“Soon,” I whisper so that only my wolf can hear it.
He doesn’t like that answer, but he settles a little.
Landry shifts again, rolling in my arms until she’s facing me.Her cheek presses against my chest, her hand landing right over my heart.I freeze, staring down at her.She looks so soft like this.So peaceful.No fear on her face.No tension in her body.No worry shadowing those pretty green eyes.
I hate that she knows what it feels like to be afraid.I hate that the cult put their hands on her.That they took her and Taylor.That they made my mate run through the woods alone and terrified.
A growl builds in my chest before I can stop it.
Landry stirs, her lashes fluttering.
Shit,I think as I smooth a hand over her back.
“Sleep, mate,” I whisper.
She hums and snuggles closer.My heart trips over itself like I’m some lovesick idiot.Maybe I am.
Actually, there’s no maybe about it.
I lie there with her as long as I can, but eventually, I have to get up.I’m on patrol tonight, and I need to check in at headquarters before then.I also need to get more food because my mate deserves better than an empty fridge and takeout menus.
Leaving the bed feels wrong.Leaving her feels worse.
I move slowly, sliding my arm out from beneath her and tucking the blanket around her body.She frowns in her sleep and reaches for me, and my chest aches at the sight.
“I’ll be back,” I promise, even though she can’t hear me.
I shower quickly, get dressed, and stand in the doorway for another full minute, just watching her sleep.Then I force myself to walk away.
By the time I make it downstairs, my wolf is annoyed with me.
Go back.
“I can’t,” I mutter.
Our mate needs us.
“She’s asleep in our bed.She’s safe.”
He growls, clearly disagreeing.
I ignore him and busy myself with making us breakfast.I don’t have to report for my patrol shift until noon, and I was hoping to spend a few hours with Landry before I had to leave, but I don’t want to wake her.
I whisk up some pancake batter and am adding the last pancake to the stack when I hear Landry making her way downstairs.
I turn with a smile, my eyes drinking her in greedily as she joins me in the kitchen.“Morning, mate.I made us some pancakes.Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, it smells good.Need a hand with anything?”
“No, I’ve got it.Here, take a seat.”I pull out a chair for her at the counter.
She sits down.“Thanks.”
I slide a plate in front of her.“Dig in,” I say, grabbing my plate and joining her at the kitchen counter.
“It’s great, thanks,” Landry says as she shoves another bite of pancake into her mouth.
“I’m glad you like it.Are you more of a sweet or savory breakfast person?”I ask, wanting to know everything about her.
