‘I can’t handle you hurt,’was all he said, and my heart softened in that moment. I think I’d been so angry about him still being married to Cassara that I’d built up resentment toward him that was unfounded.
‘I’m sorry. Next time I’ll take some security. I promise.’
He laughed.‘You’re funny if you think I’m ever letting you out of my sight again.’
And they said werewolves were the most possessive. Not by a long shot.
Chapter Twelve
Luka just stareddown the Ithaki doctor the entire time that he pulled out the bullet in my arm with tweezers and then stitched it up. The doctor had done a nerve block so I wouldn’t feel anything and I was able to stay awake for the procedure. He said with my accelerated healing, I should be good to go with full range of motion in my arm in seven days’ time. Until then, I needed to lay low or risk reinjuring it and having the tendons heal wrong.
When we were finally alone, Luka looked down at me with a scowl. “You’re careless.”
My mouth popped open. “I am not! I went in fully armed with Liv at my side, I—”
“No,” he growled, leaning closer to me so that I could smell the mint chewing gum on his breath. “You’re reckless with my heart.”
The shock of his accusation slammed into me, and before I could respond, he spun around and left. He left me alone in the healing ward of the creepy castle.
I didn’t know what to say…
You’re reckless with my heart.
Had I been? I hadn’t meant to … I’d only meant to protect my heart. I sat up and grabbed my things, finding Liv waiting for me in the hallway. She had a few stitches in her arm from where Maz’s blade had sliced her, but otherwise we’d walked away pretty lucky from that fight.
“Luka seemed pissed. What happened?” Liv looked down the hallway of the healing ward. Dark stone castles werenotmy vibe.
“I got hurt. I guess he’s offended by that,” I growled.
Liv nodded. “He’s in love with you.”
I froze. “No. I mean deep feelings yes, but—”
“He’s deeply fucking in love with you, Aspen,” Liv said again, and my stomach tied into knots as I let myself hope and believe that could be true.
“He’s married,” was all I said.
Until he announced his impending divorce, I didn’t want to entertain any ideas.
When I got back to the guest cabin, my mom and Maple fawned over me and inspected my wounds. I didn’t exactly tell them what happened, just that it was hunter business gone wrong. The last thing my newly freed mother needed was to hear that there were half a dozen more breeder encampments still in running order. I didn’t want her to worry about anything. I wanted her to start a fresh life.
After dinner, I headed off to bed early. The doctor had given me a pain pill and it was hitting me hard now.
The second my head hit the pillow, the pull of sleep called to me, but something kept me conscious for a while.
You’re reckless with my heart, played out in my mind over and over until I finally fell asleep.
* * *
“Wake up, little bitch,”a female voice purred in my ear.
My eyelids snapped open. Light assaulted my eyes as a hand clamped around my mouth, cutting off my scream. I groaned, looking up at the owner of the voice.
Cassara.
I moved to fight her, even in my impaired and injured state, but a sharp crack sliced into the side of my head and then everything went black.
* * *
