“Only a few,” he says, urging me to turn back around.
He continues to brush my hair. The bristles press lightly into my scalp before moving down, sending thrills of pleasure down my spine. After each stroke, he runs his fingers through the strands. I bask in the light touches of his fingertips along my neck as he talks and continues to brush my hair even though it’s no longer tangled.
“Can you tell me more about mates?” I ask. I may just be romanticizing them, but they sound wonderful.
“It’s said that when you meet your mate, you’re drawn to them, deeper than anyone else. That you’ll sense a strong connection to them, and I’ve heard when you touch, it’s like you’ve been electrified.”
“You’ve heard? So...you haven’t met your mate yet?” Is that hope bubbling up inside?
“I haven’t and may never. It’s uncommon to find your mate.”
He’s said that before. “Why?”
“Because we’re spread out all over the world and don’t socialize with many packs outside our own.”
“But you’ve traveled to different parts of the world.”
“Yes, but that’s not very common. Especially until recently when the only options of transportation were either horse and buggy or ships.”
“Wait, you don’t have some magical way to travel?”
He chuckles. “Maybe witches do, but we don’t really socialize with them.”
I straighten before fully facing him. “What else is real? Fairies? Elves? Vampires?”
“No, no, and kind of.”
I gape at him. “Kind of vampires?”
“The myth of vampires originated from them, but they’re actually called stryxes. They aren’t undead and don’t need blood to survive, but they drink it anyway.” He gently turns me back around.
Vampires, or I guess stryxes, and witches are real. Now that I know lycans exist and allow myself to believe it, it’s not so difficult to believe that stryxes and witches exist, too. Even if it’s hard to wrap my brain around all of it. But I’ve gotten off topic.
A sigh escapes as he continues to brush my hair. A thrill runs through me. I don’t know what it is about someone else touching my hair, but it brings a different kind of pleasure.
“So, it’s hard to find your mate,” I say.
“Yes. Many choose each other. My parents were one of them, making them the alpha couple and chosen mates.”
I look over my shoulder at him. “Why aren’t you an alpha?”
His eyes widen in alarm. “I was supposed to be.”
“Because your parents were?”
“Yes and no. I was the only pureblood in the pack once my parents were killed. It just made sense for me to become alpha.”
“Pureblood? Is that similar to being an alpha?”
“No, pureblood isn’t a ranking. It’s just something you’re born with, like race, or being human.”
“What does it mean?”
He sighs. “A lot would explain it by saying my blood isn’t ‘tainted’ by human ancestors.”
I frown. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“I don’t either. I wish I could change it, but the more human ancestors you have, the weaker the magic is in your blood. You’ll have even less magic if one parent is a human. Purebloods are the opposite. They don’t have any human ancestors. They’re powerful with enhanced abilities that are even greater than normal lycans. Add special abilities on top of that... Purebloods are nearly impossible to beat unless by another pureblood.”
“Special abilities?” I ask as his fingers slip into my hair. He begins to massage my head, distracting me from my never-ending questions. His fingers work in little circles along my scalp. I close my eyes as a small moan slips past my lips. It’s like my brain has turned to mush from the bliss his fingers bring.
“I’m fast,” he says. “While lycans are faster than humans, I'm even faster than other purebloods.”
So, Ash is extremely fast, and other purebloods can have similar enhancements. Are Zac or Marcus purebloods, too? Do they have special abilities I need to be wary of?
Ash’s fingers move skillfully from my scalp to my neck where he lightly squeezes. He stops then pulls my hair to the side and over one shoulder. He caresses the sliver of skin that’s exposed below my neck.
I track the warmth of his other hand to my shoulder. He places them both on my shoulders and massages them; the tension slips away with his touch. I pull my legs up and hold on to them as he kneads all the aches and pains away.
My mind and body go into a daze. I rest my head on my knees and slightly nod off as I focus on the touch of his hands.
When he stops, it’s almost as if I’m jerked out of a dream.
