The wolf wheezes for a few beats until his heart stops. My mark sizzles and falls off in ashes.
“I’d burn the world down for you, Jay.” He stalks closer to me.
His words, although desirable, have a growl and menacing tone to them.
Oh, his words . . .
“You are the most delectable prey, created specifically for this hunter. Ever since I found you, I can’t smell, taste or think of anyone else. I have tried to fight every instinct, but each time, I end up tracking you down.” He laughs. “Every instinct leads me back to you, and I ampowerless. I can track anyone and anything, but without you, I am forever lost.” He grabs my hands and cups them to his chest.
“But, the witches? What about the war? Your pack? They’ll take everything.”
He inches closer to me until he’s cupping my face. Tears spring from my eyes, and he rubs them away with his thumbs. “Not everything,” he breathes, staring deeply into me. “They can have it all—my title, my pack... I won’t fight them for it. There can’t be a war over territory if there’s no dispute. They can have it all, as long as they leave me with you.”
“But . . . The king, he—”
“Can do whatever he wants. And if he wants Bloodhound to stay intact so bad, thenhecan fight for it. I’ve always been one to choose my battles, and you are one I refuse to lose.”
I lick my lips and want to throw my arms around him and just accept everything he’s saying, but why now? Before, it seemed like his hands were tied. “I just don’t understand what’s changed. Plus...” I scoff. “I–I don’t even know how to be a luna. What if—” Caleb sinks to his knees in front of me. “What’re you doing?” I blink.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten on my hands and knees, praying for someone like you to come along. I should have been praying that I’d be worthy of having you. You are a natural luna. I wasn’t prepared for someone like you. I played it safe and let pride get in the way, but I will spend every day showing you my unquestionable and unshakeable loyalty. I will fight for you, and for us to my last breath. Jay, if the world is still standing, you’ll know I’m not done fighting because I’d burn it all down for you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“I was scared to lose any time with you, but I realize now that no length of time with you will ever be enough. I don’t know what the future holds, and I don’t know what the consequences will be, but playing it safe doesn’t get me you.”
I swoon.
“They might come after us.”
“You mean me.”
“No, I don’t.
“You’re right,” I concede.
Caleb stares up at me, hanging on every word.
“I don’t need you.”
Caleb averts his gaze and hangs his head.
“I can protect and defend myself. I don’t need you to hunt for me. I know how to survive on the land. I don’t need you for any of that.”
Caleb nods.
“I know how to survive. But without you... I wouldn’t.”
He looks up at me.
I inhale. “Since I can remember, I’ve had to fight for my survival. When I escaped and no longer had to, I stopped. I stopped eating. I stopped trying.” I crouch and place my hand on top of his. “None of my survival skills matter if I don’t use them. And without someone like you to make sure I do—someone who makes sure I’ve had enough to eat that day”—I chuckle—“someone who cares enough about me to make sure that Iam alive. Just because I can take care of myself, doesn’t mean I will. You make sure I do.”
He scrunches his eyebrows. “They might come after us. They could kill us.”
“I don’t care.”
“You might be running for the rest of your life.”
“Then we’ll run.”
