Artemis rubbed her shoulder. “And you can have it if you choose. You kissed him, but you are here and your virtue is intact.” She spread her hands. “It is understandable that the experience was confusing to you, but the fact that you told me about it immediately speaks boldly of your character. I am not concerned at all about this incident. You are a very talented spiritual leader, Selene. Add this experience to the many things to come that will help you grow in your faith and abilities.” She met her gaze. “If that is what you choose, reject the wolf’s bond and stay.”
Selene nodded. “Oh, thank you,Preotka.” She turned back to her bag, feeling light as air. “I should unpack.”
“Unless…” Artemis folded her long, graceful arms over her cardigan and narrowed her eyes on Selene.
Selene blinked and turned back toward her mentor.
“Love is a rare and powerful gift. If you genuinely have feelings for Jason, beyond the instincts of your wolf, and he returns those feelings, maybe it’s a sign from above that there is a more important role for you in this life than priestess.”
Selene gave a breathy laugh. “What could be more important than priestess?”
Artemis didn’t miss a beat. “Devoted wife, loving mother, conscientious princess, practitioner of true love. My dear Selene, if you have been blessed with love and a true mate, do not allow it to slip through your fingers. That type of connection is rare, and I fear you’ll regret leaving it in your past.”
“But how do I know? I have no experience with this. Maybe my feelings are something else. Maybe they won’t be returned by him.” Selene bit her lip. “Artemis, have you ever… been in love?”
Artemis shook her head. “Only with the pack.”
Selene dropped her arms to her sides in frustration and stared at her feet. “This is silly. It was only a kiss. Nothing more.”
With a knowing smile, Artemis nodded. “I thought so. But if you do decide it’s something more, remember this isn’t a prison. You can leave if you want to.”
Selene lifted a stack of clothes from her bag and laid them out on the bed. “But there’s no coming back if I do.”
Artemis cleared her throat. “No. There’s no coming back.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Jason’s thoughts refused to stay in the present as he wandered through the garden at Rivergate Manor under a canopy of silvery sunset and slowly emerging stars. He’d tried to stop thinking about Selene and to focus on his business, which was sorely in need of his attention. His scout, Andrew, informed him that the Spackles deal was officially dead because of his neglect. He’d failed miserably. As much as he would have liked to return to business as usual, his mind bounced right back to Selene.
It wasn’t just his wolf’s innate desire to mark her as his own, although that part was surely there. She was his potential true mate, after all, the bond, even stronger than the one he’d shared with Jessica. That bond seemed to pulse deep within his chest where his wolf still pined for her. His soul and its beast longed to claim that bond, but the truth was, his human heart ached just as badly. He’d spent the day pacing an empty apartment, remembering how full it felt with her in it. Like a real home.
“Welcome back, brother.” Silas broke into Jason’s thoughts with a pat on his shoulder as he sidled up next to him. “Selene gave me a glowing review of your willpower and constraint this morning.”
Jason adjusted his watch on his wrist, remembering how little restraint he’d shown when he was shoving his tongue down her throat the night before. “It’s good to be back,” he said mechanically.
“You’ve certainly put on some weight. Jesus, you’re going to pop a button with all the muscle going on under there.”
“Funny how a few weeks locked in one’s home revives their love of physical activity.” Based on his brother’s expression, the note of bitterness in his words wasn’t lost on Silas.
“It was necessary. I know it wasn’t easy, but now you’re ready to face Nickelova if she comes for you. That’s what’s important.”
“So when can we try to find her and kill her?”
“After the shift. I’ve rounded up three wolves, all with military experience. Gerty has agreed to go too. Grateful can’t leave her son but has promised to provide magical protection in the form of potions and spells. Do you think you can remember where to go?”
He nodded. “I remember.” Jason couldn’t wait to destroy the dragon fae who had started all this, made him suffer, only to find true happiness with Selene and experience true suffering all over again when she left. He wanted the dragon bitch to die slowly, but he’d take her death however he could get it. He hoped he was the one to do it, preferably by crushing her heart between his own two hands.
They arrived at the tent where the pack was shedding clothes in preparation for the shift. “See you on the other side of the moon.” Silas left him to prepare for the shift.
Jason removed his tailored shirt and pants, toed off his leather loafers, and folded everything in a neat pile in the corner. He left the tent completely naked, his blood bubbling under the surface of his skin. The change was close at hand.
That’s when he saw her. Selene locked eyes with him across the sparsely wooded lawn, her beautiful skin gleaming in the moonlight. From the moment he’d met her, he’d admired the way she carried herself, like she lived above the fray, and now was no exception. Her hair was down. Goddess, he loved her hair. The delicate bones of her face added to the long stretch of her body, giving her the look of a ballerina, graceful even in the face of impending pain, an angel in their midst.
The din of the older members of the pack starting to shift filled the space: groans and growls and breaking bones. Jason pitched forward, the tawny fur of his underside breaking out along his abdomen. Human thought was difficult in this state as his wolf mind started taking over, but the last clear thought he had before he changed was a raging need to claim Selene as his.Mine,his wolf growled.Mine.
And then he surrendered completely to the animal within.
* * *