I quickly wipe away the bit of drool that has escaped, hoping he didn’t notice.
“Is a braid okay?” he asks, already expertly weaving my strands into one. He finishes it off with a hair tie I didn’t realize he had.
“Is Alice a healer lycan?” I ask as another question pops in my head. I turn to him as he leans back into the bed. He moves over so I can settle beside him. The bed is small enough that our sides are pressed up against each other.
“Uh, no.” His eyes dull. “She’s an omega.”
“What’s that?” He hasn’t mentioned this ranking yet.
He runs a hand down his face with a sigh. “Omegas are ranked last. They are the ones with the least amount of magic in their blood.”
“And Alice is one.”
“She is. Although her father is the head warrior, her mother was a human. She got most of her traits from her as well. She probably has the least magic in the entire pack. Enough to transform into a small wolf and to live longer. But her senses are barely above a human.”
A light bulb goes off in my head. “Is that why she doesn’t look us in the eyes?”
He peers down at me. “You noticed that too, huh? Yes. She has been bullied despite her powerful family and friends. It’s hard to change people’s opinions and actions when they don’t want to change.”
“It’s a losing battle only if you give up. What do omegas do? Everyone else seems to have a role or job.”
He sags deeper in the bed. “Clean, cook, take care of children, things like that.”
I frown. That’s nothing like the others. “Does she want to do those things? Does she get a choice in what she does? Do any omegas?”
He runs a hand down his face. “Not really. No one really does.”
“That’s horrible. She must hate being an omega.”
“I believe she does. She doesn't talk to me much. Foster, Russell, and I try to get her involved with us, but she never agrees unless her father joins. Foster says it’s because it makes the bullying worse. People don’t realize how much we need omegas. They keep us tied together, filling in the cracks. Without them, our pack wouldn’t run as smoothly, but I wish they had a choice in what they want to do and pursue.” He leans his head back against the bed frame with a sigh. “My world isn’t perfect. Far from it.”
“Neither is mine, though. Humans are just as corrupt and mean.”
He chuckles without humor. “Yeah, everyone is pretty messed up.”
I tilt my head as I survey him. “Not everyone. I’ve met a lot of good people while moving around. And…” I bite my lip.
He side-eyes me. “And?”
“And well...you. You’re included, next to Jane and Emma, of course.”
A grin breaks across his face as he chuckles. “Of course,” he says with a hint of a laugh. He sits up and leans in, his lips brush the shell of my ear. “Thank you. You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
I clench the hospital blanket as a thrill shoots through me.
“Now, let me give you your gift.” He leans away and grabs the book. He sets it on my lap, face down. It’s larger than any other hardcovers I’ve seen. I flip it to the front and a gasp escapes me.
“Is this...?”
Glancing at Ash, I find him nervously biti
ng his lip. “Do you like it?” he asks.
Looking back down, I skim my fingers over the gold foil title, The Princess Bride. My favorite book. My copy was old and a paperback. Not that I didn’t love and cherish it, but this? This is a deluxe edition in hardcover. Turning the cover, I find a colored map printed on the end pages. “It’s beautiful.”
“Is that a yes?”
My smile grows as tears blur my vision. “Yes. Thank you so much.” I look up and my next breath leaves me.
He beams.
I don’t think I’ve seen him smile this big before. He’s breathtaking. His whole face lights up. The warmth that hides in his eyes explodes out and transforms his already handsome face.
“Go ahead and go through it.” He nods toward the book.
With shaky hands, I turn a page, then quickly the next. There’s art inside the book. I could go through this all night just staring at the pictures.
I’ll have to call Jane tomorrow.
Ash and I are laying in the hospital bed, as per usual, as we wait for Dr. Kathy to come do a final check so we can leave. I’ve been in the hospital exactly two weeks today. Dr. Kathy is allowing me to be discharged earlier than planned, but only in the care of Ash. Although only minor injuries remain—scabbing on my cheek and back—I still have a slight concussion.
