Page 98 of Wolf Cursed
I took a step back, suddenly defensive. “What about me?”
“Can you sense my feelings?”
“Um.”
He stepped closer, closing the gap I’d made between us.
My heart raced.
“I can tell when you’re pissed,” I said. “But that’s not hard. You’re always pissed.”
He laughed.
“Fair. I’ve been seriously frustrated lately. What do I feel right now?”
I frowned as the awareness came over me. Had I really not noticed this strange ability before? Or was I chalking it up to my own overworked imagination playing tricks?
“You’re worried about me,” I said. “And you’re trying to take this slow so I don’t freak out.”
He threw his head back and laughed out loud. It startled me. The sudden burst of joy I felt from him sent a wave of happiness through me, and I found myself smiling back at him.
This explained so much. Why my thoughts and emotions had been so consumed by him since the moment I’d arrived. Even in the middle of my grief, Kai had been a focal point. A beacon. And looking back, I realized he’d been the thing that had helped heal me too. When he was around, I felt better. Was that part of being someone’s mate?
“Okay, you’ve proved your point,” I said. “Although, I’m not sure how I’m able to feel you when I’m not even a wolf.”
“Youarea wolf,” he said. “She’s in there. Or this wouldn’t be possible.”
My smile faded. “But Kai, according to the curse, thisisn’tpossible.”
“I know.” He sighed. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. Our wolves shouldn’t be able to recognize a mate. It hasn’t happened in almost twenty years now. At first, I denied it. Told myself it was a crush. Human lust. Whatever.”
My cheeks warmed at the casual way he talked about it. I wanted to tell him I’d have settled for “human lust” as he put it, but the word “mate” kept ringing in my head, so I stayed silent.
“Then, tonight, when I saw you in danger, my wolf lost it, and I knew.” His eyes blazed with anger, violence, and something more. “I left with you because, if I’d stayed, I would have killed every last one of those assholes who threatened you. You’re my mate, Ash. I can’t deny it anymore. But I also can’t afford to let the others know. That’s why I stayed away. If Silas or Drake or the others knew how I felt about you, it would make you an even bigger target.”
“Is that why you didn’t stand up for me the other day?” I asked. “With Silas and the others? You let them accuse me of being a witch.”
“I nearly lost my shit when you told us about that asshole Vorack calling you and hunting you down,” he said, his voice heavy with a growl that made me shiver. “It took everything I had not to show them how much I care about you.”
“I care about you too.”
Just saying the words made my heart pound in my chest. It felt too fast. But it also felt exactly right.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“So, being a mate. It’s not a choice,” I said slowly.
“It’s definitely a choice, Ash. Don’t think for a second I’d force you into anything,” he assured me. For some reason, that made me relax.
“Okay, so the fact that we like each other…it’s still our free will, right?”
“Absolutely. And it’s much more than like. Mates are fated.”
“Like destiny?”
“Yes, exactly.” He hesitated and then said, “I don’t call you Ashes for the same reason anymore, you know.”
“Why do you do it then?”
