Ugh.
Slowly peeling the Velcro straps back, I slipped a purple bruised foot out of the boot and then hobbled into the shower, careful not to bear weight on the healing ankle. When I looked down at the blood-splattered, purple-blotched skin of my naked body, tears formed in my eyes.
Holy shit.
That was so close. I almost died. I tried not to think about falling down that fucking mountain, Walsh running after me, and the sweet Paladin man who tried to help me before the Ithaki killed him. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I started to soap up, watching the red and brown-tinged water pool at my feet as I scrubbed clean. I wanted to stay in here forever and not deal with telling Sawyer I was raped, but it was time to get all this shit out there, especially if I was serious about being with him.
I quickly brushed my teeth, slipped into the new clothes, including the walking boot, and towel dried my long blond hair. Then I stepped out of the room and froze.
“Sawyer, are you sure? If we call off the mating selection and she’s not the one—”
“She’s theone,” he growled, and my stomach bottomed out. A huge grin swept across my face and I wanted to run out there and jump into his arms, but I was totally snooping so I stayed where I was.
“Meredith is a safe bet,” his mother said, and the grin fled from my face.
“I don’t love Meredith.”
There was a deep long sigh as his mother seemingly weighed his words. “You don’t have to love them back, son. Our entire family is depending on you—”
“I’d like you to go now, Mother. I’ve made my choice. It’s Demi, it’salwaysbeen her.”
Holy fuck.
This conversation was so confusing but I didn’t care. The only part that mattered was that Sawyer basically just said he chose me.
“If you’re sure, I’ll call an early announcement for a few days’ time.” She sounded dejected.
“Thank you,” Sawyer responded, annoyance in his voice.
The clipped sound of high heels fled down the hallway and then the front door shut.
“You can come out now,” Sawyer spoke into the room and I flinched. How did he know I was there? Hopefully his mom didn’t.
I stepped out gingerly, limping on the walking boot, and Sawyer let his gaze rake up and down my body. It wasn’t his usual hungry gaze, he was searching for wounds.
He tipped his head to the door. “Did you hear all that?”
I shrugged. “Just the part about you choosing me … no big deal.”
A slow grin pulled at his mouth and he stepped closer to me and released a shaky breath. “From the moment I first saw you … I knew you weremine.”
It was like time stopped; my breathing definitely did; and maybe even my heart too. I think I actually died for a minute when he said it. It wasn’t in a possessive way, it was just matter of fact, like we were made for each other.
I swallowed hard and he stepped closer. “Well, my wolf knew. I didn’t want to freak you out, and I’m not sure if you feel the same because your wolf and you are so separate…” His face faltered. “Come to think of it, I’m probably freaking you out right now.” He ran a nervous hand through his hair. “I, uh … I dunno, Demi, I just … what I’m trying to say is—”
I cut his words off with a kiss, pressing my body flat against his, and was rewarded with a moan. His fingers gently came around the back of my neck to cradle my head as my lips parted and our tongues slid against each other. Sawyer thought my wolf and I were separate, and in a way we were, but I’d felt the same from day one about him, I just never wanted to admit it. Survival instinct, or whatever you want to call it, I just didn’t want to get hurt. Knowing that he felt the same, it smashed every wall I had built.
His hand trailed up the back of my shirt and I raked my fingers down his back, causing him to freeze. He pulled away and looked down at me and I frowned.
“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, I just … we need to talk about something. Can you come sit down?” He pulled away from me, taking the heat of his body with him, and I frowned.
Fuck. This was not what I expected we’d be doing right now after he all but declared his love for me.
Talking.
I sat on the couch next to him and he faced me, mouth in a hard line, eyes distant. His brokenness was close to the surface, and I knew whatever it was, it would be bad. But I wouldn’t judge him for it, Lord knew I had my own issues.