But that means I’ll have to figure out a different way to leave without him knowing. Otherwise he’ll stop me.
Ash gets out of the bed when there's a short knock on the door.
Dr. Kathy enters, pausing mid-step. She straightens and tugs down on her lab coat. “Ready?”
I nod and swing my legs over the side of the bed.
“Okay, I just need you to sign these papers.” Ash grabs the offered papers for me. After I sign, Ash hands me a gray sweatshirt. I tilt my head in question.
He smiles. “It’s cold outside.”
I pull the sweatshirt over my head while taking a deep breath of his scent—pine, fresh snow, and a hint of musk. I bite my lip as swirls of desire stir in my stomach.
Dr. Kathy briefly leaves to bring in a nurse who rolls a wheelchair into the room.
I eye it. “I can walk.”
She stops next to the bed. “It’s policy. Everyone is wheeled out.” She gestures for me to sit.
I sit down in the chair while Ash grabs my bag, throwing it over a shoulder.
I glance up at him as the nurse wheels me out the door and into the hall. “Are you taking me back to Emma’s?”
“No, it isn’t safe there for anyone.”
“Then where? A hotel?” I have some money that could tide me over in a hotel for a few days. From what Dr. Kathy said, I have a week or two left until I’m completely better. I’m healing a lot faster than she expected.
I’ve traveled in worse conditions than how I am now, but my head has been aching so much that I end up sleeping most of the day away. I need to rest until it becomes manageable. I also need to get my stuff back from Emma.
Ash glances down at me as he walks beside my wheelchair. “Something like that.”
My brows knit together. What does that even mean?
When we reach outside, a blast of frigid air hits us. Even with Ash’s sweatshirt on, the cold seeps in. The sidewalk and road have been plowed, and piles of snow are lined on each side of the street. Everything else is coated with white. Ash stops beside the curb in front of a navy Ford truck. He opens the passenger side then walks back to me. He hesitates for a moment before leaning down and picking me up.
I squeal, looking at him with wide eyes. “W-why?” I ask, my arms tucked to my chest, trying to hide the pleasure that flushes through me from the heat of his body near mine.
He smirks. “I figured this would be easier,” he says, setting me down in the seat. He leans over, pressing his body against mine, sending a buzz through me and lighting up my nerves. I hold my breath, trying not to inhale him as he buckles me.
He closes the door and walks around to his seat. He gets in and starts the car.
“You know, I can walk.”
He shifts the gear to drive then pulls out of the hospital parking lot. “Yep,” he says, popping the P.
I cross my arms. “I can also buckle myself.”
He hums with a smirk.
“You’re insufferable.”
He glances at me with a twinkle in his eye. “Just looking out for you.”
Exhaling slowly, I look out the window, surveying our surroundings. We’re driving through a town I’ve never seen before. The buildings are old but look sturdy. It has a small-town vibe to it. We pass by mom-and-pop shops and a small grocery store. The lights along main street flicker on one by one as the sun sets.
“Where are we?”
“It’s a lycan town.”
I blink and glance over at him. “What? Those exist?”
He chuckles. “Just like I exist.”
“What is it called?” I ask, peering back out the window. We pass by a small hotel. My brows knit together. Isn’t he going to stop?
“Northdrift.”
I turn to him. “What?”
“That’s the town’s name.”
“Oh, thanks,” I say softly, looking back outside. We’re passing the town limits of Northdrift and heading into the surrounding thick forests.
“Aren’t you going to take me to a hotel?” I ask, starting to panic.
He glances at me. “You’re not staying at a hotel.”
I pause. He’s joking, right? “Yes, I am.”
“Did you see me stop anywhere?”
“Well, no.”
His grip tightens on the steering wheel. “Northdrift is a lycan town, and you’re a human,” he says. “You’re not even supposed to know about it. That’s one reason why you’re not staying here. The second is because I want to be close by to make sure nothing happens to you. I can’t do that if you’re in a hotel hours away from me.”
