Chapter 6

• Karin
• "Is this your first time camping?"
• I glance to my left. Alpha Killian is sitting behind the wheel, about to park his car. I fidget in my seat. I still can't believe I'm going to be camping with this guy.
• "Y-yeah, it's my first time," I mumble awkwardly.
• He shoots me a smirk. "Nervous to go fishing?"
• I am nervous, but not for the reason he might think. The fish doesn't scare me. It's Killian himself that's making my heart hammer inside my chest.
• Even though I'm eighteen, I have no experience with guys. I'm a virgin and have never been on a date with a guy before. I haven't even flirted with one and have no idea how to make Killian have sex with me.
• How do you seduce an Alpha?
• I study his face again, heating up once I realize I'm about to share a tent with possibly the hottest Alpha on the planet. Just what have I gotten myself into?
• My whole body burns as I whisper. "I'm... I'm a little nervous."
• The smile Killian gives me in response is equally dazzling and nerve-wracking.
• "Don't sweat," he tells me as he parks the car and turns off the engine. "I will be with you every step of the way. Teach you the ropes, and make sure you catch a big fish."
• "If we catch one, do we get to cook it?"
• "I would fucking hope so," he grins. "You really think I would spend hours trying to catch a fish and then not share it with the lady I invited on this trip?"
• I blush at his words, awkward and so speechless I open the car door to escape. Killian chuckles, but doesn't call me out on not responding to his flirting. He opens the trunk, and I grab my duffel bag, about to sling it over my shoulder, but then realize it's way too heavy.
• Damn it!
• I desperately tug at the bag, frustrated because it was Anna who packed it. She said I needed her essentials to better pretend to be her, but she must have forgotten I lack a werewolf's strength.
• "Oh, it's that heavy, huh?" Killian asks, and before I can object, he effortlessly hoists the bag onto his own shoulder. His muscles barely strain under its weight.
• "Thanks," I mumble, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
• His smile blossoms, crinkling his eyes. "No problem…" He looks like he is about to carry my bag to wherever we will set up our tent, but he blinks in surprise before using the bag to make a curl before looking at me again.
• "This should be easy to carry for you," he mumbles. "It's not exactly heavy."
• Maybe not for a werewolf with an awakened wolf…
• Bitterness swells in my chest, but I can't ruin my cover, so I immediately plaster on a smile. "Guess I'm just tired."
• "Did you stay up late?"
• "Kinda," I'm not lying. I found this monster erotica book online and stayed up all night to finish it. "My body is feeling all sore and weak."
• "Ah, I got what you need," he winks at me. "You need some s'mores on a stick. Come on, let's not waste any time. I will set up a fire and feed you right away."
• Killian grabs the rest of his things and leads the way into the forest while I stumble after him.
• I think the last time I spent time in the forest was in high school on a field day. I'm not used to being in nature, and even if I try to keep up with Killian, I freaking can't.
• My sneakers get caught on roots, and my legs get scratched from low-hanging branches. I'm a mess within minutes, and it's so humiliating! All while Killian navigates through the forest like he was born in it.
• "You doing alright back there?"
• "Y-yeah!" I shout back, even though I've just stepped into a huge dirt pile.
• "We could shape-shift if you would like. It would make it easier for you, I think."
• Shit, what do I do? I can't shape-shift and quickly think of an excuse as I shake the dirt from my shoe.
• "Nah, I'm good," my voice rings out louder than necessary in the dense forest. "I actually...uh, enjoy walking. You know, ground myself with nature and all."
• Killian's laughter rings through the trees. "Anna, we have barely made any progress. If you're tired, just admit it."
• My cheeks burn. "What good would that make?"
• He turns around then, walking up to me with this big grin on his handsome face. "Well, if you're really tired, then I could carry you on my back in my wolf form. All you need to do is load the bags onto me."
• "But won't that be too heavy for you?" I ask, attempting to mask my growing anxiety.
• His laugh is soft and throaty, his eyes sparkling with amusement in the dim forest lighting. "Heavy? Anna, have you forgotten what I am?"
