked in front of this many.""Me too. But I was so worried the whole day that I forgot to think about what I would wear before shifting. My shirt is too short and too tight. But I don't want to be naked...""Maybe you can mindlink someone from your home to bring you a shirt?""But I live too far from here...""Wait, I think I can..." Andrea was not able to finish her words because I had already approached them. I took off my shirt, which was a bit bigger and looser than the usual shirts I would wear, and handed it to Shaila. "Take this. It'll be enough to cover you." My voice came out serious. I had no idea if she would decline because I knew she was still angry at me. I watched as her eyes locked with mine before she raised her hand to grab the shirt from me. She mouthed her thanks and moved behind the tree to change into my shirt. I couldn’t help the smile from twitching on my lips. For exactly this reason, I put on a loose shirt, which I rarely do since I am more comfortable with a tight-fitting shirt. I was thinking of her when she shifted tonight. Although I didn’t fancy Shaila at all, I wasn’t comfortable seeing her naked with too many males around her. She’s still a kid to me. And I was just protecting her. And I was glad she didn’t complain when I offered my shirt to her and immediately changed into it. She actually looked fucking good in my clothes. I pushed any ideas away from my mind as I focused on doing my job. Shaila was too young for me. And she’s not my type. Again, she’s still a kid to me. And I was just protecting her. The night went on as usual, and the male pups were already starting to feel the signs of shifting. And then Shaila. Andrea, on the other hand, was still not feeling anything. But it was nothing unusual. Based on experience, females were shifting later than males. But as much as I tried not to pay too much attention to Shaila, my eyes were betraying me. I couldn’t keep my gaze away from her for more than a few minutes. I saw when her body started to tremble as she fell down to her knees. I was itching to catch her, but I restrained myself from moving, but my eyes didn’t leave hers the moment she crumbled to the ground and started sobbing softly. Cold sweat was forming on my body. I had no explanation for what I was feeling, except Shaila looked vulnerable and I was just too concerned she would pass out before she could shift. That was it. That was the only logical explanation. I saw Gabriel had moved from his spot and was heading for Shaila. He was doing what he was supposed to do, helping out the pup as they shift. It was too late when I realized my own feet had moved on their own accord and blocked Gabriel, telling him to check the others and that I would be the one to assist Shaila. His forehead creased, but he didn’t say anything and just moved on to the male pups. I couldn’t blame him. For the last three years, as the pack Gamma and responsible for pups shifting every full moon, I have never consoled or helped anyone personally during this process. That was the job for the warriors I took with me. I just looked and observed - so this was something new for me. Shaila kept whimpering, and I just found myself dropping to my knees in front of her. Her eyes were begging for me to take away the pain, and I wished I could. My hand was raised to her back and I began to rub it gently. But I didn’t think it was helping. "I think I’m going to die." She said, her voice breaking as her fingers dug into the soil beneath her. "You’re not. You can make it, okay? Take a deep breath." I told her in a calm voice, as I took a deep breath as well, making her follow my lead. She was trying to do what I told her, but tears kept streaming down her face, and it was making my wolf, Hugo, restless. "It’s so bad to die this way, right?" Her face flinched as she coiled on her stomach, and I had no fucking idea what to do next. "Stop thinking about dying. You’re not going to die, because I will still take you to that ice cream parlor you’ve been asking me to take you for years." She smiled, but the pain was still flashing across her face. "That place was closed months ago.""Damn it! I’m too late already." I forced a chuckle. She nodded and closed her eyes as she tried to raise herself off the ground. Determination was written on her face. