“What’s a Scion?” I ask, more concerned about that than the needy fire between my legs.
“It means you’re not human. That’s what we call… everything humans refer to as supernatural: Wolves, vampires, Fae, witches, all of them. All of us,” Hayden explains. “And before you ask your next question, yes, you’re a Scion. And before you ask the one after that, no, I don’t know whatkindof Scion you are.”
“How do you know I’m a Scion?” I question, tilting my head slightly as I process it.
“It’s the only explanation for what I feel,” he growls. “And you’ve been doing too much squirming to deny you feel it too.
My face turns red, then pales. I stop moving immediately. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lying to your mate, hmm?” he inquires, eyebrow raised. “That would have gotten a she-wolf a trip across her mate’s knee.”
“What!?” I say loudly. “How dare y—I’m not a she-wolf! I can’t turn into… I don’t haveforms!”
“No, the last she-wolf died a long time ago,” he says, some sadness creeping into his voice. “Our kind isn’t supposed to feel thispull,this desire, toward any other species. It defies everything I know. But what I do know is that you’re my mate. I’m as certain of that as I am of anything.”
The way he says it. Such confidence. I can sense it’s the truth, just like I knew I could trust him earlier. But what does that mean? I’m hismate? I’m… a Scion? I’m confused.
I can’t deny the attraction, pull, desire, fiery, fieryneed. It’s not letting go of me. Mr. Right isn’t supposed to show up, kill vampires, then let me ride him all over Chicago like my personal steed after rescuing my best friend. Or maybe, apparently, he is.
I can almost hear Daisy’s voice in my head telling me I’d be crazy to ignore this. And not to forget to feed Caddo. The last part is louder.
“You think I’m you’re mate, and you don’t even know what I am?” I ask, nibbling my lip, unable to stop myself from squirming again. I turn red when he glances over, making it clear he notices. “We don’t know each other! How can we be mates?”
“It’s an instinct. The same ones that tell me when I’m hungry, thirsty, or need to go for a run in the forest to clear my head,” he says. “We are drawn to our mate. It’s in your scent. The second we breathe it in, we just… we just know. But there’s a piece missing. Maybe more than one. It’s not because I don’t know who or what you are. The only thing Ineedto know is that you’re mine.”
Is that what I’m feeling? An instinct? Can an instinct make my core go supernova? Can it make me crave something I’ve never experienced before?
The pull towards him is undeniable, a magnetic force that defies logic. My mind screams confusion, but my body knows what it wants.
If it’s an instinct, is it even my fault if I give in?
Or is it just… inevitable?
CHAPTER 12
Ansley
The safehouse, if you can call it that, is a warehouse that has been converted into a garage, some kind of workshop, and an enormous living space. As we step inside, the sheer scale of the place takes my breath away.
The front section is a fully equipped garage. Tools hang neatly on large racks, and a heavy workbench is covered with car parts and mechanical tools. There are multiple cars parked inside. Black sedans and luxury SUVs are up front, but behind them are some older model cars.
“This is your safehouse?” I ask, looking around.
“Technically, you’re standing in the garage,” he says, gesturing towards the living space. “My brother Wyatt jokes that this is the ultimate open floorplan. No walls at all.”
“I can see that,” I say, continuing to take in everything.
The living area has oversized furniture, like it belongs in a giant’s den. A massive couch and armchairs dominate the room. A large rustic table is surrounded by mismatched, but sturdy chairs.
Beyond that is a kitchen area. Counters span both sides, and there are large, industrial sized units for refrigeration and freezing. There’s a microwave, stove, oven, coffee machine, and even an air fryer on the counter.
I look to the left and see a bathroom with no walls. Just a toilet, a massive shower, and a tub I would be able tofullystretch out in. I stopped taking baths at my grandmother’s house when I had to start bending my knees.
But what catches my attention most of all is to the right, where there’s an enormous bed. My vision goes white for a second, just like it did when I found Daisy, and I see myself stretched out on it.Naked. I shake it off and my vision clears.
Was that a want, need, or premonition?
“Whiskey,” Hayden mutters. “But first, I need to change.”
