Bran squeezed Savon’s shoulder, then hugged her. “I’m going too. Want to see if I can get some answers of my own.”
Finally, Nate had her alone.
The door shut, and Savon turned to him. “I know you want to protect me. And I wish it was as simple as being in my corner, but you don’t know Nikolai.”
“Why were you with him if you’re this afraid?”
“I wasn’t until I learned what he was involved in. Look, I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. He was a big one. I’m not going to apologize, and I don’t want one. We can’t change it, and really, you did the best you could. I’m the bitch who refused to even hear your name.”
“You went through hell. I can’t blame you for that.”
“Yeah, well, that’s behind us. I’d rather get to what’s in front.”
He held himself where he stood. “Tell me what you mean. Lay down boundaries. If you don’t, I’m not going to be able to stop myself from following instinct to claim you.”
She glanced down before her hazel eyes bounced up, locking on his. “Don’t want to deny this anymore. No boundaries.”
That was all he needed to hear.
Chapter 19
His brown eyes took on a golden hue as he closed in on her. Anticipation ran rampant as Savon stared into Nate’s eyes, waiting for him to end her torment. Years of him chasing, and she thought it was all in her head.
The truth set her free. She didn’t want to run anymore. She wanted to be claimed and let the past fall away.
“Forgive me,” she whispered.
“For what?” His voice rumbled.
“Running so long and hard.”
“Nothing to forgive.” He captured her face and took her mouth in a kiss full of love that had waited too damned long. She pressed against him, deepening the kiss.
He broke away. “If my father is alive and comes back, I’ll kill him before he has a chance to touch you. I’m not letting you go again.”
She ran her hand up his abs, to his chest, covering his heart. “I believe you.”
A smile burst across his face. “Tell me you want me, you want this. Us. Then no more running, no more distance. You’re going to have to let me in.”
“Already have. I’m tired. I need you, more now than I ever thought possible after hurting so long.”
“No more hurting, Sav. I want to love you for the rest of our lives.” He swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs, to his room.
As soon as he was through the door, she twisted out of his arms, landing on her feet. Opening his pants, she leaned up to nip his bottom lip. “Shh.”
He caught her shirt, sweeping it over her head. “Slow down. It’s not a race.”
“Need you.” And she hoped the bond would wash out the lingering fear. She pulled his shirt up and unbuttoned it as she went. Then she pulled it and the undershirt off and tossed it behind her. She pressed her lips over his heart. Colors burst through his aura. Pure love, passion, and need.
A soft growl left his lips when she shoved his pants down and stepped back to slip out of her jeans.
“Fuck, Sav, you smell so damned good.” He landed on his knees, running his nose across the apex of her thighs. He pushed her down on the bed and bent to lick through her heat.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as his tongue curled around her clit. He sucked and a ragged moan left her lips as she held him in place, greedily taking everything he wanted to give her. One hand ran up her stomach, between her breasts, and he pressed her down, onto the bed while one finger entered her, probing.
“I’m fine,” she gasped.
He lifted his head, his eyes locking on hers. “Never want to hurt you. Want you soaking wet before I make you mine.”
Tears burned as she dropped her head back.
He never meant to hurt her. She understood that now.
Curling his finger, he rubbed that patch that sent her to heaven. “Please,” she begged.
He pushed another finger into her, stretching, drawing out pleasure as she toppled into bliss. Her back bowed as all the doubt and fear were washed away in waves of pleasure.
“Come here,” she cried, needing more than his mouth and hands on her.
“Nah-uh.” His tongue dipped into her, a purring sound rising up, the vibration too much on her already sensitive body.
“Can’t take it.” She needed him to fuse himself to her, become a part of her. She needed him deep within her soul.
He drove her over the edge again. She couldn’t see, only feel. Nate lifted her, and she bounced. Her eyes flew open as he moved over her, his tip sliding over her clit.
Bronze burned around his irises. Colors of the forest danced through the white and red of his aura. She pulled his head down, taking his lips, tasting herself on his tongue. She rolled him to his back, throwing her leg over his hips to slide over his hard length.
Nate caught her breasts, squeezing until she moaned, rocking forward and reaching down to grip his shaft to take him in. He rose up, one hand in her hair, the other gripping her hip as she rode him.
She’d always craved him when they were younger but this was more. This was pure need.
Savon licked up the column of his throat, feeling his heightened pulse beating with hers. He sucked her lobe, and she bit down. Her back hit the wall and he was so deep she felt his beast rolling through him, rubbing against her. A whole other entity resided inside him, its will matching Nate’s.
She ran her hand over Nate’s torso and the beast within purred. The faint image of the wolf watched her from his aura.
One hand squeezed her ass as he pounded into her. The other caught her chin, tipping her head back.
“Mine,” he grunted.
“Yours,” she cried.
Nate’s mouth covered hers, his tongue delving in, claiming every bit as much as his powerful thrusts.
His length jerked and she knew he was close. Sliding her fingers into his hair, she pulled his head back, latching onto his gaze as she shot over the edge. Gold burned through the brown of his eyes.
