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He looks like a little boy who’s been scolded. “I bet,” I say with a laugh. Koda peers up at me, seemingly surprised I’m not yelling at him. I give him a smile, hoping he’ll continue.
“I’ve worked really hard these last five years to forget all about my father, but as soon as I smelled you and realized you were human and my mate, everything came flooding up to the surface. I was so angry. Desperate. All my hard work undone by a little human.”
“So, you locked me up.”
“I panicked,” he rushes to say, his tone growing more desperate. “I didn’t know what to do with you. I couldn’t let you leave, my wolf wouldn’t allow it, but I didn’t want to claim you either. I just needed to figure it out in my head.”
I nod, watching him silently for a few minutes. He looks completely wrecked. Drained both physically and mentally.
"And, did you?" I ask softly.
"I wanted to hate you. I wanted you to be boring or weak or dumb. It would have been easier to reject you then, but you weren't any of those things." He gives me a tentative smirk. "You stood up to me. You won half of our conversations. You challenged me. You captivated me. I came back day after day because I couldn't stop thinking about you because I needed to be next to you."
"First of all, I've won more than half of our conversations. I'd put it at a solid 70/30." He rolls his eyes but gives me that irresistible grin. "So, when you let me out yesterday…?"
"I knew I messed up by locking you away. I was trying to fix that. I was trying to show you that I trusted you."
“And I ran.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Good.”
He grins at that, and I smile back.
“So… Can you forgive me?” he asks. I can see the hope shining in his eyes, mixed with the anguish of dragging out his past.
“I don’t know,” I admit honestly. “I can feel the mating moon or whatever it’s called, but I don’t know if I can trust that either. I know I might be young, but my heart has been trampled on over and over. I don’t know if I can take another hit.” I wipe away an unexpected tear before whispering, “What happens if you go back to hating me?”
“Jesus, I’m so sorry I made you doubt me. I won’t ever hate you. I couldn’t,” he promises me. “Once I claim you and mark you, I’ll never be able to hurt you. I would die before I did.”
I like the sound of that, but…
“Your father did,” I point out.
“She wasn’t his fated mate. But you’re mine, through and through. It’s different. Every part of me yearns for you, to protect you, to keep you safe and happy.”
I study him, wanting to believe everything he says. I need time to think this through.
“I need some space. All of this mating stuff is messing with my head,” I tell him. Koda nods even though I can see the disappointment on his face.
“Okay, whatever you need.”
I stand and so does he. It’s awkward so I nod and turn to leave. I can feel his eyes on me the entire time I walk up the stairs and I let out a deep breath as I head into my room and lean back against the door.
What am I going to do now?
NINE
Koda
I don’t know how much time Salem is going to need but I had to see her again. The mating heat is pressing down on me, it has been all day, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep my wolf in check.
I pace around the dining room, waiting for my mate to come down. When I hear steps on the stairs, my heart starts to race and my wolf gets ready to see our mate again.
Except it’s not my mate. It’s Ryker.
“Hey,” I greet him.
