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Pressing a kiss to the contended fawn’s head, I cradled him close and stood on wobbly legs. Our hearts remained linked the entire journey, my feet treading in the pawprints of the wolves who’d helped find him, leading me back to the stranger who was swiftly becoming so much more.
Chapter Twenty-Two
. The Stranger .
I SENSED HER COMING.
Tearing off my last mouthful, I chewed the no-longer-warm meat and swallowed quickly. I didn’t want Runa witnessing me eating like the wolves or be caught gnawing on the remains of the fawn’s mother.
I didn’t think she’d take it well, but the deer had become food, and I couldn’t ignore my hunger anymore.
I’d left Runa with the fawn because a nudge within me said it was the right thing to do. She represented safety while I wore the scent of a predator. And, if her name was truly borrowed from the bees, then perhaps she was what my fractured memories whispered.
A life giver.
A woman who had the power of creation flowing in her veins.
And if she was, then the fawn would sense that.
It would be far more comfortable with her than with me.
Standing from where I’d sat cross-legged in the small meadow to eat my dinner, I wiped my bloody hands on the thick grass, grateful the blades were still wet from the rain. Once my fingers were clean, I rubbed my mouth, shedding the final remnants of my meal.
There was no carcass to hide. Salak himself had torn off a piece of the haunch and delivered it to me, concern in his yellow eyes as if he truly was my father and noticed I hadn’t eaten in a while.
I threw a smile at the alpha.
His paws crossed as he lay in the setting sun atop his favourite boulder. He lowered his head to his legs and yawned with glinting fangs.
This time of day was for rest. When the sun set and the moon shone, then the wolves would find their energy again. They’d patrol, hunt, mate, and play...living their life in the silver glow of their moon protector.
Twisting to face the forest, I moved toward her just as she appeared from the trees, her eyes cast to the ground, diligently following the trail the wolves and I had left her. My chest tightened as she looked up, her amber eyes locking with mine.
The jolt through my heart caught me by surprise.
The maleness between my legs hardened again, just like it had in the small glade when she’d kneeled before the fawn. I hadn’t meant to run off so fast, but...I hadn’t really had a choice.
My body had thickened with need, and I’d been one heartbeat away from dropping my mouth to hers.
Groaning under my breath, I cupped my hands in front of my traitorous body, hiding my reaction. Forcing my thoughts to switch from desire to welcome, I kept my gaze firmly on hers. “You’re back. With the fawn.”
She stopped as her chin tipped up from the ground. She held my stare for a moment before dropping between my legs.
She blushed.
“I’m sorry...” I swallowed and cleared my throat, daring to move toward her, all while my hands hid the worst of my need. “You told me by the river that I should keep...this part of myself covered. Especially when I can’t control my reaction.” I moved another step, gauging her reaction. “The Nhil customs of clothing still perplex me, and I find hiding how I feel about you tiresome, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” My teeth gnashed together as I gritted, “Especially after what that Nhil hunter tried to do to you. I would never—”
“I know.” Her feet drifted forward, making my heart pound. “I know you’re not like him.”
Bracing my shoulders, I dropped my hands, revealing the truth of how much I wanted her. “I vow I’ll never touch you...unless you want me to. Regardless of my body’s visible reaction—”
“Your reaction being that you...want me.”
I balled my hands, nodding stiffly.
“You want me as your mate.”
I nodded again, my voice more growl than man. “In every way that counts.”
She didn’t reply, but her face softened a little.
Needing her to understand that I was just grateful for her company and expected nothing else...not yet at least, I rushed, “I wasn’t prepared for how strongly my body would react...the more time we spend together.”
She ducked her chin, avoiding my eyes.
I waited for her to dash back into the forest or use the fawn as a shield between us. Stinging tension gathered the longer she remained silent, but then she sucked in a breath and whispered, “Me too.”
My belly clenched as those two words took my breath away.
The thought of her leaving tomorrow?
It hurt enough to be honest with myself.
I can’t let her go.
Not now.
She was staying here. With me.
Even if I had to force her.
