Page 73 of Fractured Mates
“Thank you,” I tell her. Not only for letting me back in, but for allowing me to understand her a little better.
We’ve known each other for mere days. Just because I would die for her today doesn’t mean I truly know her. Spending the rest of my life learning every nuance of hers is an experience I’d regret missing out on.
She pushes up onto her toes and, this time, kisses me first. “Thank you.”
I press her harder against the wall, deepening the contact, but only for a few seconds. We have somewhere else to be, and I won’t lessen the importance of this task by allowing myself to get distracted with desire.
My mouth moves along her jawline and to her neck, where I breathe her in, needing just a moment longer to soak in my mate and strengthen the connection that hums between us.
The invisible tether that ties us together, one created by a magic I don’t understand, pulses in time with our heartbeats. I latch on to that energy and send every hope and want I’m wishing for through it.
Today won’t be the day I die, and it won’t be the day I lose another mate. We’re going to do what needs to be done and not look back.
“Let’s do this,” I tell her again, this time, meaning it more than before.
She nods and stares at me with a smile that takes my breath away. “Let’s.”
We go into the bedroom and gather the knives I bought before. Our wolves will likely do most of the action, but it’s never a bad thing to be overprepared.
Especially not when the person I know I can’t lose is going to be putting her life at the highest risk.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sophie
Having a mate after being on my own for so many years isn’t easy. I’m so used to doing whatever I want, not caring what anyone else thinks. I know Kyler was coming from a good place about leaving Astor alive and I’m trying to do better, but it’s not as easy as just wanting those things.
Coming back to South Carolina has opened old wounds I can’t leave exposed. For me, this has to end tonight. I’ll help follow leads if needed for the other shifters, whatever the protectors need.
Except letting Astor continue to breathe air longer than necessary.
Kyler seems to have come around to my reasoning. Not that I want him to bend his beliefs for me just to get my way, but this is bigger than I know how to explain. Thankfully, he hasn’t asked me to. Mostly because I can’t see much beyond wanting Astor’s heart ripped from his chest at the moment.
We’re as ready as we’re going to get. We’ve used the last two cloaking spells and stepped outside the cabin. Everything is eerily quiet. Not even the animals living in the forest are making noises, as if they know war is coming.
Kyler grabs my hand and looks down at me. I expect him to smile, but he doesn’t. Then again, this isn’t really a situation for that.
“I’m going to be right at your side,” he promises. “You’re not alone.”
“I know.” I squeeze his hand back. “Now, let’s remind Astor and everyone else who stands with him what happens when they fuck with the wrong shifter.”
We separate, and I begin to call my wolf forward. She’s been supportive in a silent way as I’ve processed a lot of these pent-up emotions, but the time for that isn’t now. Now, I need her to be the ferocious beast I know she’s capable of.
I am feeling rather ravenous since you were being stubborn about not eating while we waited for news on Jules, she muses.
I’m not opposed to it now, I tell her. Let’s go hunting.
The transformation sends shivers of warmth from the magic throughout my body, allowing me to revel in the manipulation of my body as I change from human to animal.
When we’re on all fours, my wolf’s attention goes right to Kyler. I’ve yet to really give her much time with his wolf and now really isn’t the time, but when they head for each other, I have no objections.
His head nestles protectively over hers, and they both make content rumbling noises as they stand next to each other, soaking in the bond that ties all four of us together. A tranquility moves through us, and I smile to myself, remembering that no matter how frightening it might seem to depend on someone, it’s these little moments that will make the hard ones all worth it.
These times when the world feels as if it’s stopped just for us. When the devotion Kyler and his wolf have for us is stronger than any fear we’ve ever had. When the loneliness I thought would never leave is nothing more than a distant memory.
In those few moments, I can let everything else go.
Even though we’re not technically a pack, River and I will be able to communicate through our wolves as protectors, Kyler tells me as we part and start to run toward the pack. He says that there are two hunting parties out looking for us, lessening the amount of people at the pack. He told them about your car and is sending people to the cabin now that we’ve left.