Page 47 of Undying
I very much fear that the return of emotions will set me back.
I can’t allow that to happen.
If my wolf takes over, I’m not sure my human half will ever be allowed to return.
That only leaves me one option—I must keep my distance from the girl.
“You did well.” Tobias ignores my presence, the numbskull totally fascinated by the girl, and I step back into the shadows. “You have some raw skill for one so young. You held your own against an alpha wolf a lot longer than most. As expected, your hunger got the better of you. If you were able to draw my blood, you probably would’ve lost control a lot sooner. We’re going to have to work on your hunger issues.”
He mixes his compliments and criticism together in a way that reveals his admiration…which is incredibly rare. I’m jealous he’s so taken with her, that he has the option, but if anyone deserves peace, it’s him.
I smother my grin when Jolie looks both bored and offended at the same time. She purses her lips—very kissable lips, I can’t help but notice—like she wants to argue with him, but she’s smart enough to know he’s not wrong. I step forward, drawing their attention, deciding to intervene before the idiot can dig himself any deeper.
“Dawn is on the horizon. If you follow me, I can show you to a room where you can shower and rest.”
Her dark eyes land on me, assessing, and I find myself holding my breath, hoping she’ll trust me.
After a beat, she gives a grudging nod, and I feel like I won a small victory. Flashing Tobias a disdainful look, she sweeps past him as regal as a queen, not sparing him another glance, and I suspect she’s going to fit into her new role better than anyone expects.
When Tobias takes a step to follow, I hold up my hand. “Milo and Stanton should arrive shortly with supplies. Stand guard and get them settled.”
His eyes flash blue, the wolf practically vibrating with the need to remain by her side. He opens his mouth to object, but when his gaze lands on Jolie, his mouth snaps shut, and he just gives a meek nod before turning on his heels and striding away.
Before she can reach me, I turn and lead her down the hall, determined to keep my distance. All my senses are on high alert, every part of me conscious of her nearness. “Most of the mansion has been stripped and cleaned. I put you as far away from the main rooms as possible.”
My littlesætais so silent that I glance over my shoulder, worried she might have vanished, feeling twitchy without having her in my sight.
Only to find her staring straight ahead, her back rigid.
I debate offering her comfort, then quickly dismiss it, not wanting her to lash out. She needs a friend, and I want to be that for her. She’s going to need one in the coming days. I come to a stop at the far end of the hallway, then nod to the last door on the right. “This is you. I’ll be right next door if you need anything.”
Jolie doesn’t react like she heard me. I reach out to get her attention, but the instant my hand connects with her shoulder, she startles, then lashes out so fast, I barely have time to knock her blow aside. I quickly grab her arm, spin her until her back is to my front, then pin her to my chest. She goes rigid in my arms, her posture so brittle that she’s ready to shatter any second. I tuck my head into the crook of her neck, brushing my cheek along her jaw, trying to soothe her, and my beast releases a light rumble at her nearness.
I try to cut off the sound, not wanting to trigger her further, but the opposite happens—she melts against me.
What’s even more confusing?
I could swear I can feel her heart beating.
Granted, she’s a newly turned vampire, but the change should’ve been instantaneous. Before I can question it further, Jolie peers up at me with eyes so shattered that it steals the breath from my lungs. Nightmares turned her dark eyes murky, so full of torment that she forgot my presence until I touched her.
I tighten my arms around her for a second, not wanting to let her go. She feels like she belongs, like she is a part of me, and my fangs lengthen with the urge to bite and claim her for my own. I release her quickly, nearly stumbling over my own feet in my haste to get away from her before I give in to the impulse.
I drop my eyes to the ground, avoiding her gaze, not sure I have enough control to stop myself from lunging forward and taking what I want. Giving her my back, I open the door, then step back and glance at her feet. When they don’t run in the opposite direction, my shoulders relax slightly. Feeling suddenly awkward, I rub the stubble on my jaw, the rasp loud in the silence. “I’ll stand guard so you can shower in peace.”
As she approaches, time slows.
When her feet stop just inches from my own, my eyes snap up toward hers, and I’m ensnared, as if she put a collar around my throat.
“Thank you,” she whispers, then hesitantly places her palm on my chest. A shudder goes through me at her light touch, and I’m lost.
My chest puffs up, and my wolf rises to the surface, eager to do her bidding. I’m so entranced that I don’t move, even as she slips past me and disappears into the bathroom.
It’s not long before the running shower reaches my ears. My skin feels tighter the longer I go without her in my sight. Images of her stripping out of her clothes fill my thoughts, distracting me with all the naughty things I want to do to her. My cock hardens so fast, I go lightheaded, and my back thumps against the wall as I fall against it.
Knowing she is naked only a few feet away is irresistible.
And that one second of inattention is all my beast needs.