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t want it to come off as if I was taking advantage of her, especially since I could feel eyes on us. "This feels like dying. I’m burning inside. I didn’t even get to hug you before I die.." I smiled at her. My hand went up to her back again, patting and rubbing her gently. "I didn’t know you wanted to hug me.""Oh, I do, since I was ten. But you avoided me like I was a plague. I thought..." She stopped and grimaced, "... aaaah!" I panicked when she started screaming that the next thing I knew, my arms snaked into her waist and I pulled her body towards mine. We were both seated on the ground, and I guided her head to rest on my naked chest. My arms were wrapped around her as I rubbed her arm with my hard, calloused palm. She was panting heavily, her hands gripping my arms tightly, and I could feel the heat radiating from her body. This was fucking embarrassing. I was the one leading my pups for shifting, but I had no fucking idea how to help them ease their pain. A part of me regretted approaching her. Maybe it would have been better if I just let Gabriel help her out. My wolf, Hugo, growled in my head as he disagreed with the thoughts. My wolf was fucking confusing me as well. He was so adamant about protecting Shaila right now, which he had never done for any females around me before. "You hugged me..." Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "I can die here now..." Her words made me smile, but before I could answer her, she started to let out a painful cry. She pushed my body away from her as she crouched on all of her fours. My eyes darted to my side as I saw Alpha Caspian looking at Shaila, his one arm coiled on Andrea’s waist as she leaned her body on him while watching Shaila with a painful expression on her face. Andrea looked like she was about to cry. I snapped my head back to look at Shaila just in time to see her fangs elongate. A smug smirk tugged at my mouth as my chest swelled with pride. She was shifting. I heard her bones snap in all places as fur started to emerge from her skin while she cried in agony. My heart was thudding loudly in my chest as I saw her shift right in front of my eyes. It wasn’t long after that, a dark, cream-colored wolf was standing in front of me, and her cries turned into howls of victory. She shifted. Hugo told me her wolf’s name was Maya. Beautiful name, just like she and her wolf were. I moved nearer and dropped to my knees in front of her wolf. My hands flew to her neck and began rubbing her soft fur while a wide smile was tugging at my mouth. "You’re fucking beautiful, Maya!" Maya whimpered against my hold before she started licking my face. I heard the boys snickering behind me, but I wasn’t giving a damn. Hugo and I were still enjoying having her in our arms. "Gamma Carlos, the male pups, wanted to run already." Gabriel’s voice came from behind me. Maya stopped licking my face and moved backward, but she was still staring at me. I nodded my head at her before I stood up and faced Gabriel. "Run with them. Take Beta Paul too. I’ll stay behind and wait for Andrea." He nodded his head in acknowledgment before turning his back on me and walking toward Beta Paul. As much as Hugo and I wanted to run with Maya, my job wasn’t done yet. Andrea has yet to shift. My eyes flitted to where Maya was. She whimpered before turning around and approaching the other two wolves who had already shifted. I let out a deep sigh before walking my way to where Andrea was. Alpha Caspian was hugging her as her soft sobs filled the air. "Why is she crying?" I asked the Alpha, biting my lower lip. I already had an inkling of the answer, but I wanted to find out. "She’s scared that she has no wolf.""Nah! You have a wolf, Drea, otherwise, you’ll smell like a human. You’re probably just a late bloomer. An hour or two more, or maybe at dawn." Andrea wasn’t responding and was just holding on to the Alpha tightly. My eyes went back to the pups, and I saw one of them nudging Maya playfully, and something rose in my chest. I couldn’t stop the scowl from forming on my face as I restrained myself from growling at the pup for touching her. "Go and run with them." Alpha Caspian’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "I’ll wait for...""I can take care of her shifting. Run with them. Run with Maya." A smile twitched in his mouth as Maya’s name left his lips. I nodded submissively before letting out a sheepish smile of my own. "Are you sure?" My hand flew to my hair, scratching it gently. I heard loud paws thudding the earth behind me and knew that the others had already started running in their wolf forms. "Yes. I can take care of Andrea. Go!" I smiled before turning my back to them as I leaped and shifted in mid-air, letting Hugo out. I couldn't explain the excitement brewing in my chest. All I knew was, I had never been excited on a full moon run as much as I did now. I let out a howl and sprang forward, following the scent of the wolves ahead of me. It was time to catch Maya and ran with her. Alone.

