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You know why, my wolf says, bringing up the memory of Gideon’s face when I banged on the bar door last night.
The scent of rain surrounded me, Gideon’s eyes devouring me before he pulled me inside. His lips, soft at first, then unyielding, demanding, until he pulled away suddenly. The sound of his claws carving into the door on either side of my head made goosebumps flare along my skin.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice deep and menacing, the promise of revenge dancing in his silver eyes. “Please don’t make me ask again,mia fiamma.”
That name, that godsforsaken name. I never cared to know what it meant. I figured it was something degrading, something rude. Likelittle witch.But this time, in that moment, it took every ounce of self-control to not ask him, every ounce of strength to not latch myself onto him and beg him to forget me. Because Monique will kill him the second she gets the chance.
“You’re not alone, little witch.”With one sentence, he tore down the rest of my defenses, and I crumbled. “I’m the villain, and I’ll burn the whole world down, sacrifice every innocent life in this world, just to save your soul.”
How could he say that? How could he promise something so big—so powerful and full of love—to his sworn enemy? To a witch. Tome.
But he did.
The questions burn on my tongue, and the frustration that he isn’t here to answer them makes my skin itch.
“Addy?” Concern etches across Mila’s face, her hands full of plates covered with scrambled eggs and bacon. “Your eyes…”
I shake my head, clearing my mind and blinking away the wolf I know is trying to claw her way to the surface, desperate to reach her mate. I smile at Mila, embarrassed.
“You’ll get used to her,” she says, bumping my shoulder gently with hers as she moves to sit down at the breakfast bar. “It took me a good two months to get used to hearing mine in my head, let alone get comfortable shifting and trying to control that.” She laughs at the memory with a shake of her head.
I try to brush it off as Kaylus flies to the counter, pecking at some seeds Mila left out for him, and I move to sit on the stool beside her. The large window in front of us gives a beautiful view of the fog strewn forest, the scent of wet bark and morning dew wafting inside.
“Plus, I hear after meeting your mate it becomes even harder to control it.”
My eyes snap over to her as she stares down at her plate, a blush fiercely climbing across her cheeks while she pushes her eggs around.
She lifts one shoulder slightly, one corner of her mouth raising to reveal a small dimple. “Not that Gideon told me anything. It’s just… obvious.”
“Obvious?” I whisper, barely able to get the word out around the lump in my throat. If it’s that obvious, does Monique know? Has she told the coven? A bonded wolf has never been tested for the immortality essence… and an alpha’s mate bond is the strongest known. It would be impossible to talk them out of hunting me if they knew.
Mila’s eyes snap to mine, and I’m struck by how pretty she is—her eyes are such a light blue they remind me of ice on a winter morning. She’s curvy in all the places that I’m not, and the dimples in her cheeks, framed by warm blonde strands, offer a sense of innocence.
But Gideon never spares her a passing glance.
My wolf’s words ring in my mind, sending sparks of bliss through me before I shove it all away. I can’t claim him as mine. It’s a death sentence for the both of us, and… and he’s Gideon Disantollo, the man who almost killed one of his pack in front of me.
My wolf scoffs, irritated that I refuse to see that situation for what it was—Gideon protecting me, setting order in his pack without taking a life because he saw the fear in my eyes. But I can’t let myself see it like that. I can’t fall in love with him just to watch him die.
“I don’t think anyone outside of the pack would know.” Mila’s soft voice breaks me out of my thoughts again, and she smiles at me. “Hell, I don’t think most of the pack even knows. Just those of us who actually pay attention to our alpha.” She points her fork at my untouched plate. “Eat up, girl. I made enough for thirds, and you’re going to need it.”
I bite into a piece of bacon with a curious glance at her. “Need it for what?”
Her smile spreads, both cheeks’ dimples deepening. “I thought you might appreciate some training.”
Standing in the middle of Gideon’s back yard, just inside the tree line, I close my eyes and try to control my breathing, but after being out here for two hours already, I’m panting. I’ve never felt so out of shape.
“Again,” Mila says. “Pull your wolf to the surface, just enough to lengthen your claws, and then hold it.”
I nod, keeping my eyes closed and concentrating on the inner presence swirling just out of reach. Frustrated, I try to draw on my wolf, who’s still annoyed with me from earlier.
Admit he only wants to protect us. He chose not to kill that asshole in the bar for you, princess.
The nickname is spat at me, an insult more than anything, and her irritation is palpable, mixing with my own.
“Again, Addy, come on!” Mila yells.
“I’m trying,” I snap.
