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“I know. But… I kind of deserved it.” My smile dropped. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did at the restaurant. Or before that. I’m the one who’s sorry. I was an idiot, Freya.”
“You are.” She grabbed some tissues and began wiping blood off my chest and abs.
I smiled down at my little warrior wolf, the woman I’d taught how to hold a rifle. She never surrendered, didn’t pull her punches, and wasn’t afraid of calling me on my shit.
“You deserve so much better than me,” I told her as she dabbed at my wounds. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve met.”
Freya shook her head, sending her white hair falling around her shoulders. “I’m broken, Heath. What just happened proved that. I’m broken and scarred and—”
I grabbed her hands, stopping her movements. Her eyes rose to meet mine.
“You’re beautiful,” I corrected her, tracing a scar on her arm. “Scars and all.”
Though I had a few visible scars of my own, hers were more extensive for the simple fact that she couldn’t heal like we could.
“Besides, we’ve all got our own invisible scars, Freya. You’re not the only one.”
She pulled her hands back so she could keep wiping away my blood again and again. It was going to keep coming back until I shifted. Then those minor scratches would disappear.
“Don’t worry about me. Once we’re done here, I’ll shift. What matters to me most right now is that you’re okay.”
Claim,my wolf insisted.Need mate bond.
Maybe he was right. Gage could sense her through the pack bond, but Freya would be even safer with a mate bond… from Flint, of course. Then she’d have two overprotective alphas ready to pounce the moment they sensed she was in danger.
She pressed her lips together, and I spotted tears forming in her eyes. Hooking a finger under her chin, I forced her eyes up to me. Why was my brave little wolf on the verge of tears again?
“Talk to me, Freya. I’m not exactly good at these things, but… I want to listen.”
Talking about feelings with someone I cared about romantically wasn’t my strong suit. It was something I’d actively avoided with my fuck buddies. Emotional intimacy led to attachment, and I hadn’t been willing to risk something serious when my father might arrange my marriage with some fae royal or powerful witch coven at any time.
But for Freya, I was willing to fight. And it would likely come down to a fight — he wouldn’t easily give up his plans for me, and the Howling Echo would need to be prepared. But I’d come close enough to ruining this myself, and I refused to let him ruin it for me by trying to marry me off to some far-off allies. I couldn’t just let her go like I’d done with so many before.
When the silence between us lengthened, I thought Freya might not confide in me, but then she straightened, her expression somber.
“I always wanted to leave Ironwood, but they’re still after me. And the deal I made with you guys… My heat’s over, Heath. What happens now?”
I couldn’t help it. I crushed her to me, squeezing her, surrounding her with my body and arms as though I could keep her safe through force of will alone.
“You’re safe with the Howling Echo,” I promised. “You’re safe with me. You’re one of us now.”
Freya pushed me away. She glared and held her arms wide until I noticed how my blood covered her face, breasts, and stomach. She looked like a primal goddess, and I wanted to kneel at her feet and worship her until she cried my name to the heavens.
“One day, I’ll see you covered in your enemies’ blood,” I promised her. “Everyone who hurt you… We’ll make Ironwood pay.”
My savage words came out on a growl. Eyes wide, Freya held up her hands and shook her head. “Whoa, down boy.”
Her eyes dipped lower, and I realized that somehow, despite five days of her draining me dry the moment I could get it up, the idea of killing her enemies had gotten me hard again. Diverted from thoughts of claiming her for the first time in days, my wolf was now pushing for violence — he wanted to howl in victory for all to hear, showing her we were a worthy mate.
Kill her enemies. Everyone who hurt her. And bring her their corpses.
Definitely.I sent my agreement back to him, ignoring that my wolf sounded like a bit of an unhinged psychopath atthe moment. Freya likely wouldn’t be thrilled with a pile of Ironwood corpses, but maybe her wolf would like that.
With my inner wolf settled and focused on something other than claiming her, I grinned. “Like I said… I would bleed for you, Freya. But I’d rather bleedtheminstead.”
She laughed. “I admire your ambitions, but let’s start with a shower.”
She flipped on the water, but I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back toward me. I pushed her hair behind her ear and trailed my thumb along her chin.
