Page 31 of Betrayed Bullied Mate

So, what? Are you gonna accept that she’s your mate? You’ve consummated now, so the blood-bond is fully in place.

I’m aware of that, thank you.

I’m just saying—it’s silly for you two to try and run from this. You’re literally fighting fate. And Linnea would know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t she?

We reach the middle of the clearing, and I glance at him, rolling my eyes at the victorious look there. Of course, he’s already figured it out.

Don’t tell anyone, I send, checking the area. Our team members have all returned to their cabins, hopefully getting some rest so we’re ready when Varun’s guys arrive.

You know I won’t, Bigby sends, But you have to be careful. Unresolved visions, if they compound, can—”

Bigby stops suddenly when I turn, catching sight of the door to my cabin opening. Linnea is standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, staring out at me. When she realizes neither of us is wearing anything, I see her blush and cover her eyes.

I take a step in her direction without thinking, then stop myself, realizing I’ve just completely cut Bigby off.

He waves his hand, chuckling to himself.

Go, he sends, I can fill you in tomorrow.

I nod at him once, then turn and walk in the direction of my mate.

Chapter 18 - Linnea

Aris is standing next to Bigby, and they’re both soaking wet. I heard the team coming back and came to the door, only to be met with the two of them stark naked, flushed in the light of the mood. I slap my hands to my face before I can get a huge eyeful of Bigby in the nude.

Before I do, I see Aris’s naked form, and I can’t help but think that he’s beautiful. He probably wouldn’t like to be described that way, but the way he’s standing, so confident, unbothered by his own nudity, bathed in the moonlight—I have the sudden urge to draw him, though I’m not an artist. I wish I could take a picture to keep for myself, to look whenever I wanted.

“You can uncover your eyes,” Aris says, his breath fanning over my face as he nears me. I can smell his familiar pine scent, and it’s like aromatherapy. My body relaxes, and I move my fingers to the side, peaking out at him. Joy lights up in my chest when he laughs. He takes my hands and walks me into the cabin. Once we’re inside, I get a good whiff of him and take a step back.

“You smell like river water,” I laugh, pinching my nose and exaggerating his smell.

“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me again,” he says, shaking his head but backing toward the bathroom. His eyes travel up and down my body hungrily, drinking me in. “Care to join me in the shower?”

The thought of our naked, wet bodies pressed together sends a thrill through me, but I hesitate. As much as I want to join him and get lost in his body again, I’m too curious about what’s happening.

When I shake my head, he nods and disappears into the room. I hear the shower turn on a moment later. Unable to help myself, I wander in, sitting on the closed toilet seat and gazing at him.

His muscles stretch and move as he runs soap over his body and hair. He’s facing away from me but glances over his shoulder, winking at me, knowing I’m looking. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to the fact that he can see and hear me even when I can’t see and hear him. Will I ever be able to sneak up on him?

“Can I… Can I ask about what happened with the team?”

Aris clears his throat, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. I register that sitting here on the toilet, talking to him while he showers is undeniably domestic in a way I’ve never experienced. An image pops into my head of us with a family having a meal together. Without meaning to, I’m imagining a baby with Aris’s dark hair, tight curls like me, Aris’s cute little nose, toddling around, clutching at my pants.

The want for that nearly bowls me over, and I have to grip the sides of the toilet. A baby that looks like Aris? Growing up into a little boy, a teenager? We could make a family together—the thought of it is intoxicating. I glance at Aris, wondering if he ever thinks of that. If he even wants a family. The thought of him not wanting that, not wanting to marry someone—marry me—and settle down breaks my heart.

“It’s… The vision you described sounds like our HQ. And our commander. He’s betrayed us.”

I blink, the baby thoughts distracting me and making me forget what I’d asked him. After a moment, I register what he’s saying and put my hand to my mouth.

Aris’s commander betrayed them? The image of me, covered in blood and screaming at the end of that hall, pops back into my mind, and I wonder if I’m going to end up in that building. It occurs to me that I could be tortured as a way to torture Aris, and the thought makes my insides curdle.

“That’s horrible. What can you do?” I ask, watching him as he rinses the suds from his body.

“Well, right now, we have to focus on avoiding the threat from Varun. That’s the first priority, keeping my team—and you—safe.”

My chest warms when he glances over at me, clearly communicating that I’m important to him. If someone had told me a month ago, when I was communicating with the doctor who would sever my connection to the pack, that I would be staring at Aris with adoration in my eyes, I wouldn’t have believed them.

And yet, here I am.

---