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I smiled at the wolf before looking up at my mate, and the arms I was dying to return to. His jaw was clenched, but I couldn’t make out what he was feeling. In the next second, he was gone, leaving me with his wolf, who seemed incredibly eager to be alone with me.
‘He blames himself,’ the sock-footed wolf revealed, speaking into my mind.
‘How are we able to speak to each other?’ I wondered, not that I didn’t want to get to know his wolf.
‘Pulling you through our mind also pulled the mate bond closer. Making it more solid.’’
‘So, the bond is in here?’
‘In here? Yes. Once outside, we won’t have this contact until the mating is complete.’
The reminder of the mating sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. I wasn’t a horn dog normally, but now that I’d had a taste of my mate, I couldn’t seem to get enough.
‘We feel the same.’
If I was in my body, I would be blushing scarlet, but here inside of Rylan’s mind, there was no embarrassment. Just understanding and acceptance.
“Pearl.” My name echoed in the space.
The words brought memories of me to the forefront of Rylan’s mind. They played around me like little projections. My face flashed in every direction, and for several moments, I got to see what I looked like through my mate’s eyes.
“Pearl!” This time, my name was called with more emotion.
I could feel his worry about me in that one word. Rylan had seemed emotionless guiding me through himself, but those emotions weren’t being suppressed any longer.
‘What does it mean?’ I wondered, unaware that I had directed the question at Rylan’s wolf.
‘Coming back to himself to see his hand holding the blade that was lodged in your throat…’ The wolf growled, like he couldn’t help himself. ‘It messed with both of us.’
‘You said he blames himself?’
‘Yes, but he won’t listen to me.’ The wolf shrugged, and I had to suppress a laugh. He seemed to feel the way I did about his human half—exasperated.
“Pearl… please.”
Those softly spoken words hurt my heart. I sensed his regret, but what he didn’t know was that I didn’t blame him in the slightest. Seeing that I forgave him for his part in this, maybe he could forgive himself.
The desire to tell him, to make him see how much I needed him was just what needed to happen. Darkness closed around my vision. I was weightless, but with the Moon Spirit’s presence all around me, I knew that I was in good hands.
I settled into my body, feeling strange but also relieved that I was back where I belonged. I took stock of my body and found that I was whole again with no pain in my neck. Or anywhere, really.
My eyes opened, and Rylan’s face was the first thing I saw. Eyes the color of a summer storm, with a hint of green that was his wolf. I had a new appreciation for his irises. Ones that I could read a little better after being in his mind.
I smiled, my heart leaping to find myself returned to my body and here with him.
“I’m back,” I announced out loud. My wolf huffed in my head, but I could sense her relief.
I gave her a mental hug, promising that we would go for a run the first chance we got. She agreed then let me turn my attention to what was happening in the room.
Estella’s white wolf was whimpering. I thought that maybe she was in pain until I realized that it was just the wolf.
“Shit!” I exclaimed, sitting up and throwing myself off the couch.
Rylan grabbed me, but I shook him off, crawling until I was face to face with the white wolf. Her body trembled fiercely while her eyes rolled around in their sockets.
“Shh, it’s okay,” I said, trying to soothe her, but I knew she’d waited years for this. “Rylan, I promise I’ll explain later, but right now I need you to say her name. Like you did mine.”
I was facing the wolf, but I could feel the danger he posed at my back. My first instinct was to turn toward him, but I couldn’t look away from the distressed wolf in front of me.