Climax hit, taking him with her, staring into her.
The spirits murmured. Some sighed, others expressed happiness. They seemed to agree that she belonged with Nate.
His love, white and pure, washed out all the colors except his eyes. Pressing his forehead to hers, he clung to her, watching for something.
A tear fell down her face. “Love you, Nate.”
“Never stopped loving you, Sav.”
* * * *
Sparks of emerald and gold sparkled through Savon’s eyes as she gazed back. A smile played over her lips and colors danced around her. Blinking, he moved down the bed and pulled Savon into his embrace. Finally, everything he’d ever wanted was there, in his arms.
Walking away wasn’t an option. No matter what his father thought. If that meant killing him to become Alpha, then so be it. “Where do you want to be, Savon?”
“With you.”
A grin spread. “That’s a given. But here, or your home? Somewhere else in the world?”
She closed her eyes. “At the moment, here is fine. My place is warded, though. Nikolai can’t get in. Neither can Clay, or anyone else I don’t trust.”
“How does that work?”
“Magic.” She leaned up and put her head on her hand. “Told you, I’ve learned a lot about myself and my powers.”
“Sav, if you’re safer in your home, what are we waiting for?”
“We’re fine for now. I doubt any healer can regrow eyeballs that fast.”
“Paineater could take the injury. They’d heal it in moments.”
Savon rolled her eyes. “I pushed magic at him when I popped his eyes. The bear mauled him. Not sure what all the spirits did, but when I lose my shit, so does every entity in the area, and usually animals. It’s why I couldn’t find a sorcerer to properly train me.”
“Maybe I can help with that
.”
“Look, if you’re really thinking about becoming Alpha, the pack is going to have a problem with me. I could control them, if I concentrated. Hell, I was able to stop a werecat who had no intention of stopping, which is only supposed to happen with a bond, and I sure as hell didn’t have a bond with that cat.”
Nate smirked. “I’m not worried about it. They’ll have no choice but accept you if I take the pack.” He ran his hand up her side. “I have to know. What was Tremaine to you?”
“Mostly a very good friend. We tried for more, but it wasn’t a good fit. It ended amicably, and we became closer friends. Besides, he was always hung up on Liz, and then Robert entered the picture. And now, you have me.”
Nate pushed his fingers into her hair and brought her head back to his chest. “I can live with that. And I get that he was there for you in a capacity I couldn’t be.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “I hate that you trust him more than me.”
“That isn’t why I called him.” She leaned back, capturing his gaze. “He’s more than a mage. He has connections. Shit, he catalogs all types of Others, and he knows more about what I am than anyone else. He’s something of an expert on hybrids. And he isn’t afraid of me.”
“Who is afraid of you?”
“Sorcerers. I guess I disrupt their ability to use their normal entities. I’ve been told they’re afraid to help me get a handle on my abilities because I can shut down any other sorcerer within my range.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Nate whispered.
“Yeah, but you don’t know why you should be. You may change your mind.” A laugh escaped. “You didn’t see what happened to Nikolai. He looked like a marionette in a hurricane, then the bear. Shit, I pushed my thumbs in his eyes until they popped, then got my ass out of there.”
“Not freaked out now?”
“No. I processed the ordeal. I know better than to let my guard down, but I didn’t expect him to find me here. Fuck, that was stupid.” She rolled away and climbed to her feet.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Thinking. Need to be on my feet. I just—I need…” She sighed. “Look, I can’t lie here and dwell. I need to come up with a solution. I need some answers. And Ms. Murdock thinks I’ll find them in my home. So, we go back to my place.”
Nate hopped up and dressed quickly.
She picked up her ruined pants. “I loved those pants.”
“I hate that he touched you when you didn’t want it.”
“Hopefully Nikolai got the point by now.” Dropping the jeans, she pulled on the pair she wore back.
“You can’t run from me anymore,” Nate told her with a serious note.
She spun on him. “I’m not running. You’re coming with me. And for the record, you are still going to work when you’re on shift, and I’m going to continue what I do. I’m not giving up my independence or free will just because you’re a werewolf and we’re mated. I’m not submissive, though I can be under the right circumstances, but that isn’t long term—”
He crushed his mouth to hers, stealing her breath.
A laugh escaped as she pushed him back. “Stop, I’m serious. You won’t always get your way.”
“You’re still you, Sav. I’d never expect you to change, and you’re the only woman I’ve wanted all these years.”
She smirked. “So, Evangeline. Did you two ever hook up?”
He dipped his head. “Similar situation as Tremaine, which is why I’m letting it go and banishing it from my mind. Besides, my father hoped we would mate, and you would never enter my mind again. You were who I imagined when I was with her.”
“Oh, fuck. No wonder she was so bitchy when we first met.”
He shrugged. “She knew what I went through, but didn’t talk about it. She was there when my father forbade me to come for you. She watched me fall apart, helped me find you.”
“Look, it’s been twelve long years. I’m not worried about who you were with. But if we run into them, tell me so I’m not thrown a curveball.”
“None of them lasted. I’d give it a month, maybe two, and walk away because it was empty and meaningless.”
