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She couldn’t give him the answer he wanted. Not when she had no idea what it meant to say yes.
“I…can’t do this,” she whispered.
Draven scrambled to his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his. “This isn’t something you get to choose, Flora. It’s fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it. It’s bigger than you and me.”
She snatched her hands from his as if he’d burned her, causing him to wince. “It’s the destiny you’ve dreamed of. The fate you’ve imagined your entire life. I’m not a wolf, Draven. You said it yourself, we had a connection. Something inexplicable. It was so easy for you to throw that away. Pack comes first, isn’t that what you said?”
Draven swallowed hard, eating his own words. “Flora, I’m sorry.”
“I have no doubt you are. But excuse me if I find it hard to believe that you could have a change of heart just because your wolf told you I’m your mate.”
“Are you rejecting me?” His voice broke as he reached out tentatively and took her hands into his.
Was she? It wasn’t that she was against the idea of being his mate, she just needed a moment to think—a moment to breathe that wasn’t influenced by her father, finding the stone, drowning or fighting shadow wolves.
Flora couldn’t help but tip her head and stare into his deep emerald eyes, more vulnerable than she’d ever seen them. His stunning features hovered so close to hers, and she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt to him. She should see the monster everyone else did, if only because of how he’d treated her, but then she remembered all the other things he’d done. The way he protected her and ensured she never took the brunt of anything meant to harm her. Who didn’t wish for that kind of man?
The problem was, he couldn’t protect her from himself.
Draven trailed his hand up her arm slowly, like he was worried he might spook her. His touch threatened to make her knees weak, and Flora knew she had to back away or she would fall into him, into this mating, and never look back.
She hesitated, and he used the opportunity to slide closer until his legs straddled hers. He leaned in until his bare chest brushed against the flesh her bra did little to conceal.
Flora had never wanted anyone like she wanted Draven Dempsy, but the idea of putting her heart out there again for him and the promise of forever scared the shit out of her. There were too many unanswered questions.
His breath tickled her nose, and she struggled to breathe while his scent enveloped her. Everything about him called to her. Like he was made for her. …Because he was. His lips parted with the promise of a kiss. And if he so much as leaned in, she wouldn’t be able to say no. But he stayed put, waiting for her to move—waiting for her to accept him.
Flora shook her head, breaking the hold he had on her, and it took every bit of discipline she had to slide back and stand.
Two more steps gave her the clarity she needed to speak. “I just need some time to think about what this means.”
Draven’s mouth fell open like he didn’t understand the words coming from her mouth and the world had just dropped out from beneath his feet all at the same time.
“Flora, you don’t understand.” His voice quivered with desperation. “We’re destined to be together. The Goddess doesn’t just bless everyone with moon mates. My wolf, he needs you.”
His words cut her open. They were the promise of something beautiful but also the rope used to hang them.
“Exactly Draven,yourwolf. But what about you? I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to think about this.”
“Please, Flora,” he begged, still on his knees.
Tears spilled down her cheeks, her heart breaking even though she knew she was making the right decision not to rush into a mating proposal. She grabbed the furs at her feet and draped them over her shoulders, hugging them tight. “I’m not saying no, Draven. I’m just saying to give me some time and maybe a little space to think.”
Her heart pounded a desperate panicked rhythm in her chest as she waited for him to argue or for his wolf to show up and demand her throat, but neither of those things happened.
Draven nodded and rose from the floor. He hung his head and didn’t give her a second glance as he strode toward the door, leaving her alone.
The pounding of her heart slowed, and in its place an ache grew that demanded she go after him. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. Not until she figured out if she could be everything he needed her to be and still be herself.
“You can’t go outside. The shadow wolves are still there.”
He paused with his hand on the doorknob, his voice low and dejected. “I’ll be fine.”
Draven opened the door and stepped through, slamming it behind him, reinforcing how alone she was. Not even Bonesy’s presence brought her any comfort.
Flora glanced out the window, noticing it had started to rain. Fitting, really, as it matched her mood. At the forest line she caught the swish of a tail under the light of the moon, followed by a haunted howl that echoed the anguish in her heart.
