Free Awakening the Wolf by Crymsyn Hart Page B

been coming to your aerie to try and speak with you.”
    Illiana knew she could not get away from him. She would have to finally face him. If he was not giving up, then there had to be something behind his visitations. “Why would you want to be with me, Belik? No one from the flock has ever wanted to be with me. They all think I’m a freak. Why would you think any different?”
    “I never thought you were a freak—just different. That’s why I like you. The others have always been afraid of you being unique. I never was. I’ve been trying to tell you that since our initiation.” He placed his hand on her cheek.
    Illiana did not know what to make of his statements. They touched a sore spot within her because she was unsure if he was telling her the truth. That was another reason she kept avoiding him: because he might be trying to play with her feelings. So many others had done that before. But Illiana stared into his dark eyes and saw the expression on Belik’s face. It seemed he was desperate and telling her the truth. His hand felt good on her cheek and stirred some long-buried emotions. Belik took her silence for an unspoken invitation and leaned in to kiss her. Once his lips touched hers, a current ran through her body that fanned the fire inside of her. He stepped closer and slipped an arm around her waist, resting it on the small of her back. The warmth of his hand heated her skin, but before she knew it, he had pulled away. The kiss had taken her by surprise and stolen the breath from her body. The wolf inside of her growled, but she was not sure what to make of that. The raven welcomed the embrace. Illiana touched her lips and looked at him strangely, trying to figure out why he had kissed her.
    “Why did you do that?”
    He smiled. “Isn’t it obvious? You are the most beautiful creature I have ever met. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time. To taste those luscious lips and feel you against me. I’ve dreamed about it for years. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true.”
    “You’re right. I don’t believe you. You don’t come up to me until the initiation and then you’re out in the middle of the night following me. How long have you been following me? What do you know?”
    Belik put up his hands, ceding to her. “Whoa! All of those are valid questions. But also remember that I’ve been trying to get you to talk to me since the ceremony. You just never got back to me. Please, I understand your disbelief. My father never allowed me to fraternize with you because he thought . . . well, it doesn’t matter what he thought. I vowed whenever I was initiated into the flock I’d make myself known to you. After you left to join the wolf at the initiation, I swore to myself that I’d win your love. I went to your house for several nights and saw you slip away. I followed you to the sacred grounds. I’ve watched you these past few months, and you seemed to be searching for something. Tonight I saw the remarkable.”
    Illiana winced. No one was supposed to know other than her aunt. Knowing that someone knew her secret was a little off-putting, but it also made her feel a weight lift off her shoulders. It was nice to know that someone else knew, but she did not know what to make of his affections. She touched her lips again, and the warmth of his hand was burned into her back. She studied Belik. He was taller than her by almost a foot. His skin was pale, and he had ink-black hair that hung to his shoulders. He had no scars, save the brand they both bore, and had a sculpted chest that showed off his abs. She let her gaze go lower and settle on his semierect cock. A small smile curled her lips. The one problem about shifting was their clothes did not go with them. Belik was attractive, but she had never gazed at one of her own kind with any kind of attraction. It was as though she was seeing him in a whole new light and was not sure how to handle that. Her heart was conflicted because she wanted to