• Right. An Alpha werewolf. Super strength and heightened senses, not to mention that Killian also has a rumor of being the largest wolf to have ever existed. Some call him "the black dread", while others just see him as a monster.
• I wet my lips. "You can't blame me for asking. I have never seen you shape-shift."
• "Most people haven't since my wolf is a little too big to join normal pack hunts," he smiles sheepishly.
• "And that's where the 'black dread' nickname comes from?" I venture, barely able to keep my voice steady. The thought of Killian turning into a monstrous beast is frightening.
• "That or the fact I've—…" He doesn't finish his sentence. He doesn't have to since we both know what he was about to say. Killian has murdered plenty of other alphas and werewolves. That's why he is so feared and probably what earned him the nickname.
• "Anyway," Killian dumps all the bags on the ground. "Are you ready to see me shift?"
• Since I don't want to keep walking, I swallow the lump in my throat and put my big girl panties on.
• "Alright, but…maybe give me a warning before you...you know."
• He chuckles. "Fair enough. And remember, it's just me. Just bigger and fluffier. Nothing to be afraid of."
• I give him a nod, but deep inside, there is a coil of fear twisting itself within me. I take a few steps back as Killian takes off his shirt, revealing a muscled torso that catches the dappled sunlight peeping through the overhead leaves. His gorgeous eyes meet mine briefly, filled with amusement since he caught me staring at his muscles.
• "See anything you like?" he teases.
• “Well…err…” I don't know what to say, and Killian chuckles at me again, his whole face beaming.
• "Don't worry. I don't mind my future wife looking," he says and takes a deep breath. "Here goes…"
• Killian falls down on all fours, followed by a snapping sound of his bones breaking and rearranging. It's loud and disgusting and when I blink, there is suddenly a monstrous black wolf in Killian's place. It's massive, way bigger than a freaking horse, and twice as muscular.
• I shriek and stumble back, my heart pounding as I land on my butt on the wet ground.
• Killian—now an enormous wolf that towers over me—sniffs the air before he lowers his nose to my shoe. He nudges it gently as if to say he won't hurt me.
• "Jesus Christ, you're big…"
• I can't help but stare at the sheer size of him. He is larger than anything I could have ever imagined. His fur is black, ebony in its darkness, but with a sheen that glimmers silver under the light seeping through the trees. The sight of him should be terrifying, and yet there's also a strange beauty to him.
• As I sit frozen on the ground, Killian's gaze softens, and he circles around me before lying down. His enormous head, easily larger than my torso, comes down to my level, and his eyes meet mine once more.
• Fear grips me when I realize what he is trying to do—he wants to speak with me through the mind-link, but since I'm not Anna, it's not working.
• Fuck-fuck-fuck! What do I do? Have I managed to blow my cover already?!
• As I sit there, panicking, Killian makes a low, rumbling sound from deep in his chest. It's like a cat's purr but ten times as powerful. The vibrations ripple through me, and I immediately sit up, somehow knowing he is telling me to put the bags on his back before climbing up myself.
• I nod in understanding and quickly, though a little unsteadily, rise to my feet. I approach the pile of bags and, with shaky hands, begin to secure them on his broad back. Once everything is secured with rope that I found in his backpack, I step back and eye the giant wolf with apprehension before looking at his back.
• "Do I just...?" I trail off. Even in my own head, the question sounds absurd. "Okay, sure. Why not?"
• Inhaling deeply to calm my nerves, I brace myself before attempting to clamber onto his back. It's a pitiful attempt since the monster under me is way too big for me to just jump on. Couldn't he be a bit smaller?
• Seeing my struggle, Killian crouches down low enough for me to manage climbing on him. With a shaking hand, I grip onto his thick fur and hoist myself up onto his massive back—still feeling rather ridiculous.
• I barely have time to secure myself when he rises onto all fours again. Startled by the suddenness of the movement, I clutch tighter onto his fur, my fingers sinking into the thick, black coat.
• "We...we good?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.
• Killian looks back at me, and I swear he is smirking. I know wolves can't do that, but he looks rather cunning and suddenly, he sprints forward with lightning speed. I scream in response and hold on to him for dear life. What is he doing? Is he trying to kill me?!