“Nate, honest, I don’t care. I’m no stranger to werewolves and their mate bond and the cases where the bond was twisted, there are reasons for that. I threw that at you, but not because I thought ours would be wrong, but I was afraid of hurting again.”
“So many things are a mess, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We’ve learned a lot. Things we may not have learned if your father hadn’t interfered.”
He managed a tight smile. “Come on, let’s see if we can find some answers.”
Chapter 20
Robert shook his head, a smirk on his lips. Tremaine explained his history with Savon. Robert didn’t mind their past. Now he was amused for a new reason.
“What?”
“Wondering about their families. I know Darron was involved with Draecyn for a number of years. So, him being part of the Branches of Emrys makes sense. But what about Killian Taggert?”
“He’s an old wolf out for himself and no one else. And Ms. Murdock has always cared for Savon. I can see her ensuring Nate becomes Alpha. Question is why. What does she gain from it?”
Preston snorted. “Shit, really think she’d involve herself that much when she didn’t save Liz from Sinclair?”
Tremaine snarled and paced away. “I don’t know what the old bat has up her sleeve. I’ve given up on trying to figure out what she’ll fight for anymore.”
“Think she’ll make her way out?” Robert asked.
“You’re the one who could potentially see that. If you’d give it a try,” Tremaine pointed out. And it was true. He could possibly.
He rubbed at his head. “Easier said than done. I haven’t figured it out.”
“Got to wonder what she’s hiding. Draecyn says she was there, but too busy to talk. Which I call bullshit on,” Preston offered.
“Draecyn’s not talking. Bastard knows what’s going on but isn’t sharing.” Tremaine flopped onto the bed and groaned. “I hate this position. They aren’t willing to tell us much until all of us say yes to the damned Branches of Emrys. And my problem is that they’ve been using me for years, without telling me shit. It’s the same now.”
“Can you blame them? What we know now is probably more than they want anyone who isn’t fully invested,” Robert countered.
“Yeah, but we need to help Savon, so if it means telling her things we shouldn’t, too fucking bad.” Tremaine rubbed a hand over his face. “You don’t have to agree. You both can go back to Edenton. But I’m staying until we have this handled.”
“I’m not going home without you,” Robert assured.
“Yeah, neither am I,” Preston promised. “I have a feeling this could all boil over and the Silver Council will be here anyway. Best if it’s us. And with the Dark Templar in hiding, who knows what they would do about your friend.”
“Yeah, well, she’s been through hell. She deserves a little happiness only Nate can give her.”
Preston snorted. “What is it with you empowering the kids who’ve had shit luck and every reason to break down?”
Tremaine shrugged. “I’ve been there. We all need that person to pull us out of the darkness.”
* * * *
Was it his business? Maybe not.
Didn’t stop Bran from driving to Evangeline’s home and knocking on her door. He wanted to understand.
Had he hated Jay for all the wrong reasons?
Shit, bastard wouldn’t even defend himself, and somehow, that spoke volumes about his character. They’d assumed the worst, and he let them believe, but thinking back, other than killing Killian, he hadn’t done anything truly wrong.
Fuck, Bran hated being wrong.
He knocked again.
Finally, Evangeline greeted him with wary eyes. “What brings you by?”
�
��What’s your history with Jay?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she hissed, attempting to shut the door.
Bran pushed it open and stepped inside. “Don’t. Seems I may have misjudged Jay, and I want to know your story before I make any final decisions.”
Her crystal green eyes narrowed, her nostrils flaring. “How is that my fault?”
“You hate him. I assumed there was a good reason. But considering he tracked Nate and me down when Savon’s ex showed up and tried to rape her, I’d say he might be an okay guy.”
“He what? Why? What the hell is going on?” Her accent increased with every word.
“Look, you’ve never said a damned word when I’ve gone after Jay for one thing or another. Sure, he killed Killian, but nobody misses that fucker, even if he isn’t really dead.”
“Not dead?” Evangeline sputtered.
“Yeah. Savon makes a great point that he is most likely alive. I mean, why isn’t Jay the Alpha if Killian is dead?”
Evangeline paced away, smoothing her fingers through her hair. “Stop, start at the beginning.”
“No. You start at the beginning. What’s the story with Jay? Why do you hate him so damned much?”
A strangled sound escaped her lips. “He killed my first mate. I’ll never forgive him.”
Bran paused, his brow cranking down. “You were mated?”
“More than a hundred years ago. And Jay wasn’t in the wrong. Jasper was the second in Killian’s old pack. Jay and his mate, as well as a few other wolves, moved too close to our territory. Jasper sent the enforcers after them. They raped the women and killed most of his pack. Jay killed the enforcers, but Jasper escaped. I can’t blame him for seeking revenge, and considering what those wolves did to his mate, I expected the same treatment. He didn’t touch me, but I watched in horror while he slaughtered my whole world.”
“Doesn’t sound like Jasper was a good man.” Bran started for the door.
“I was naive. I didn’t know what he was involved in. And when I learned, I was disgusted, but I loved Jasper, stupid as it was.”
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