Page 47 of The Secret Mate Society

Scene cleaned.Council meeting tomorrow at 9am.Your request regarding the human is under review.

I stared at the message, my stomach churning.The Council would want details about Ethan, about why I thought he was worth protecting.They'd dig into his background, his research, his obsession with supernatural attacks.If they discovered how close he was to the truth...

Another buzz.This time from Trevor.Pack meeting called tomorrow night.Heard there was an incident.Everyone okay?

I typed back quickly.All handled.Will update tomorrow.

The shower had stopped running.I could hear Ethan moving around the guest room, probably getting ready for bed.My wolf wanted to go to him, to check that he was settling in okay, but I forced myself to stay put.The mate bond was getting stronger with every minute he spent in my house.I could feel it pulling at me, making every breath I took fill my lungs with his scent.It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

I headed to my own bedroom, but sleep felt impossible.Every sound from the guest room made my wolf perk up with interest.The creak of the bed as he settled in, the soft sigh that escaped him as he tried to get comfortable.I lay there staring at the ceiling, hyper aware of his presence just down the hall.

A half hour later, I heard his door open.His footsteps were in the hallway, hesitant and quiet.I sat up in bed, instantly alert.

"Calder?"His voice was barely a whisper.

"Yeah?"I called back softly.

"I...I can't sleep.Every time I close my eyes, I see that thing.Those eyes."

My wolf whined at the distress in his voice.Before I could second-guess myself, I was out of bed and padding to my bedroom door.I opened it to find Ethan standing in the hallway, wearing just a t-shirt and boxers, his hair mussed from tossing and turning."Nightmares?"I asked.

He nodded, looking younger somehow in the dim light."I keep thinking about what you said.About the heart.About Marcus."His voice cracked slightly."What if I'm next?"

Every protective instinct I had flared to life."You're not.I won't let anything happen to you."

"You can't promise that," he said, but he stepped closer anyway.

"I can and I do."The conviction in my voice surprised even me."Nothing will hurt you while you're under my protection."

He was close enough now that I could see the fear still lingering in his green eyes, and could smell the anxiety clinging to his skin.Without thinking, I reached out and cupped his face in my hands.

"Trust me," I whispered.

His eyes fluttered closed at my touch, and he leaned into my palm."I don't know why, but I do."

The simple admission broke something loose in my chest.This beautiful, brave man was putting his faith in me despite barely knowing me.Despite the danger swirling around us both.

"Come here," I said, pulling him gently toward my bedroom.

He followed without question, and I guided him to my bed.The sheets were warm from where I'd been lying, and I pulled them back for him to climb in.He hesitated for just a moment before sliding under the covers.

"Just to sleep," I said, though my voice was rougher than intended."You'll feel safer."

I climbed in beside him, maintaining a careful distance even as my wolf howled at me to pull him close.But Ethan had other ideas.He shifted across the space between us, pressing his back against my chest.

"Is this okay?"

I let out a low whine without meaning to.“Y-Yeah.”

My arm came up instinctively, wrapping around his waist to pull him closer.The contact sent electricity through every nerve ending, my wolf practically purring with satisfaction at finally having our mate in our arms.Ethan's scent surrounded me completely now, that earthy sweetness that had been driving me crazy since the moment I'd first caught it.

"Better?"I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded against my chest, some of the tension finally leaving his body."Much better."

I tried to focus on anything other than the warmth of his skin through the thin cotton of his t-shirt, the way his hair tickled my chin, the steady rhythm of his breathing as he began to relax.But it was impossible.Every sense was hyper aware of him, cataloging every detail like my life depended on it.

"Calder?"His voice was drowsy now, sleep finally claiming him.