Waiting just long enough to watch them break through the trees, allowing Zeke to take a momentary lead, I turn and head back toward town. Alone now, I move faster than I need to as the adrenaline starts to fade; something more intense floods my system.
As much as I’ve been trying to control the bond rather than letting it control me, I can feel it pulling at me and urging me to get back to the house.
Back to Naia.
It hits harder now, like the prospect of those wolves trespassing only served to reinforce it.
Without a doubt, she was the target. I know it.
It’s no secret that I was the one who purchased her at the auction, and now, they’re moving closer. While we still don’t know their motives, it’s obvious they’re after something in Delmont. Before, they didn’t frequent the area, and now that she’s here, they’ve been lingering for far too long.
My jaw tightens as I push forward, ignoring the sting in my shoulder and the slow drag of healing already kicking in. None of that matters right now.
All I can think about is getting back to her and knowing she’s safe, even if I already know she is.
The front door opens faster than I intend, and it hits the wall with a dull thud. Naia’s already on her feet, standing by the kitchen with a confused expression. She’s wearing an oversized plaid button-up that drapes over her shoulders, and it immediately sets everything in me ablaze.
Her gaze snaps to me immediately. “What happened?”
Then, she glances at my shoulder, at the dry blood, and her expression shifts. A surprising concern litters her features, catching me off guard.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ve had worse,” I mutter, far too focused on every small change in her expression as I draw closer.
“That’s not the point.”
I step forward to close the distance, and the second I’m near her, everything else fades. The fight in the woods and the lingering threat all dull under the undeniable need I can’t keep hidden anymore.
Reaching for her without thinking, I hook an arm around her waist and pull her in.
Her hands come up instinctively to brace herself against my chest, eyes wider. “Zane, what are you—”
“I don’t want to think about it,” I cut in, my voice lower now as I lean closer to feel her body heat wrapping around me.
Naia stills slightly, blinking up at me in confusion. Still, her frame relaxes just a touch from the proximity. “What?”
“Out there. The idiots causing problems…I don’t want to think about them,” I murmur as my grip tightens just a fraction. Everything in me is screaming to get closer. “I can’t right now.”
The bond hums between us, and I know she feels it too.
“You’re bleeding,” she says, quieter now.
“I’m healing.”
“That doesn’t mean you should ignore it.”
“I’m not,” I say. “I’m just…”
Without the right words, I stop, well aware that I don’t have a clear explanation for why the only thing I can focus on right now is her, or why it feels like I’ll die right now if I can’t feel her.
My hand shifts slightly against her back, pulling her closer without thinking. I hear and feel as her breath catches.
Naia’s gaze lifts to mine, much closer now as the tension between us snaps tight.
I don’t know what it is, but something’s different from before. The room feels hotter than usual, and it’s like she’s a beacon I can’t pull myself away from.
Just as she opens her mouth to say something, I surge forward and press my lips to hers without giving myself time to think about it, and I don’t give her time to argue.
