Page 63 of Spellbound & Speechless
I could help her, but my wolf has other ideas, and I’m beyond trying to get him to stay in his cage. After a night with Aspen, there’s no more holding him back, and I don’t think she would want me to. Not everyone can handle that side of me. She can.
A low, playful growl builds in my chest. I tackle Aspen to the ground as carefully as I can, placing my hand on the back of her head to ensure she has a safe landing.
Her gasp turns into laughter, as though she knew I was there all along. Considering our strengthening bond, she probably did. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know I should put an end to this before the bond solidifies. I can’t. I need her.
I press my lips to hers, soft but confident, wanting her to know I won’t run away.
And it’s okay ifshedoes. She ran away in the morning, and I won’t be surprised or offended if she does it again. A bond like ours can be intense for any werewolf, and she’s not even one of us. I want to crawl into her head and know what she feels.
Aspen may still not have words for our mating bonds. Witches have mating rituals, but I don’t know if they have the same strength as a werewolf bond. She may not feel this at all, but if she can…
I’ve been an ass. I can’t keep running away.
When I try to part for air, her hand moves to the back ofmy neck, holding me in place. Her tongue slips past my lips, and I allow it, sighing softly as her tongue swipes against mine.
“We need to talk,” she mumbles into my mouth.
I finally pull back enough to look at her. “Oh, I agree. There’s a lot to talk about. Starting with… where did you go this morning? Leaving me already? Hm?”
She pouts. “I was going to make apple pancakes for us… so we could talk over breakfast.”
“Were you?” I lift her hand, kissing the bandage on her finger. “I don’t know if I can trust you in the kitchen.”
“It was an accident.”
“I know, but I’ll hate myself if something bad happens to you.” I press her hand into the grass behind her, pinning it over her head.
Aspen wants me to be rough with her, and I know that, but I’m gentle, all too aware of her little injury from the night before. She’s a witch, and it’ll probably heal in no time, but I won’t take any chances. There’s a lot of scary shit in this world. I won’t add myself to the list.
“Since when do you care about what happens to me?” There’s a challenge in her eye; I’m no longer afraid to meet it.
“Since we met.” I brush my nose against hers. “From the first time that witch attacked you. I gave a fuck. A lot of fucks.”
“But that’s not the only reason you were there.”
All I want is to be soft with aspen, but I bristle. She can already see through me. “I have my history with that witch. She hurt someone I care about.”
She lifts a brow. “Another lover?”
“No.” My jaw tightens. “My father.”
She frowns, squeezing my fingers where they’re held above her head. “I understand.”
We’ve been through similar losses. For the first time in a long time, someone understands me. There are still so many things I can’t tell her yet—about my mother, my fear, and my upbringing. Those things will have to wait.
I nod. “I know you do.”
“Was he… did he lead a pack?” Her eyes narrow.
Aspen is more perceptive than I gave her credit for. She must have noticed the size of my wolf.
I let out a low sigh. “Sort of. My mother was the leader, and he was her mate.”
“But you… don’t want to lead their pack?”
I shake my head. “Their pack is long gone, and I don’t want to leadanypack. I’m a lone wolf for a reason.”
“I see,” she murmurs. “Where does this leave us, lone wolf? Can a lone wolf be with someone like me?”
