Scarlett's POV
His claws dug into the mossy rock, tearing chunks of earth away as he struggled to keep the shift from taking over. He wanted to claim me. He wanted to mark me right there on the mountain, and his wolf didn't care about "waiting a few weeks" or being a gentleman. It wanted its mate.
The sound of his struggling breath was the only thing filling the silence of the ridge. I stayed still, my heart hammering against my ribs, watching the man I loved battle the beast inside him just to protect me from his own intensity.
Slowly, the tension began to fade. His shoulders dropped, and the growling stopped. He stayed there for a long minute, his forehead resting against the stone, his skin still steaming in the cold mountain air.
Finally, he turned around. His eyes were back to their deep sea-blue, though a ring of gold still lingered around the pupils. He looked exhausted, like he had just fought a war.