Chapter 4 003 - A Gamma's Kiss

SHAILA. My name is Shaila Rivera. I was born into a family of shifters. And tonight I was expected to shift for the first time. Santos, my older brother, also a pack warrior, told me that he wouldn’t be at my shifting tonight because he was scheduled to man the border on the other side of the territory, but he said there was nothing to worry about as the Gamma and the other warriors would be there to help me. And that made me worry more. Shifting for the first time should be a happy moment, but I was filled with anxiety. I was terrified of making a fool of myself in front of Gamma Carlos. I’ve had a thing for the Gamma for as long as I can remember. I had a crush on him even before I got my period, but no matter how many times I tried to get his attention, he never paid attention to me. So the last thing I wanted to do tonight was to embarrass myself in front of him. What if I couldn’t shift? What if I did something wrong and it affected everyone? So many things were running in my head that I totally forgot to grab one of Santos’ big shirts that he set aside for me to use while shifting. Although it was common for shifters to be naked, the confidence usually came later on when they’d been shifting a lot already. First-timers like me, at least the females, would usually have a big shirt covering their body while waiting for them to shift. But I totally forgot it and it was now eating up my confidence because soon I would have to strip naked. And there were too many males around. And Gamma Carlos was here. What if he saw my body and mocked me because I wasn’t as perfect as the females he was dating? I know I should be focusing on my shifting, but how could I when I see him looking at me from time to time? If this was another day, I would welcome the attention, but not tonight when I just wanted to disappear so no one would notice me. But I guess I underestimated him. Carlos offered his shirt for me to use, and all of a sudden, my night was suddenly beginning to improve. His strong, masculine scent was surrounding me, and although it was not enough to ease the pain of shifting, I was happy that he allowed me to destroy his shirt so I didn’t have to be naked. Plus, he held me in his arms while I was enduring the agonizing pain before I totally shifted. I felt I had won a jackpot. It was too good to be true. And when I shifted, he was the first one to hold my wolf. "Run with them. Take Beta Paul too. I’ll stay behind and wait for Andrea." Carlos told Gabriel, and my heart sank. Maya and I wanted to run with him, but we did understand. It was his responsibility to make sure everyone shifted first. I whimpered softly before turning around, reminding myself that there would be other days when I could ask him to run with me. But I knew I was just fooling myself. There was never an occasion that I was able to get the Gamma alone to myself. So with a heavy heart, Maya walked toward the other two wolves, who had already shifted and prepared ourselves for our first full moon run. Beta Paul shifted at once and sent out a group mindlink that he would be leading the pack run tonight. Since no other rank wolves were running, he informed us that as soon as he started running, I and the other two newly shifted male pups should follow him right away before Gabriel and the rest of the warriors followed us. I took one long glance at Gamma Carlos. He had his back on me as he talked with Alpha Caspian and Andrea. I let out an internal sigh before I focused my attention on the pack run. As soon as the signal was out, Maya waited for the Beta wolf to run, and she immediately sprang forward and took her first run. For a moment, I was able to forget about my disappointment. The wind ruffled my fur, and the smell of the forest and the night breeze soothed my senses. I felt exhilarated to be running on my paws under the full moon. When the moon finally became visible in my eyes, I tilted my head up and gazed at it, sending a prayer to the Goddess, hoping that whatever fate she would give me once I turned eighteen would heal my heart. Hopefully, the mate she would give me would be enough to make me forget about Gamma Carlos. I smiled weakly before I accelerated my pace. I was being left behind by the other two pups already, and I was slowing down the warriors behind me because they were not allowed to leave me behind. But Maya kept slowing down. 'Are you tired?' I asked her. I knew this was her first run and it was not a surprise if she would get tired easily. 'No. Hugo is coming.' She answered excitedly, and my heart started beating erratically. Not long after, Gamma Carlos’ wolf, Hugo, was already beside me. He was looking straight ahead, but he was running at my pace. Soon, the two warriors behind us overtook us and started running fast, leaving us behind. 