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I felt him relax slightly. He kissed me again. "I guess that's all that matters."
"It's not all that matters," I disagreed, because he had clearly been carrying all those hurtful words his siblings had said. I'd bet his father had said far worse, and so had others in the pack. But theirs were the voices he cared about. "I want people to see how I feel about you, Liam. That you're mine. That I'm yours."
A shudder passed through me, along with the intense desire to press his face to my throat, to encourage him to mark me. It was something wild and primal.
He growled, a deep resonant rumble I felt with my face against his chest that didn't sound threatening now though it would have been terrifying in another moment. "Mine."
His mouth teased over the place where he would’ve marked me, and he pulled himself away as if it were a struggle not to give in to the need to mark me.
Then the two of us were kissing again, our bodies tangling together, and the world faded away.
CHAPTER35
Amelia
Once I’d seenDylan off to school that morning, Cole was waiting on the trail to walk back with me. I was never alone now.
I couldn't wait to talk to him. The two of us locked gazes across the distance, and it felt as if he were watching me with a male aggression I welcomed. When Cole looked at me like that, something felt hollow inside me, hungry and wanting.
"Amelia!"
I turned at the sound of Rose's voice. She was heading away from Teresa, who was looking at both of us, and the other teens, who were heading into school. Teresa's gaze, as always, felt laden with judgment.
"Hey." I smiled at my sister, feeling guilty that I'd been so wrapped up in my own problems--and desires--when she and Aiden were so uncertain in this pack. "How was your training?"
"Terrible," she said cheerfully. "I'm so out of shape and behind. They've all been training for years already."
"But you can catch up."
She shrugged. "I guess I'll try."
I was used to Rose's sullen silences, so her sounding upbeat while she was still visibly sweating was strange, but the two of us traded smiles.
"For as long as we stay here," she added, and some of that sudden joy curdled.
"Yes," I agreed, because we hadn't discussed staying.
Teresa started toward us. At the same time, I sensed something behind me and turned to see Cole heading our way, as if he intended to keep Teresa on her best behavior.
As Cole approached us, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. His mere presence made me feel safe and protected, like nothing could harm me.
"Teresa," Cole greeted her with a nod, his voice laced with authority. "Is there something you need?"
Teresa inclined her head. "I thought Amelia might want to talk about Rose. I was going to ask if it was alright if she continued to join us, and if she started classes at the high school."
"Oh," Rose began, "I don't think I need to focus on math right now--"
Teresa shot her a look. Rose's lips knit together and she bowed her head slightly. It was rare to see Rose submit to another woman, as helpless as we had all felt when it came to the males of our pack, and it reminded me that things were different in the King pack.
"Rose showed a lot of grit today," Teresa said. "I'd like to have the opportunity to continue to train her."
The faintest smile curved Rose's lips.
"Of course, attendance at school is as mandatory as combat training for her age in our pack. Unless you want her to do something else with her time." Teresa looked expectant. Apparently, I was in charge of Rose now, though I'd never been able to make her do a damned thing--like talk to me--in the past.
Clearly, Rose had an out if she or I didn't want her to train. But if she was going to be part of the pack, apparently it was all or nothing.
"School and training should keep Rose out of trouble," I said. From my lips to God's ears. Rose could find trouble like it was her job. I turned my smile on her. "You might not be a fan of math, but at least it'll give you a chance to make friends in the pack."
