“Pixies?” I asked aloud, confused.
“What?” Valens’s eyes snapped to mine, holding me captive far more than his hands, gentle on my shoulders.
“I see… a thread of magic. My wolf says it’s pixie.”
He nodded slowly, taking it seriously even though it was absolutely absurd. Wolves couldn’t see magic, and I had no special, Goddess-given marks to explain what was happening with me.
“Pixies could be exactly the lead we need.” His thumb stroked over my cheek, and I shuddered, a horrible realization washing over me.
“You’re touching me. You’re not supposed to be touching me!” Panic replaced the confusion of seeing power signatures for the first time, and he snatched his hands back as if I was a burning hot stove.
“I’m sorry, you scared me, and I thought you were hurt.”
My fingertip throbbed, reminding me that I was, in fact, hurt. But pain and a little blood meant nothing to a maiden.
No, the thing that terrified me was the low thrum of heat building behind my breastbone, the way his scent sharpenedand deepened in my nose. Smoky sweet and mouthwatering, I wanted to press my lips to his with a ferocity that scared the shit out of me.
Mate.
The word was barely more than a whisper from my wolf’s mind, but it hit me with gale force.
Valens was my mate, and no amount of denial would change that. I’d hidden from the truth, but it had found me just the same.
Chapter 8
Valens
Elodie was withdrawn and quiet the entire drive back to the pack lands. When I parked the truck, she didn’t even move, just continued staring out the window like a ghost of the bright, fiery woman I’d first met.
I wanted nothing more than to drag her into my arms, kiss away the pain.
But my touch was not welcome, and I had no choice but to respect her wishes, even if it killed me. Even my wolf was quiet, probably replaying the same moment I was, when she’d gasped out that I wasn’t supposed to touch her.
It had been an accident, but the way she’d withdrawn… I’d crossed a line.
“I’m sorry. Truly. It won’t happen again.”
The promise tasted bitter on my tongue, but necessary.
She shook her head, lifeless eyes swinging to mine. “It’s too late, Brute. It’s too late.”
Elodie let herself out of the truck, but I raced around to block her before she could bolt. I couldn’t let her walk away looking like that.
“What does that mean? You can’t just say that and walk away.” I palmed the edge of the truck bed, forcing my hands to stay where they belonged.
“My wolf has claimed yours. It’s only a matter of time now.” Her bitter tone told me exactly what she thought of the fact that I was her mate.
Fuck.
She started to walk away, but I couldn’t let her go, not yet. “Wait, please?” I begged, and alpha wolves did not beg.
For Elodie, I would beg.
She turned my way, a question in her eyes.
“You were wrong before. You could never be nothing. Maiden or no, you’re important to me and to this pack. Those women love you like a sister. Anyone can see it. And I?—”
She held up a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “Don’t. Don’t make some declaration that’s not true just to make me feel better. Pretty words can’t fix this. Nothing can. It’s too late.”
