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When I woke up, I made sure to keep my eyes closed and went through every second of my dream to save it in my memory, as I knew I’d be replaying it over and over again for the rest of my life.
With the blanket held close to my face, I took a big whiff of Brandon’s scent. It was amazing how strong his smell was even when he wasn’t here. Maybe I could ask Miti if I could take his blanket with me? I’d buy him a new one to replace it.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
I screamed and tried to get out of bed, but between the covers and whoever was holding me, I ended up half rolling out, with my feet still in the bed and my hands on the ground. Pain seared through my wrists, and I could feel tears forming in my eyes.
Laughing ensued from behind me, and strong hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the bed. When I was flipped around, I gasped.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Brandon said.
By reflex, my hand landed on his cheek with a slap. I winced at the pain but continued to stare into the brown eyes looking back at me.
“I deserved that,” he said softly.
I didn’t know what to say. Brandon was here—right next to me! I reached a hand out to touch his chin. “You haven’t shaved.”That was the first thing I said?
“Yeah, haven’t had time to.”
“What have you been doing?”
“Resting here with you.”
He was so close. I reached my toes out and felt his leg right next to mine. I started scooting closer, and his hands reached around my waist to pull me in. His leg went over mine, and before I knew it, I was fully encased in his arms.
The pain around my wrists and ankles were forgotten as I breathed in his scent and felt every part of my skin tingle at his proximity.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” Brandon said.
His apology spurned the memory of the one I wanted to make. “I’m sorry I told you that you would never be able to protect me. You saved me.”
“I always will.”
Something settled inside me, along with a dose of hope. But I didn’t want to ask him right now; the memory of how he’d pushed me away was too raw, too recent. Instead, I asked, “How did you find me?”
He looked embarrassed all of a sudden and tried to look away. I put my hand on his face and turned him back to face me.
“It was the necklace I gave you,” he said softly.
“The one with the wolf turning into a girl and back again?” There was a slight pause before it hit me. “Oh!”
Brandon nodded. “That’s the one.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Miti made it. It’s used as a tracker.” He lifted his hand for me to see. “And this ring is what helped me to track you.”
I didn’t know what to say.He tracked me? And didn’t tell me? And yet, if he hadn’t . . .I shivered at the thought.
“Are you cold?” He pulled me in closer and wrapped the blanket around us even tighter.
I looked into his eyes and decided now was not the time to dwell on the tracker. “What’s going on here, Brandon?”
“You’re in my bed and we’re snuggling, and I’m never going to let you go again,” he said simply.
His fingers were making little circles on my back, and it was all I could do to not close my eyes and lean in further.
“Becca . . .”
“Yeah?”
