AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hudson snickered. “Underestimating her before she even gets here. That tracks.”
Dean pointed at him. “Hey, now. It isn’t that I don’t believe in her. But she’s been gone a very long time. Her magic is going to be hard to dig out.”
Levi scoffed. “If we can even dig it out.”
Hudson’s growl resonated around me as the memory faded away. But his words still echoed off the corners of my mind, even as the city of Portland came back to my vision.
“The worst thing you could do is underestimate her, because she’ll be doing enough of that herself,” I whispered.
Hudson cradled me in his arms as he kept me propped up with his thigh. “You are so much more than you give yourself credit for, Raven. And if nothing else, you owe it to yourself to realize the truest version of you. But you can’t do that while ignoring half of yourself in the process.”
My watery gaze danced around his face. “Those memories. Where—are they—how do you—”
He grinned. “It’s a lot to take in, so don’t try now. Just know that it’s an ability the entire pack has because, like communication, we share memories. Your father’s memories of you were some of the most joyous he ever entertained. He loved you, Raven. We all love you. And all I’m asking is that you give yourself a chance to figure out who you are as a shifter since you’ve already figured out who you are as a human. That’s it.”
I sighed heavily. “And if I don’t like who I am as a shifter?”
He eased me onto my feet before he took my hands into his. “Then, I’ll let you go. Just give it one last try. Give us one last chance to show you how powerful we all know you are despite how frightened you must be.”
“I’m not scared.”
“You are, and it’s okay to be scared.”
“I’m tired, Hudson. There’s a difference.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know that, but you’re more than just tired. You’re frustrated. You’re scared. You’re weary. And it’s okay to be all of those things. Your father experienced all of those things, and more, as alpha. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t burdened. He simply gave himself time and consideration to learn how to shoulder those burdens.”
My lower lip quivered. “I’m not as strong as him.”
His forehead touched against mine. “You’re right about that.”
My voice fell flat. “Thanks.”
His nose nuzzled my own. “Because you’re stronger than him.”
I swallowed hard. “Why do I feel so drawn to you?”
His hand cupped the nape of my neck. “Because I’m drawn to you, and your wolf senses it.”
“But, but—but Dean, a-a-and--.”
“Shhhhh,” he cooed softly. “You think too much. Being a wolf is about feeling. About trusting your senses. Trust them now, Raven.”
I giggled softly. “If I do that, I might just kiss you.”
A rumbling growl bubbled up the back of his throat. “And?”
Maybe it was his words or the warmth of his body against my own. Maybe it was the sliver of a crescent moon hanging over our heads, or the romance of the darkness. Either way, the second I tilted my lips to his, he captured them. His tongue forced its way forward, parting my lips as his arms cloaked my back. He bent me down toward the ground. He kissed me with such a passion that I wanted to melt into him until there was nothing left of me.
Fire scorched my veins as our teeth clattered with the force of our kiss.
And after we both came up for air, I made him a promise.
“If I do this, Hudson—if I come back—you have to promise that if it doesn’t work, you’ll be strong enough to let me go.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “You have my word.”
“All right, then,” I said breathlessly. “Let’s go home.”
