“It feels like what?” he pressed.
Her tongue shot out to wet her lips. “It feels better, good. I don’t know. It just feels right.”
He wasn’t sure if he should tell her yet, and then instantly decided,Fuck that, no more stalling. “It’s because your wolf has picked me,” he admitted quietly as he caressed her cheek.
Mouth dropping open, Jury’s head jerked up, her eyes colliding with his as she sucked in a breath and held it a beat before she started apologizing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t… I didn’t know, Koe. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I-I…”
Leaning down, he silenced her with a soft kiss. It was their first, and it wasn’t how he wanted it to happen. Still, he couldn’tdeny how right it felt. Even with just the gentle brushing of lips, the warmth that blossomed in his chest from the slight pressure of his mouth on hers had his inner wolf raking its claws down his insides. He wanted Koe to mark her now. He didn’t want to wait. But Koe broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. He wasn’t rushing anything with her; he’d already fucked up enough.
“Once your wolf selects who she wants, the touch of any other male is unbearable until the mating is completed.” Pulling back, he lifted a hand and stroked her hair, admitting, “Even then, you’ll still feel discomfort at another male’s touch, but it won’t be as intense.”
His explanation faltered when he realized Jury’s body had gone rigid as she stood stonily.
Worried, he growled, “Jury?”
“This changes nothing,” she whispered, chin dipped low.
Her words had his heart seizing.
Without looking at him, she continued. “My wolf picking you doesn’t change the fact that I’m a Biter and you’re an Allegiant.” Finally lifting her head, she looked at him, her eyesfilled with sorrow. “It’s against the rules, Koe.Wego against the rules.”
“Fuck the rules,” he snarled, letting his wolf flash in his eyes. “Because I choose you too, Jury.”
“Stop.” She flattened a hand on his chest and pushed.
Koe snatched her hand up fast and held it tightly.
“You’re playing with fire,” she warned. “Bragga is scary. He’s evil, and he’ll never let us happen. Please,” she begged, “don’t underestimate him.”
That was it? That’s why she was denying her wolf, fighting against her feelings for him? She was worried about Bragga and whether he could prevent them from mating.
At first, Koe was insulted, then quickly became angry. Finally, he settled on grim satisfaction. He might not be able to prove to her right now that he was willing and capable of taking on the Council if that’s what he had to do to have her, but Bragga was a fucking joke. A problem he could handle with his eyes closed. Challenging Bragga was a gift he could give her now.
Voice low and steady, he declared, “Hear me and hear me clearly. My mind’s made up.” His gaze bore into her. “I will have you, and no one will stop that. Not Bragga. Not the council. Not even you.” She pushed at his chest again, but she couldn’t hide the scent of her arousal. She liked his proclamation. Good! Because he liked the way it felt just finally saying it out loud. Jury would be his, and no one would keep him from her. Still, he didn’t want to bully her into anything. He knew she needed reassurance. He knew she was afraid, and that was the last thing he wanted.
“No”, she denied. “We can’t be this.”
Releasing her, he stepped back. Splaying his long legs, he crossed his arms over his thick chest to keep from reaching for her again. “What is it you need from me to settle your fears?”
“Fears?” she heaved incredulously. “Bragga doesn’t simply incite fear, Koe. He’s an absolute terror. He’s unrivaled and unstoppable, and once he finds out that I’m still alive, it’s over for me.”
“The fuck it is!” he bit out. Uncrossing his arms, he fisted his hands. “And if what you need from me is to prove my worthby decimating that fuck, then that’s what I’ll do. I am worthy of you, Jury. I’ll prove that to you. I’ll earn your devotion.”
“No,” she breathed in denial. “That’s not what I said. That’s not what I said at all. I’m trying to tell you that I don’t want you putting yourself in danger because of me.”
“I’m not doing anythingbecauseof you. I’m doing itforyou.” Dropping to a knee in front of her, he grabbed both her hands and bowed his head. “Jury Warmont, it is my honor to avenge the wrong done to you by Bragga and his pack of Biters.”
“No!” she tried to pull her hands back, but he held firm.
“It is my hope that in the proving, you accept me as worthy of consideration for your mate.”
“Koe!” she pleaded. “Stop! You’re not doing this.”
Lifting his head, he grinned at her. “Of course, I am. I’d walk through literal fire for the chance to claim you as mine.” And he meant it. He’d proved to her that he was worthy of her.
Chapter 29
Narae couldn’t find Koe or Jury, but she did find the cafeteria. She ate a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and an English muffin that was left warming on a covered steamer table. The mess hall had males dotting a few of the tables, engaged in their own meals, but none of them even glanced at her. Whatever. She didn’t have the time to care. She ate quickly and then went in search of Koe, secretly hoping to run into Jury, but neither of them materialized.