'How about Maya and Hugo go for a run together? Just the two of us?' 'What do you mean?' I heard what he said and I knew what he meant, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. 'Turn left, I’ll follow you.' 'But won’t they come looking for us?' I asked him like I was hesitant, but I was already turning to the left. 'No. I’m the Gamma, remember? They know you’re safe with me.' I smiled internally as I continued running, all the while my heart was bursting with happiness knowing that Hugo was just a few paces behind me. Carlos was giving me his attention tonight. What more could a simple girl ask for? We stopped by a little stream, and Carlos urged me to drink water as he did. After a while, we were just playing, nipping, and licking each other’s fur, and I couldn’t be happier. I wondered if he was enamored with Maya as much as I was with Hugo. Although I was happy that he seemed to like Maya a lot, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy because he would never be like this with my human. I was so consumed with my own thoughts that I didn’t notice I had already shifted into my human form and coiled my arms around my knees, pulling them closer to my chest. Hugo whimpered in front of me, and I smiled, but he just stared at me as I reached out my hand and tapped his neck, only to realize that it was my hand, not my paw, that was holding him. "Aaaah!" I shrieked in embarrassment as I scrambled to my feet and ran around the big tree, hiding behind it as I mustered up all my energy to shift back into my wolf. I couldn’t believe I was sitting naked in front of Carlos, and I tried to pat him, which probably exposed my breasts to him. "Shift! Shift now!" I was concentrating hard but nothing was happening, just Maya telling me she could not shift anymore. "Shaila…" Carlos’ warm voice reached me and it let me know he was just on the other side of the tree. "I can’t shift. I’m trying to shift.""You won’t be able to. Only Alphas and people with strong bloodlines can do a double shift on their first full moon. You will just exhaust yourself.""I’m sorry…" I mumbled under my breath. I didn’t know how I would emerge from the tree now. "Sorry for what?""I don’t know.""It’s okay. I’ve seen naked females, Shaila."

Chapter 5 004 - A Gamma's Kiss

CARLOS. "It’s okay. I’ve seen naked females, Shaila." Fuck me now! Why did I say that? I just wanted her to feel comfortable around me, even if she was naked, but it came out so wrong. It was my fault in the first place that she ran away. If I didn’t look mesmerized by her naked body, she wouldn’t probably react the way she did. But she caught me off guard. I saw her at the exact moment she shifted. Her naked breasts and pink pussy were just in my sight before she sat down on the ground and pulled her knees against her chest, and the way she was positioned, her pussy was fucking too visible in my wolf’s eyes. And then her hand reached for me, making her breasts jiggle as she rubbed my fur. I’m a fucking man, a hormonal one, and her innocence was drawing me in as no other younger female had. "I know. That’s why it’s embarrassing. I know I could never be on par with them. Do you think you can find some clothes nearby?" I knew there were clothes nearby. We usually leave shirts everywhere around the forest ground in case of emergencies, but... I think there was nothing around here tonight. "No. Not around here. Come out. I promise I won’t stare.""Are you naked too?""Yes. Very naked. Do you want me to put some leaves around my dick? I just don’t know if I can find a leaf big enough to cover it though." I was hoping joking would loosen her a bit. I heard her giggle from behind the tree before her head peeked out from behind it. She has a big smile on her lips, and I couldn’t help but mirror her smile. Her eyes darted to my dick and I swear, my dick twitched as it grew harder. "If I look at it now, I’ll probably be more comfortable and won’t bother with it." She said shyly as she let her eyes linger on my growing dick. She licked her lips and swallowed hard, and I just watched her take in all of me. "Come out from the tree. If I see you naked, then soon you won’t be bothered with it." I knew I was trying to use her words against her, but truth be told, I was dying to have one more glimpse of her. She tilted her head and shook her head. Her face returned with a worried expression. "I won’t stare, I promise." I raised my hands up in the air, trying not to smile so she could see I was serious and to make her comfortable. I saw her drag her hair over her shoulders, and I knew she was trying to cover her breasts with them before she stepped out behind the tree, her hands cupping her core. Despite being slightly