AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She soundswise.”
“I miss her so much.” On my feet, I collected the egg toast, added a new batch, and returned to my chair. “Some days I wake up and swear she’s in the house. I once even called her name as if she were still alive. How crazy isthat?”
“Not at all. I mourn my brother to this day. Some days, I feel like he’s near me, and I talk out loud tohim.”
“I do the same.” I reached over and touched his hand, knowing too well the agony of losing someone close to you. “Sorry to hear about your brother. Was he younger thanyou?”
Dagen nodded. “Years ago, I had stupidly fallen for a human girl, Marian, when she had crossed over into my territory. Like a fool, I made plans to propose to her like your kind does. When she hadn’t come back for over a week, my brother secretly went to find out why. But he never returned home. So I took off to find them, only to discover my brother hung by the throat, dead, and paraded in the middle of the town. Marian was there, calling for the deaths of all wolves. Insisting we’d kidnapped and rapedher.”
He dropped hishead.
“Shit! Why would she do that?” I didn’t recognize the name, or I might have asked Bee to cast a curse onher.
He lifted his gaze, and his eyes glistened. “A week later, I abducted her for real to discover the truth. Turned out I was just a fun time, and when her parents spotted her talking to my brother, who was naked, she panicked and told them a lie. She apologized for my brother, but how the fuck could she stand there and just saysorryfor getting someone killed? That day I lost a part of myself. I could handle breaking apart when she wasn’t my true mate, but I’d been a fucking idiot. To bury my kin because of my mistake tore meapart.”
My insides curdled.Hell!“Oh, gods, that’s horrific.” I tightened my hold on his hand when a burned smell hit me, and I jumped up and flipped over the slices in the fryingpan.
“Losing anyone is terrifying enough, but that… I’m so sorry.” I approached Dagen, not waiting for his response, and took him into an embrace as he remained in hisseat.
His hands seized my waist, and his warmth leeched onto me. My thoughts flew to my parents, the day wolves had mauled them todeath.
I held on to Dagen. That same rawness spread through me now, convincing me I’d forgotten how to breathe. I hadn’t wanted to live and for years I’d hated wolves. Wanted everyone to diegruesomely.
Dagen shifted and looked up at me, his arms still on my hips. “I didn’t know you lost your parents to wolves. Which pack was responsible?” His voice darkened, and he rose to his feet, towering over me. With a swivel, he sat me in his chair and he crossed the room to the skillet, saving the food, turning themover.
I scanned the pile of toast. I picked up a piece, sprinkled it with salt, and jammed it into my mouth, needing something other than the ache in myheart.
Swallowing the last mouthful, I replied, “No idea, but does it matter? The damage isdone.”
Dagen crouched in front of me, taking my hands in his, a wrinkle capturing the bridge of his nose. “How did you stop hating wolves after what they took fromyou?”
“My grandma helped.” I smiled, though Dagen’s face blurred behind tears. “She always reminded me that nothing is ever clear-cut. There are reasons things happen, secrets I perhaps wasn’t aware of. ‘Wolves don’t just attack,’ she used to say, but whatever the reason, I couldn’t hold an entire race accountable for what a few haddone.”
He smiled, and softness captured his expression. “Your grandma could have taught me a few things I’msure.”
“She would have liked you. She always loved a challenge.” I laughed, and Dagen joined in, the sound comforting, as if he’d finally allowed himself tobreathe.
On his feet, he cooked the next batch. For the first time, a sense of calmness seemed to engulf him. Gone was his constant frown. I hated telling people about my parents, but I couldn’t keep him out of mymind.
“I’m glad I found out,” he said. “Makes me feel lessalone.”
“Misery loves company.” I dipped the last slices into the egg mixture, ready for thepan.
Dagen grabbed another morsel to eat as Oryn entered theroom.
“What smells so divine?” His gaze landed on the stack, and he gravitated toward them. He claimed two pieces and gobbled them in a few bites. “Why didn’t you make these for us before?” He stared at Dagen for aresponse.
“Wasn’t me! Scarlet madebreakfast.”
“Girl, just when I thought you were perfect, you’ve blown me away.” Oryn went for histhird.
Nero staggered into the kitchen, half his hair sticking into the air. He headed for the plate and snatched two slices. “Okay, were you all going to eat these without tellingme?”
Reclined in my seat, I gnawed on my lower lip as I checked out the three men gorging on food, standing there naked, and I’d never felt more at home in their company. We belonged together, and despite not understanding how such strong emotions clung to my heart, not a smidgen of doubtremained.
Dagen wiped his lips and announced, “I’m coming with you toTerra.”
“About time you came around.” Oryn fist-bumped him, and Nero hugged him with a single slap to the back while jamming more food into hismouth.
