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“You’re damn right I am. I just never thought it would have to be from you.”
He shrugs. “I’m not here to win popularity contests. My pack comes first.”
“Fine. Whatever. I’ll do it.” Of course I will. That was never in question. I’m just balking at him saying that she might be dangerous to others.
Maybe she is?
No! I refuse to believe that.
Jagger claps me on the shoulder as if we’d just had a casual catch-up. “Good. I’ll leave you to it then. Call me if anything changes.”
I watch him go, feeling the weight of responsibility settling onto my shoulders. Whether she knows it or not, Cedara is my mate, for better or worse. And right now, she needs me.
Drawing a steadying breath, I turn and head back into the bedroom, feeling the pull to return to Cedara’s side. I close the splintered door behind me as best I can. Cedara is right where I left her, golden fur rising and falling slowly with each breath. As soon as I’m inside, her ears perk up, and she lifts her head to watch me.
I settle myself on the floor, leaning back against the bed beside her. “There, see? I told you I’d be right back.”
She huffs a breath. I smile into her soulful eyes. “This is starting to become a habit, huh?”
She cocks her head.
“Maybe it’s time we stopped sitting on the floor, though.” I look around us. “If this goes the same way as the last couple of times, you’ll shift once you’re resting.” I stand, and she watches me. I sit on the bed, kicking off my boots, then pat the mattress beside me as I settle back against the plump pillows.
She makes a whining sound.
“You’re not a pet, Cedara. You’re allowed on the furniture.” I smile to lighten the mood. She makes another huffing sound, then hops onto the mattress. It dips deep beneath her weight as she settles at my side, resting her head over my breastbone. The movement comes so naturally that it makes me warm inside. I curl an arm around her neck and stroke the silky fur over the top of her head. I keep up the soothing, steady motion until I hear her breath begin to grow slow and deep.
Then it happens. Her body trembles and then stiffens. The golden fur begins to melt away, her limbs shrinking in on themselves. Suddenly, I’m looking down at the woman. My lips tilt up at the sight of her. It doesn’t matter how often I’ve looked down at her like this, she always takes my breath away.
I watch her rest like that for a while. Sweet. Peaceful. Until she pulls in a deep breath and tips her head back. Her eyes are hazy when they meet mine.
“It happened again,” she whispers. Her throat works as she swallows hard.
“It’s okay. You came back.” I brush a golden wave from her face.
“It’s not okay.” She fights down a little sob. “I couldn’t stop it, Barrett.”
“But you will. It’ll just take a bit of time before you can handle it, that’s all. You’ve been through so much.” I cup her cheek.
She squeezes her eyes shut and then looks up at me again. “God.” Her voice is hoarse. “You must… You must think I’m a monster!”
“I think that you’re perfect, Cedara.” My thumb traces her cheekbone. She’s still staring up at me with eyes that I could drown in. I lower my head, my hand angling her head slightly as I graze my lips over hers. “Absolutely perfect,” I whisper. She sucks in a breath before my mouth closes over hers.
And then I’m kissing her. Kissing her with a tenderness that surprises even me. Her lips are soft and yielding beneath mine, and I explore their shape with a gentleness that borders on reverence. This moment feels sacred, fragile, like something that needs to be handled with care.
I savor the silky warmth of her mouth, the faint taste of honey on her lips. My hand cups her jaw, holding her to me as I deepen the kiss slightly. She makes a soft sound in the back of her throat, one of surprise and pleasure mingled, and the vibration sends a shiver through me.
When I finally pull back, just enough to look into her eyes, I see the glistening tracks of tears on her cheeks. A lump forms in my own throat at the naked emotion shining in her amber-flecked gaze. So much longing, so much pain…it breaks my fucking heart.
I lean in again, brushing my lips in feather-light kisses along the damp paths on her cheeks. I taste the salt of her tears, and it only makes me more determined to kiss them all away, to chase every last shadow from her eyes until all that’s left is the light I know she carries inside.
My lips trail across the curve of her cheekbone, down to the corner of her mouth, where I linger for a heartbeat. Then I’m kissing away the dampness on her other cheek, each brush of my mouth an unspoken vow to keep her safe. When I’ve erased every last tear, I pull back just enough to look into her eyes again.
“No more tears, beautiful,” I murmur. “You’re not a monster. You’re my mate. And I will always protect you.”
Chapter 15
Cedara
