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“Thank you,” I said, blushing a little.
“For the compliment, or the haircut?”
“Both.”
His lips curved downward slightly. “Humans thank their mates far more than they should.”
“How can you thank someone too much?”
“A male is expected to care for his mate. Being thanked for doing so implies to him that he’s doing something he’s not expected to. It would be an insult, if she was a female shifter.”
“I don’t expect anyone to take care of me,” I admitted. “At this point, it’s a good day if no one insults me. I thank you because I feel grateful that you’ve treated me so well, when it’s not at all what I expect or am used to.”
“You deserve far more than I can give, Aurora.” His hands landed lightly on my shoulders. “It nearly drives me to madness, knowing I can’t kill the man who hurt you.”
My face warmed further. “Murder isn’t really accepted on Earth.”
“What do you do with bastards like Allen, then?”
“If they’re caught and there’s enough evidence, they go to jail.”
He scoffed. “Prison is a pointless sentiment among shifters. Why would you put time and effort into caring for someone who has proven themselves undeserving?”
“People change, sometimes,” I said, but it felt like a lie.
“Some types of people, with some types of issues. Not someone who would hurt a female. That kind of man shouldn’t be allowed to continue breathing.”
Honestly, I couldn’t say I disagreed with the sentiment. I had imagined myself killing Allen more times than I cared to admit, even though I’d never managed to bring myself to hurt him.
“If we were on Earth, I would thank you for freeing me from him, even if murder was the way you accomplished it.”
“Since we aren’t, tell me a way I can free you from him further,” Amarok countered, finally setting his scissors back down.
I considered it.
His hands lifted back to my hair, though he hesitated for a moment, giving me a chance to tell him not to touch me. I liked the way his hands felt in it though, so I didn’t say anything.
“Being my friend would help,” I finally said. “Allen was really good at convincing me to distance myself from my friends until I didn’t have anyone else. It would be nice to have a friend again. Someone I can trust. I already trust you for some reason, minus the possessive bit.”
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving downward like he didn’t understand.
I could’ve kept quiet, but honestly, Ididwant to talk to him about it.
“Allen was possessive too,” I explained. “About everything. He thought I was interested in another guy if I apologized for bumping into him at the grocery store. He didn’t want me spending time with my friends, because he thought I loved them more than I loved him. Any time I brought up someone else, he assumed I was lusting after them. I couldn’t talk to him about anything, or have friendships outside our relationship. I couldn’t evenlookat anyone he might consider I could be attracted to when I was with him.”
Amarok’s hands resumed playing with my hair, and shit, it felt so good that the glow around me was getting a little brighter.
I didn’t have the heart or willpower to ask him to stop.
“That sounds more like insecurity than possessiveness.”
His words struck me, hard.
I guess it did.
“A mixture of both, then.”
Amarok nodded. “Shifters are possessive, but not like that. If another male touched you, I would be driven to challenge him to a fight, not get angry with you. My possessiveness would drive me to not want other men to see you bare, and to satisfy you so thoroughly that I become your favorite. If I were the only man watching you unravel on my fingers, mouth, and cock, why would I feel insecure about you talking to your packmates and friends?”
