Page 30 of Hexmate

The cabin loomed before us, a dark silhouette against the swirling white. I approached cautiously, my senses on high alert for any signs of danger. But the only sounds were the howling wind and Caden’s soft breathing against my chest.

The door creaked open with a gentle push, revealing a musty interior. It was basic - just one room with a small fireplace, a rickety table, and a narrow bed. But it would do.

I laid Caden gently on the dust covered bed, my fingers lingering perhaps a moment too long on his cool skin. He stirred, blue eyes fluttering open in confusion.

“Shh,” I soothed, “We’re safe now. Rest.”

His gaze locked with mine, vulnerable and trusting. Something primal stirred within me, a possessive need to claim and protect. I swallowed hard, forcing those urges down. Caden needed comfort now, not my barely contained lust. Besides, an erection in this form was not something easily hidden. The last thing I wanted to do was make him think I was just as bad as those other witches.

I busied myself starting a fire, grateful for the distraction. It took me a solid ten minutes of wandering through the snow outside to gather enough wood. However, it was all in vain once I got back inside. With my clothes torn away and nothing left behind in the cabin, there was no way to light it.

“I… I can help,” a small voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Caden step up beside me, crouching down in front of the fireplace. The wood was already stacked and stuffed with some of the peeling wallpaper from the cabin to help it catch. He held out a hand, chanting lightly under his breath. A green glow slowly built around his fingers, deepening in color until it was a bright orange. He reached out, touching his finger to the paper, and it went up in an instant. In a matter of moments, a reassuring warmth began to fill the cabin, the fire crackling away pleasantly.

“Thank you,” he whispered after a minute, breaking the silence. “For saving me, I mean. For… well, everything.”

I turned to face Caden, taking in his vulnerable expression. The firelight danced across his features, highlighting the curve of his cheekbones and the fullness of his lips. My breath caught in my throat.

“You don’t need to thank me,” I said softly. “I’ll always protect you, Caden.”

His blue eyes widened slightly at my words, a faint blush creeping across his freckled cheeks. He ducked his head, blonde hair falling forward to obscure his face.

“Why?” he whispered, barely audible over the crackling fire. “Why would you risk everything for me?”

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The truth burned inside me, begging to be spoken. But I didn’t want to overwhelm him, not when he was already so fragile.

“Because you’re special,” I finally said, reaching out to gently tilt his chin up. Our eyes met, and I felt that familiar spark of connection. “You’re worth protecting, Caden. Worth everything.”

He trembled under my touch, his pulse quickening. I could smell the mix of fear and arousal emanating from him, intoxicating and confusing. His gaze darted away, then back to me, uncertainty clear in those blue depths.

“I-I don’t understand,” he stammered. “No one’s ever... I mean, I’m not...”

I cupped his face gently, my thumb tracing the curve of his cheekbone. “You are,” I insisted softly. “You’re more than you know, Caden.”

A shiver ran through him at my touch, his lips parting slightly. The scent of his arousal intensified, mingling with the wood smoke and the crisp winter air seeping through the cabin’s cracks. My control was slipping, the urge to claim him growing stronger by the second.

“This is how he tricked me,” Caden said, his voice cracking. “He made me think you wanted me. He even cast a glamor around himself so he looked like you… and I fell for it.” He shook his head, the memories clearly eating at him. “I gave in… I let him kiss me…”

A low growl reverberated through my chest before I could help myself. But I stopped the moment those blue eyes caught my gaze again.

“If I give in again… how will I know it’s real?”

I took a deep breath, struggling to reign in my anger at what Rowan had done. The thought of him tricking Caden, touching him while wearing my face, made my blood boil. But Caden didn’t need my rage right now. He needed reassurance, gentleness.

“Caden,” I said softly, my hands still cradling his face. “I promise you, this is real. I’m real.”

I guided one of his hands to my chest, pressing his palm against my heart. “Feel that? It’s beating for you. Only you.”

His fingers curled slightly against my dark fur, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes - hope, maybe. Or desire.

“But how can I be sure?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

I leaned in slowly, giving him plenty of time to pull away. But he didn’t. Instead, his eyes fluttered closed as I pressed my forehead to his.

“Because Rowan could never truly replicate this,” I murmured. “The way you make me feel. The way my wolf responds to you.”

To emphasize my point, I let a low, rumbling growl escape my lips. Caden shivered as it vibrated through his body, assuring him that I was the real thing, not just some paltry illusion.

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