covered, my fucking dick betrayed me and saluted her right away. She was fucking perfect. And I’ve had my fair share of naked females. She was skinny but not too skinny, and although her figure was not the hourglass-like I wanted with the females I fucked, she was far more attractive than all of them combined. She has a perfect curve for her small frame, and the roundness of her breasts at the sides was making me salivate. I wanted her breasts in my mouth. I’m finally convinced I’m a fucking pervert now. I shook my head, trying to take away all the naughty thoughts I had of her. Not Shaila. I couldn’t just go fuck her and leave her hanging. Her smile faded the moment I shook my head as her eyes watered. What the fuck happened? Did she feel so bad showing me her body? "I’m ugly, right? Not up to your standard?""No. What the fuck gave you that idea?""I want to go home now," she said. She would always tell me the same old line whenever I would disappoint her over the years. But I wouldn’t let her go home with a broken heart this time. I walked up to her but she inched backward, her hands still on her pussy. I raised my hands in the air again as I approached her slowly. My hands went immediately to her face, cupping her cheeks. "You’re beautiful, Shaila. And your body is fucking perfect. I just can’t… Oh, fuck me! I don’t know what to say." She smiled warmly, her eyes still pooling with tears. "It’s okay, you don’t need to be nice. Maybe my body is nothing to you, but I’m sure it will be perfect for my mate." She said the last word with a broken voice, and it crushed me. Pain hit my chest the moment the word 'mate' came out of her mouth. At the same time, Hugo growled in my head, snarling at me for making Shaila feel this way. Before I could control myself, I leaned my face closer and crushed my lips against her, kissing her bruisingly hard. She wasn’t responding and I thought she might just be surprised by my action, but I was confident she would kiss me back soon. She liked me. And she would enjoy this. I kissed her hard and deep, taking whatever I could from her sweet, soft lips, and just when I was so lost in kissing her, her hands went up to my chest before she pushed my body away. And because I wasn’t expecting it, she was able to push me. And then a hand landed on my cheek. Did she just slap me? Her body was shaking as tears pooled in her eyes. "Just because I’m naked in front of you and asking for your approval if my body looks okay doesn’t mean you can just have your way with me! I didn’t know you’re a pig yourself!" She snapped at me. Her eyes were showing many emotions, and I didn’t know which one affected me most — her anger or the disappointment showing in her eyes. I brushed my palms over my face. I blew this one up! She strode past me and was heading in the direction of the forest road going to her home. "Shaila, I’m sorry. I just can’t help it." I walked fast enough to catch up with her, but she wasn’t stopping or even looking at me. "Shaila," I said, grabbing her wrist and bringing her to a halt. "Can we start again?" She stared directly into my eyes. "I’m not one of your females, Carlos. I know I told you at one point I might join in the fun, but I don’t think I can. Stop hurting me. Why can’t you just continue with that part where you ignore me? It’s better that way because one day I’m sure I will finally move on from you." She wiped the tears off her eyes before they fell as she continued. "But if you do this, flirt with me, and try to get into my pants, I can assure you I will give in because I like you. And it’s not fair.""Shaila…" How would I explain to her that I had no intention of hurting her or stringing her along with the games I played with the other females?  But she would never believe me. My reputation made sure of that. "I’m sorry. Can we start over again?""I want to go home…""Shaila, please. I don’t want you to hate me. Can we start over again?" She tilted her head and met my eyes, and for the first time, I was scared of what she would see in mine. I had no bad intentions toward her. But I was never really good at reading females’ emotions, so I wasn’t sure if she liked what she was seeing or not. After what felt like an eternity, she nodded her head. "Friends?""Friends," I said, pursing my lips into a thin line. A small smile curled on her lips, but a lone tear fell from her eyes like the word pained her. "Hey…" I cupped her cheeks one more time, urging her to meet my eyes. "Look at me, I will not step on the boundaries you set for us. Please remind me if I stepped over, but I will do my best." I would do everything just so she wouldn’t stay away from me because I honestly had no idea what was going on with me right now. All I knew was that I was seeing her in a different light now.