Page 91 of Heroes & Hitmen
It’s the kind of thing that should make my heart melt. Instead, it makes it thump erratically, like it can’t decide whether to be touched or terrified.
“He wants you to undergo the extraction procedure,” I say, the knot in my stomach tightening. “And he expects me to convince you to do it. Said it would make things run smoother for the pack on the night of the ceremony.”
Ares blinks, surprise flickering across his face. Then he snorts a laugh. “That’swhat he’s worried about? The pack’s feelings?”
“He knows people will ask questions if the ceremony doesn’t go off without a hitch,” I say, forcing a wry laugh of my own. “He wants to make sure I’m good and mated before I have another chance to embarrass him.”
Ares shakes his head, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I’ll do it if you want. If it keeps him off your back…”
“No,” I blurt. “Don’t.”
He arches a brow. “Why not?”
“It’s… it hurts,” I whisper, tracing my tongue over my gums as if I can still feel the ache there. “It’s not like the ceremony’s actually gonna happen, so you don’t have to put yourself through that.”
He lets out a sharp breath, raking a hand through his copper hair. “You’re worth a little pain, sweetheart.”
I shake my head. “It’s not just that. Once I’m gone, he could use it against you. Force you into a bond or something.”
He scoffs a laugh. “As if he could force me to do anything.”
I give him a sharp look, wanting to tell him he’s an idiot, but there’s no point. This conversation is a non-starter.
“Just… don’t worry about it,” I sigh, waving him off.
Ares shifts closer, reaching out to slide a palm up the back of my neck. I don’t pull away. Not even when he leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead, so gentle it almost breaks me.
“I’ll keep you safe until we can get you out of here,” he murmurs. “I promise.”
Something in my chest cracks wide open. I want to thank him, or apologize, or say that I wish things were different. Instead, I juststare at him, hoping he’ll read everything in my eyes so I don’t have to say it out loud.
Then I do what I always do, pushing him away when things get too real.
“We’re almost to the finish line, Ares,” I say dryly. “You don’t have to do the whole hero thing anymore.”
He sighs and drops his hand from my neck, retreating from my space. “This isn’t about the plan. I give a shit about you, whether you believe it or not. So if it’s easier for me to undergo the procedure, I’ll do it. But only foryou. Nothim.”
“It’s okay,” I rasp. “We’ll just keep pushing it off, and he’ll have to get over it.”
Ares sighs as he pushes up from the coffee table, shifting over to sit next to me on the couch instead. He tosses an arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his side, and I let myself sink into him. His heartbeat is steady, his warmth grounding. For the first time all day, my wolf actually settles, and things feel like they’ll be okay.
We sit there together until the world feels a little less sharp, a little less likely to cut me open. I could stay here forever, pressed up against him and pretending this is real.
But it’s not. It can’t be.
I abruptly pull away, popping up to my feet so fast I get a headrush. “I have to study,” I grumble, snatching my mug off the coffee table and turning to retreat to the bedroom.
“You can’t keep running from me forever, sweetheart,” Ares calls after me in a light, teasing tone.
But I can. And I will. Because it’s the only way both of us survive.
CHAPTER 29
Ares
The vibrationof my phone on the nightstand yanks me out of sleep, but I pretend not to hear it. Instead, I roll over and reach for Miley, my body moving before my brain catches up. She lets out a soft, sleepy groan as I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her back against me, her ass settling perfectly against my morning wood.
Good morning, indeed.
