Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella by Bethany Shaw

in. Her long chestnut hair was swept up into a ponytail, and her emerald eyes shone brightly as she grinned back at him.
    “I was helping Devon.”
    “I’ve missed you,” Emily sighed as he enveloped her in his arms.
    “Are you alone?” Marcus inquired, his eyes scanning the woods.
    “Vincent came out with me to keep up appearances. He said he would stay out of hearing range to give us privacy. But you know how he is, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Emily shrugged.
    “How are you?” he asked, pulling back to appraise her.
    “Better now.”
    “Not being able to talk to you is killing me,” Marcus admitted.
    “How long until Devon figures things out?” Emily asked, running her hands up and down his arms.
    “We’ve already got a plan. We’re setting everything up. I need to ask you something,” he took one of her hands in his and used his other hand to cup her chin.
    “What is it?” Emily breathed.
    “Are you willing to leave? To leave the pack—everyone behind?”
    Emily swallowed. “Just you and me? Isn’t that risky? All these attacks lately, the wolves have been relentless. What is to stop them from trying to take us again, and won’t we be more vulnerable without the whole pack to protect us?”
    “Devon and Vincent will come too. I don’t know where we’ll go yet, but it will be someplace safe. Away from other packs, if we need.” He wouldn’t let anything happen to Emily. 
    “We’ll be lone wolves,” she started slowly. “But we’d be together. I’ll leave in a heartbeat if it means we get to spend our lives together.”
    Marcus grinned. They were going to be together. This was going to work and they could be happy together far away from Emmett and the Gulf Packs. He would keep her safe and they would marry and have their own family. Elation filled him at the thought.
    “Good!” Marcus leaned forward capturing her soft, pink lips with his. She tasted like strawberries. He wove his hands into her hair, pulling her lithe body flush against his. Her cool fingers slipped beneath the hem of his shirt, and she began to draw lazy patterns on the small of his back.
    Marcus growled and pushed her against the tree trunk. His hands rolled up the bottom of her shirt, exposing her creamy torso.
    “We can’t,” she whispered, but made no effort to stop him. “My father-”
    “Let’s not talk about him now. We only get a few minutes together, let’s not waste it thinking about him.”
    “But-”
    “Have you transitioned yet?”
    Emily shook her head.
    “Did you bring extra clothes?”
    Emily nodded.
    Marcus grinned. “You’ll wash my scent off when you shift. You can go for a swim in the creek to be extra safe.”
    Emily closed her eyes, smiling. “You’re getting pretty good at this.”
    “I wish I didn’t have to.”
    Emily looked down at her hands before lifting his shirt up and pushing it over his head. Her nails grazed against the plains of his chest.
    “Em,” he ground out.
    She smirked, leaning forward, and placed a kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
    “I love you too.”
    Marcus deepened the kiss, placing his hands on her bottom. He quickly lifted her up and backed her up against the tree. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. She fit snugly against him. This is exactly how it’s supposed to be. We work together. She is my mate—my true love. Desire filled him and he needed to show her how much her choice meant to him. He deepened the kiss, wanting to feel more of her.
    Emily pulled back far enough, allowing him to lift her top up and over her head. Marcus traced his fingers up her black lacy bra strap before reaching behind her and unsnapping it.
    She tossed the garment to the ground, and he recaptured her lips, molding their bodies together. He grunted, enjoying the feel of her breasts pressed against him. Emily slid her hands down, fumbling with the button on his jeans a moment. Marcus gently set her back on her feet and shoved his