Page 44 of Howl For A Kiss
The tears came harder now, years of suppressed emotion pouring out. "I've never been this scared of losing someone, and I—" Her voice broke. "I can't do this anymore."
"Do what?" His fingers traced her jawline.
"Shut people out because I'm terrified they'll leave or die." The words tumbled free, raw and honest. "I've spent my whole life building walls and pushing away anyone who might matter because I couldn't bear losing them. But you've already become everything to me, and I don't want to run anymore."
Damon's eyes softened, and she felt his satisfaction through their bond—not smugness, but the deep contentment of a man whose mate had finally chosen to trust completely.
"Good," he said, pulling himself into a sitting position with careful movements. "Because I have no intention of making this easy for you to walk away from."
She laughed despite her tears. "Very alpha male of you."
"You have no idea how alpha I can be." The heat in his voice made her stomach flutter.
Elena leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his. "Your supernatural healing is kicking in, but I think we should stay here another day. Let you get your full strength back."
"You're that worried about me, huh?" The smugness was there now, along with that rare smile that made her feel like the only woman in existence.
"Yes, always," she said honestly. "And I'm done pretending otherwise."
Later that afternoon, Elena and Damon had moved into a small bedroom in Patrick's rebel safehouse after Elena had insisted it would be more comfortable for Damon. He'd assured Elena for the past few hours that he was fine and getting stronger by the minute, but she wanted to do everything in her power to make sure he was completely comfortable and made a full recovery.
As the sun was setting outside the bedroom window, Elena perched on the edge of the narrow bed, spooning another bite of hearty stew toward Damon's mouth. He caught her wrist gently, his green eyes dancing with amusement despite the lingering pain she could feel through their mate bond.
"You know, no one has ever waited on me hand and foot like this," he said, that rare smile tugging at his lips. "I could get used to being pampered by my beautiful mate."
Heat flooded Elena's cheeks. "You're injured. It's practical."
"Is it?" His thumb traced lazy circles on her wrist. "Or are you just enjoying taking care of me?"
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her own smile. "Don't let it go to your head, Beta Gray."
The teasing warmth in his expression shifted to something deeper and more vulnerable. "Elena, I need you to know—what you did today, saving my life, staying with me through everything..." His voice grew rough. "It means more than words can say. I've spent fifteen years believing I didn't deserve that kind of devotion from anyone."
The honesty in his voice made her chest tighten. Here was this powerful, dominant man letting her see the lonely boy underneath who'd been forced to grow up too fast.
"You deserve everything good in this world," she said softly, setting the bowl aside to cup his angular face. "And I'm not going anywhere either."
The partial mate mark on her neck pulsed with warmth as their bond hummed between them, a living thing that grew stronger each hour they spent together. She found herself anticipating the day he'd decide to complete the claiming—to make her fully his.
When he's ready,she reminded herself.When we've figured out the complications of his Beta position.
But her wolf disagreed, pressing restlessly against her consciousness with images of being completely claimed and completely his.
Patrick's knock interrupted her heated thoughts. The grizzled rebel leader stepped into the small bedroom, his weathered face grim.
"News arrived via encrypted radio," he announced without preamble. "My scouts intercepted a pack communication. Thought you might want to know."
Elena straightened, her protective instincts flaring as she felt Damon's immediate alertness through their bond. "What kind of news?"
"Young rebel recruits from the Tidewater pack were captured trying to join the rebellion," Patrick said, his voice heavy. "Alpha's labeled them traitors. He's ordered to have them be executed as a message—'join the rebellion and you'll die too.'"
White-hot rage blazed through Elena's veins. The same Alpha whose abusive son had been forced on Fiona. The same pack leadership that had held a gun to her sister's head while ordering Elena to walk away. Her hands clenched into fists as memories of that terrible day crashed over her—Fiona's terrified eyes, the Beta's cold threats, and the impossible choice that still haunted her dreams.
"That bastard," she snarled. "How many recruits?"
Patrick's expression grew even grimmer. "Well, there's more bad news. Among the captured..." He paused, meeting her eyes. "Fiona Walsh. Your sister."
Elena's breath left her lungs in a sharp gasp. The world seemed to telescope down to that single name echoing in her mind.Fiona. Little Fiona with her dark hair and gentle spirit, who used to follow Elena around like a shadow despite their age gap.
