and the dispute would be resolved. But that's not what you're wrong about."
"Then what am I wrong about? Do tell."
"You're special, Aster. You may not think it, but you're more special than any wolf in Bucklin. You're going to be our leader someday when my dad steps down. I know it and so does everyone else. I've heard my dad talking to Crow and Forrest about it before. They both know they have no shot at head alpha after he steps down. The people love my dad and they'll love whoever his heir is."
"What about Rowan?"
"Rowan doesn't want it. I've told you that before. You're it, Aster. You're the one who will lead us over the next fifty years."
Aster had no response. He was certain the words Leena was speaking were true, but he was too afraid to come to grips with them. Could he really lead this many wolves? Was he even going to be worth a damn? Those questions haunted him as he questioned his own leadership ability, but he would never let anyone else know that he had those questions—then they would never believe in him.
"You're special too, Leena," Aster said.
"I'm just a girl," Leena said. "Like all the others."
"But you're my girl and that makes you special to me. Who cares if you're special to others? You're the only girl I want for the rest of my life."
Leena rolled off of Aster and then propped herself up on one elbow, looking at him with so much love in her eyes that he thought his heart was going to burst. These were the moments he lived for, the ones where he was alone with the most beautiful wolf in the world.
"You've said that before," she said.
"Because it's true, and it'll never stop being true."
"Have you felt it?"
"Felt what?"
"Our connection."
Aster looked away. He had definitely felt Leena's emotions, sometimes more so than his own. He had tried to play it off, thinking he was too young to have established such a connection. But here it was, all laid out on the table by Leena, and there was no use in denying the feelings they had for one another.
"I love you," Aster said, making eye contact with the beautiful brown eyes he could never forget. "I will always love you."
"I love you too," she said, running her free hand through his long, unkempt hair. "You're the only man I ever want in my life, Aster."
"Good," he said, smiling. "Because I'll kill any man who tries to take you from me."
Leena laughed and ran her fingers down his rock-hard chest. Aster felt a chill go down his spine as her touch rocked him to the core.
"You wouldn't kill anyone," she said. "You're a big puppy on the inside."
"I would defend you to the death," he said.
"That's sweet, but people need you. You can't make such emotional decisions when you're the head alpha. You have to think about everyone as a whole and protect the people of Bucklin."
Aster thought about it for a little bit longer, then shook his head. "Any man who hurts you or tries to take you is a dead man."
"I'm not going anywhere, hotshot," she said, giggling. "You can put your fangs away there, killer. I'll always be yours."
She leaned over and pressed her lips against Aster's, kissing him softly at first. As they continued to kiss, Aster could feel his skin growing hot as she wrapped her arms around him and nearly rolled over on top of his body. The kissing became more and more passionate as they couldn't stick to just one another's lips. Aster's mouth began to explore Leena's neck with ferocity. She moaned slightly as his lips found her collarbone. The bone stuck out perfectly for him to begin to kiss up and down it.
Her hips pushed into his, grinding them together as she grabbed a handful of his hair. Aster's large
Learning to Kill: Stories