My eyes widen. “Hours? Where are we going?”
“My place.” He glances at me, his face completely blank.
“Why are we going to your house?”
“Because it’s the easiest place to protect you. I’m not letting you out of my sight after what happened to you.” He side-eyes me. “But you should get some rest. It’ll take a while to get there. We’ll talk more once we do. The roads are dangerous this time of year, especially at night.”
“Okay.” I lean back and gaze out the window. We pass clusters of pine trees that are covered in a blanket of snow. Past the trees is a river that weaves in and out of mountain ranges. In the distance, those same mountains stand tall with white peaks, but in the light of the moon and the fading sun, the color changes to a soft blue. The stars twinkle into existence behind the mountains as the night takes over. I watch stars appear gradually in the sky until my eyes droop.
Maybe I will take a nap. My head is killing me anyway.
I’m lightly nudged awake. “Ellie darling, we’re here,” Ash softly says.
I rub my eyes then look out the front windshield. We’re stopped in front of a cabin encompassed by pines. It’s easily larger than Emma’s home.
Ash gets out, taking my bag with him. It hangs off one shoulder as he makes his way to my side. I open the door before he gets to me. I start to climb out, but suddenly he’s beside me, tucking one arm behind the knee and the other around my back. He lifts me, cradling me into his chest.
“Ash,” I say, my voice breathy. I take a deep breath to get more voice and less air into my next words. “I can walk.”
“I know.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. I shouldn’t be enjoying this. “You’re being ridiculous. I walked around the hospital for the past week. Why won’t you let me walk?”
He glances down at me. “It’s icy, and since you still have a slight concussion, I’m not taking any chances.”
My heart warms.
Ash leans against the doorframe of the front entrance and sets my butt down on his lifted knee. “Hold onto
my neck for a second,” he says.
I obey, bringing us closer, and enjoy how my arms feel around his neck. He drops one arm around me, fetches his keys out of his back pocket, and opens the door, making it seem so easy while holding me. His arm is around my back again, grazing my ribs as he steps inside.
“It wasn’t icy there. You could’ve set me down—actually, you can still set me down. We’re inside.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Oh.” I’m taken back by his honesty. I’m not quite sure how to respond, but a warmth creeps up my face.
Glancing down, his eyes twinkle as he carries me through the threshold. He kicks the door shut behind us. There’s a hallway just past the entryway on our right that he takes.
He stops right in front of the farthest room on the left and sets me down in front of a closed door. Turning the handle, he then pushes the door open with one arm, holding it open for me. Looking down at me he tilts his head to the door, indicating he wants me to go in first.
My hands fidget with the bottom of his sweatshirt, suddenly nervous. I look straight ahead into the room. The light from the hallway rests on a window across the room with blush curtains framing it. A skewed reflection of us appears in it. My breath catches as I notice Ash looking at me, waiting patiently. He doesn’t move, doesn’t rush me, just waits. I take a deep breath and enter the room, flipping the switch on the wall.
A gasp escapes as the room lights up. To my right sits a queen-size bed with a beautiful cream comforter full of ruffles, with matching cream and blush pillows. My gaze then locks onto a tall walnut bookcase brimming with books. I can’t wait to browse through his collection.
Next my eyes snag on a vase of white roses on the nightstand. The walls are my favorite color, a dark forest-green like the evergreen trees near my parents’ home. I’m speechless. It’s beautiful.
I look over at Ash who’s hovering at the door. His head is slightly tilted down with his hand on the back of his neck. He looks up at me through his dark lashes. “Do you like it?” he asks.
I have so many questions, but the only one that comes out is, “How?”
With brows drawing together, he drops his hand. “How?”
“How did you do this? How’d you know what I like?” I wave my hand around the room. “I love it, every single piece of it.”
Saving Ellie (Lycans Book 1) Page 14
