affection.A grounded support beam in her rather chaotic life.
“What if they think I’m broken?” she murmured.
After Tom, her only saving grace was hunting down the holding cells and helping those who hadn’t been tainted by torture. She hid behind her fortified walls, her whip of a tongue, and her forged pride.
She stifled a shudder, but Slade recognized the shift in her body and quickly tightened his hold on her. His big hands, so strong and powerful, splayed over her back and hip, keeping her close to him. The deft pump of his heart worked miracles to steady her nerves and soothe her scarred spirit. Even the burn in her wrists subsided.
“I can’t bear that rejection, Jordan. I can’t.”
“They’re your mates, sweetheart. They’ll never reject you. One way or another, I have a feeling these two will dig up your past. It’s best for it to come from your mouth.” Jordan’s gaze softened on her. He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Slade, you and Micah will have to come to terms with what happened to her. If you can’t accept the mar on her soul, then I’d suggest you take leave.”
Slade tensed against her. The tips of his fingers pressed into her flesh. His wolf had yet to leave hers, but it shifted, curling around her.
He was cocooning her in protection both physically and spiritually. Her body melted into his, soaking up the heat radiating off his skin and the impenetrable degree of comfort. He won’t think I’m broken. But Micah…
“I would never turn my back on her now. Never. And neither would my brother. In any other circumstance, I’d consider your assumption a blatant insult,” Slade said. His voice had taken on a deep, dangerous tone. “Tell me what happened so we know how to deal with it.”
“Well, the problem’s been dealt with.” Jordan’s lips curled in a scowl. Chills spread over her arms. Slade quickly rubbed them away. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Permanently.”
“Micah will be disappointed to learn you’ve taken the fun out of the hunt.”
“There’s no fun in a hunt when my sister bears the scars of a madman.”
That did it. Whether Jordan heard or not, Kasa did, and that deep, feral rumble in Slade’s chest shook her. Beneath the charming smile, the lighthearted comments, a deadly wolf lay in wait, prepared to attack.
“What scars ? What madman ?” Slade bit out. Kasa sighed, absorbing the last of his warmth before she straightened up. He put up only a slight resistance, the thick muscles in his arms restraining. Eventually, he let her up. She moistened her dry lips and tucked her hair behind her ears. The death grip she had on her wrists earlier left light pink rings around them. For the moment, the blemishes hid the subtle hints of her scars.
Slade’s dark, fathomless eyes narrowed on her. The playful sparkle had been swallowed by his sudden serious demand. One hand lingered on her shoulder lightly enough, but his other hand clenched into a ball on his knee. The severe cuts of his face were taut with simmering anger.
Kasa cast a short glance at Jordan. He gave her a solemn nod.
“I’ll stay right here,” he promised and settled himself against the side of the bed.
“We never talk about it,” Kasa murmured. She played with the hem of the soft towel.
“No, we don’t, but now’s the time to face whatever fears you have,” Jordan said. He gave her knee an encouraging squeeze. Slade closed in on her right. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her cheek. Energy thrummed just below his surface, energy that seeped into her veins.
“Let us into your secrets, Kasa. We’ll never betray you,” he whispered.
“That’s what Tom said. Then he tried to kill me.”
* * * *
Eva stood outside her hideaway’s entrance and stared up at the sky. The moon cast eerily sharp rays across the deathly still lake. The early morning hours lent a calm to the breeze. The wintry air seemed to grow still and stagnant
“What if they think I’m broken?” she murmured.
After Tom, her only saving grace was hunting down the holding cells and helping those who hadn’t been tainted by torture. She hid behind her fortified walls, her whip of a tongue, and her forged pride.
She stifled a shudder, but Slade recognized the shift in her body and quickly tightened his hold on her. His big hands, so strong and powerful, splayed over her back and hip, keeping her close to him. The deft pump of his heart worked miracles to steady her nerves and soothe her scarred spirit. Even the burn in her wrists subsided.
“I can’t bear that rejection, Jordan. I can’t.”
“They’re your mates, sweetheart. They’ll never reject you. One way or another, I have a feeling these two will dig up your past. It’s best for it to come from your mouth.” Jordan’s gaze softened on her. He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head. “Slade, you and Micah will have to come to terms with what happened to her. If you can’t accept the mar on her soul, then I’d suggest you take leave.”
Slade tensed against her. The tips of his fingers pressed into her flesh. His wolf had yet to leave hers, but it shifted, curling around her.
He was cocooning her in protection both physically and spiritually. Her body melted into his, soaking up the heat radiating off his skin and the impenetrable degree of comfort. He won’t think I’m broken. But Micah…
“I would never turn my back on her now. Never. And neither would my brother. In any other circumstance, I’d consider your assumption a blatant insult,” Slade said. His voice had taken on a deep, dangerous tone. “Tell me what happened so we know how to deal with it.”
“Well, the problem’s been dealt with.” Jordan’s lips curled in a scowl. Chills spread over her arms. Slade quickly rubbed them away. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Permanently.”
“Micah will be disappointed to learn you’ve taken the fun out of the hunt.”
“There’s no fun in a hunt when my sister bears the scars of a madman.”
That did it. Whether Jordan heard or not, Kasa did, and that deep, feral rumble in Slade’s chest shook her. Beneath the charming smile, the lighthearted comments, a deadly wolf lay in wait, prepared to attack.
“What scars ? What madman ?” Slade bit out. Kasa sighed, absorbing the last of his warmth before she straightened up. He put up only a slight resistance, the thick muscles in his arms restraining. Eventually, he let her up. She moistened her dry lips and tucked her hair behind her ears. The death grip she had on her wrists earlier left light pink rings around them. For the moment, the blemishes hid the subtle hints of her scars.
Slade’s dark, fathomless eyes narrowed on her. The playful sparkle had been swallowed by his sudden serious demand. One hand lingered on her shoulder lightly enough, but his other hand clenched into a ball on his knee. The severe cuts of his face were taut with simmering anger.
Kasa cast a short glance at Jordan. He gave her a solemn nod.
“I’ll stay right here,” he promised and settled himself against the side of the bed.
“We never talk about it,” Kasa murmured. She played with the hem of the soft towel.
“No, we don’t, but now’s the time to face whatever fears you have,” Jordan said. He gave her knee an encouraging squeeze. Slade closed in on her right. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her cheek. Energy thrummed just below his surface, energy that seeped into her veins.
“Let us into your secrets, Kasa. We’ll never betray you,” he whispered.
“That’s what Tom said. Then he tried to kill me.”
* * * *
Eva stood outside her hideaway’s entrance and stared up at the sky. The moon cast eerily sharp rays across the deathly still lake. The early morning hours lent a calm to the breeze. The wintry air seemed to grow still and stagnant
Similar Books
