Page 92 of Campfires & Canines
Hazel frowns. "No, you aren't."
Sable smiles at her indulgently. "Hazel, you couldn't stop him if you wanted to. She hurt his mate."
"She's his mom," she argues.
"No, she isn't," I snap. I take a slow breath to steady myself. I need to shift and run. I need to fight and tear and draw blood. But I can't leave Hazel. Look what happened last time I left her alone.
Sable shushes us. "When did this happen?"
"Two days ago?" Two days. She spent three days total with these monsters. I will never forgive myself.
Sable exchanges a meaningful look with Heath. Apprehension prickles across my shoulders.
Patting Hazel’s hand lightly, she says, "It looks good. You're healing quickly." She pulls out a structured brace and slips it over Hazel's wrist and between her thumb and fingers, tightening the Velcro straps.
"Thank you." Hazel bends her arm, testing out the range of motion.
"Were you hurt in any other way?" Sable's voice softens.
Hazel shakes her head. I’m not sure I believe her. She puts everyone else first, and I know she will minimize her pain.
"Okay, you two should sleep for a few hours. We can discuss everything properly in the morning," Heath instructs. He says sleep a little too forcefully. My neck flushes again and Hazel turns a gorgeous shade of pink.
Hazel nods and pushes off the bench onto her feet. I can't help but reach for her hand, but she pulls away. "Could you guys give me a minute?" She looks to Heath, too.
Icy fear sinking into my stomach, I follow Heath outside. He continues to walk, surveying the meadow bathed in starlight. We have three hours at least until sunrise.
I lean against the doorway, waiting for her. Hazel doesn't understand wolf senses. I can distinctly hear every word of their discussion. I feel guilty for a moment, but I can't bring myself to move. With instinct demanding that I protect her, I couldn't go further from her if I wanted to.
Her worried voice drifts through the door. "Sienna said my mark was fading."
Fading? So soon? I thought we had time for our relationship to progress. I didn’t want to rush her. And then we were torn apart.
Sable murmurs her answer. I can only pick out the wordsdecide,Slate, andcommitted.
"So if we, you know, it'll become permanent?" Hazel asks, her voice faltering with an awkward laugh.
"Yes," Sable answers. She's shuffling around tidying up.
"What if it fades? Can we claim each other again later?"
"Yes."
"Okay, just wondering." Hazel's footsteps near the door. I pull myself together.
"Talk to your mate," Sable instructs before Hazel opens the door. Her shoulders slump and her eyes are glazed. I loop my arm around her waist and lead her home.
The words repeat in a loop, mixing together in my thoughts. Fading. Later. But the way she looks at me, I dare to hope she is picking me and our future together.
She presses into me and I kiss her. It's brief and sweet. A promise.
The moment the door to my trailer closes, she spins, grabbing my hands. She pulls me past the kitchen and towards our bedroom. Ours. Everything I have was hers the moment I first saw her.
She closes the door, soaking us in darkness. I'm glad I can still see her, even if she can't see me. I don't want to miss a single expression on her perfect face.
Her delicate fingers trace my jaw, hook behind my neck, and guide me to her. Her lips hover over mine and I can feel her hesitation. I wait, restraining myself.
"All I wanted was to get home to you," she whispers. Warm affection blooms in me. I can't begin to express to her how badly I wanted her back. How incapable I am without her now.
