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If I could shift into my four-legged form, to warm her, I would. When I hit the river rock earlier, I’m almost certain I broke a few ribs. The pain is tolerable, and I know I will heal soon, but, until I do, I cannot risk transforming for at least a few more hours. If I were to shift now, I’d risk hurting damaging myself further. And I need to be able to shift when we travel tomorrow, so I may carry her on my back.
She squeaks in surprise as I pull her into my lap so that her legs are across my thighs, and wrap my arms tightly around her. “I am keeping you warm.”
Instead of arguing, like I expect, she nestles into me. “Thank you.” She sighs and relaxes in my arms, and I love how comfortable she is with me. That she knows I would never hurt or take advantage of her.
“Do you remember the fort we tried to build when we were younger?”
I chuckle softly. “You mean the one that collapsed when Fredrick knocked it down because we would not let him in?”
She laughs. “Yes, that one.” She glances around the cavern. “This cave would have been perfect for us.”
“And more easily defended from my brother.” I laugh again, and then sigh. “Fredrick was always so jealous of our friendship. We were always together.”
She swallows hard and then lowers her head. Through our connection, I sense sadness. I cup her chin. “What is wrong?”
“How could you do it?” she murmurs. Her gaze lifts to mine, her eyes shining with tears. “How could you write me that letter?”
“I had to, Luna. I—”
She jerks her chin away. “No, you did not, Mal. You could have found a way to tell me the truth.”
“I did it to protect you,” I counter. “Because I loved you.”
“Love?” She shakes her head. “No. If you truly loved me, you would have come with me. At the very least, you would have written your letter with our code, telling me it was a lie to protect me. But you didn’t, Mal. And now you come back, saying that I am your mate and that you want to claim me. And you expect everything to be as it was.”
“I could not take the risk,” I insist. “I could not chance my father finding—”
“You broke my heart, Mal,” she cuts me off. She draws in a shaking breath as her eyes fill with pain. “You have no idea what I faced because of this.” She gestures to my mark on her neck. “But I didn’t care because I knew what it meant. It was sacred. A promise that you loved me. A vow that you would come for me.
“And so I endured all the hatred and anger that was directed at me by my own people. Because whatwe hadwas stronger than all of it. It was my hope when we were hiding in cellars while your kingdom invaded and sacked the city. It was my comfort when I felt lost. It was my light in the darkness when I was afraid.” Tears stream down her cheeks. “And your letter took all of that away in an instant.”
Sharp pain lances my heart as the full weight of her words settles over me. Tears gather at the corners of my eyes as shame and guilt wash through me. She is my mate and in trying to protect her, I caused her pain and anguish. I hurt she who is most precious to me. “Forgive me,” I whisper. “I meant only to protect you, Luna. I—”
“What about my heart? We swore ourselves to each other. I trusted you with my heart and you cast it aside as if it were nothing.”
Tears sting my eyes as her pain and sadness are laid bare before me. And all of it, by my own hand.Me.The one who was supposed to cherish and protect her from harm. Always.
Cupping the back of her head, I drop my forehead to hers, clenching my jaw as her words settle in my chest like a heavy stone. She is my mate, and I hurt her. Deeply.
“I worked so hard to move on, after your letter.” Her voice quavers. “And I thought that I finally had. But then you arrived at the ball… You turned my entire life upside down.”
She shakes her head softly, fighting back tears. “You nearly died saving me today, and all I could think was that I was going to lose you all over again.” She cups my cheek. “And I don’t want to lose you, Mal.”
Her gaze holds mine as she leans in and brushes her lips to my own. They are soft and warm, just as I remembered. She threads her fingers through my hair as her mouth parts against mine and I curl my tongue around hers, deepening our kiss.
She moans lightly as I explore her mouth. My inner wolf rises within, desperate to claim her. Gripping her waist, I lift her body and turn her to face me, her thighs now straddling my hips.
Mystavis hard and painfully erect, and she gasps at the press of my solid length against her soft folds. The thin triangle of silk that separates me from her entrance is warm and damp with her arousal. My nostrils flare as I drink in her delicious scent. My inner wolf howling with the desire to sink deep into her warm, wet heat.
I tighten my arm around her waist and grip the long, silken strands of her hair between my fingers with the other, as she molds her perfect form against mine. A deep growl rumbles in my chest as she gently begins to rock her hips against my own.
Fierce possessiveness fills me. It takes every bit of my control not to flip her onto her stomach. The instinct to bury my length inside her channel, cover her with my body, and knot her until she carries my cubs burns like fire in my veins.
She is perfect and everything inside me wants to claim her completely: body, mind, heart, and soul. Her heart pounds and her breathing quickens as she moves against me and my hips rise to meet hers.
Our kisses become more urgent as we move as one. Sweat beads across my brow as I struggle to hold back my release. I refuse to climax before she has found her pleasure.
I reach between us and slip my fingers beneath the silken material between her thighs. She inhales sharply when I brush my thumb over the sensitive pearl of flesh at the apex. “More,” she pants, digging her nails into my shoulders. “Please, Mal.”
