CHAPTER 37
Melanie clasped herhands before her and held them down between her legs as she leanedforward on the couch. The acid in her stomach was churning away inthere. What was done was done. Only time would reveal if she’d madea mistake with Lucy.
A floorboard creaked, and she turned as Kyleentered the room. He carried a bucket he’d discovered in therundown shed behind the house. Beyond that, he found a stream wherethey both cleaned themselves before returning to the home.
He’d told her to stay away from Lucy, so shesat on the couch while he returned to gather water from the stream.Melanie rose and turned to face him as he set down the bucket.
“I’ll clean Lucy up when I get back,” hesaid. “But I have to hunt now.”
“I’ll take care of her.”
“No,” he said sharply. “You have to stay awayfrom her.”
“But—”
“She’s going to endure a lot of pain duringthe transition, and then she’s going to be really hungry. You haveto stay away from her because, until she feeds, she’s not going tohave a lot of control over herself.”
Kyle glanced at the stairs before looking ather again. He didnotwant to leave her alone in this housewith Lucy, but not only did he require blood, so did Lucy. Shecouldn’t complete the transition without it.
“I have to go,” he said.
The seconds were ticking away, and if hedidn’t go soon, he wouldn’t be able to leave at all. Right now,Lucy was in the early stages of the transition and immobile. Thatwouldn’t last.
“What about me?” she whispered.
“You’ll be safe as long as youstayawayfrom her.”
“No, I mean, what aboutmyblood?Instead of going out to hunt animals, would my blood help you?”
Kyle’s entire being screamedyes!
But if he drank from her, it would onlyaccelerate his need to claim her as his mate. He fisted his handsuntil his nails dug into his palms.
“I can’t,” he said.
“Because you would lose control and killme?”
“No.Never. No matter what happens, Iwouldneverhurt you.”
“Do you drink human blood?”
“I do.”
Confusion shimmered in her eyes. “Okay, soyou drink human blood, but you don’t want mine?”
“That’s not it at all.”
“Then what is it? Talk to me, Kyle, and tellme the truth. There has already been enough lies and secretsbetween us; I can’t handle any more.”
Kyle bowed his head. He’d prefernotto tell her this now, but she was right; there had already been toomany secrets and lies between them. He wouldn’t let there be anymore.
“Do you remember what I told you aboutmates?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“I can’t drink from you because you’remymate, and if I taste your blood, it will only acceleratemy compulsion to complete the bond between us.”
“And how is that done?”
