Page 63 of Undying
I scan her body, searching for anything that’s out of the ordinary. I don’t sense anything different about her, just that she’s strong.
Really strong.
“Being a vampire should be all or nothing. It’s a virus that changes our bodies on an elemental level.” I’m hesitant to share more of my thoughts until I have additional information, but I’ve not heard of anything like her in my long life. “You must have some sort of immunity that allows you to restrain the darkness. I’ve never heard of anyone having that ability, but then again, no one should’ve been able to survive your rough transition either.
“Maybe you’re an anomaly, something in your lineage giving you that ability, or maybe it’s a fluke that will fade with the more blood you drink.” I cup the back of her neck when all she does is shrug. “You can’t tell anyone else. If they discover your abilities, they’ll never stop hunting you.”
The wolves growl, their eyes glowing as their beasts rise to the surface.
Instead of cowering, Jolie narrows her eyes and lifts her stubborn little chin. “I can try to keep what I can do quiet, but if they attack, I won’t hold back. If they come for me, I will kill them.”
A weird sort of pride goes through me at her declaration, and I give a nod of understanding.
“Let me do some research and see what I can find. This can’t be the first time something like this has happened.” Lost in thought, I absently kiss her forehead, then stiffen and hastily pull back.
Without looking at her or the wolves, I make a hasty retreat, ignoring the way my lips tingle at the contact and the near silent purr in my chest at her nearness.
ChapterNineteen
TOBIAS
Istorm across the room until I’m standing in front of her. Unable to resist touching her when she’s this close, I slip my hand into her silky hair, then press my forehead against hers. Her smooth skin is cool to my touch, and I do my best to resist turning her over my knee and spanking her ass a nice red for scaring me.
My mouth waters at her sharp citrus scent, and I barely resist the need to stake my claim on her delectable flesh and mark her so everyone knows that she’s mine. I’m so distracted by her nearness that it takes me a second to notice the golden pack bond that shimmers in her chest.
I stop dead, my beast giving a mournful howl that she didn’t find us worthy and pick us first. Jealousy bites hard and fast, so vicious that it feels like someone reached into my chest and squeezed my heart into a juicy pulp. Before I even have a chance to process the pain, elation bursts hot and heavy in my chest, burning away anything but one thought—she is now part of the pack.
After everything that Castle has survived, he deserves all the happiness of finding a mate, the lucky fucker. It couldn’t have happened to a better wolf.
I try my best not to be a jealous, moody asshole.
“You mated Castle.”
Her eyes widen in alarm, suddenly looking anywhere else as a delicate blush fills her cheeks. I’m not sure if it’s pleasure or embarrassment or if she’s just bashful, but I refuse to let her feel bad about the connection.
Claws slice through the tips of my fingers, grazing the delicate skin at the nape of her neck. She stiffens, her gaze snapping to mine, and my beast rumbles in pleasure at having her undivided attention focused solely on us.
“Welcome to the pack. Castle is an amazing wolf and will be a magnificent protector. You couldn’t have chosen better for one of your mates.” I drag my claws lightly along her nape, loving the way she shivers so deliciously under my touch, practically melting against me.
Then she goes rigid, lurching back so sharply that she jerks from my hold. “What a minute.Oneof my mates? I don’t understand.”
My wolf hunkers down at her harsh tone, and I hold out my hands, taking care not to move too fast and spook her further.
The last thing I want to do is make her afraid of me.
I look at Castle, who is lingering in the background, and shoot him a murderous glare. “Did he not explain to you what it means to be a mate to a shifter?”
Jolie glances between the two of us, then slowly shakes her head. “No, but Milo explained some of it to me. He—”
I hold up my hand to halt her and shake my head. “While Milo is extremely intelligent, he knows very little about our day-to-day lives. Wolves and vampires don’t get along, so we don’t tend to share information about ourselves. Any little piece of information leaked to the vampires could prove fatal.”
She soaks in the news, relaxing almost infinitesimally, enough that my beast settles down to observe. I take a step toward her, pleased when she doesn’t flinch from my nearness. I hold out my hand and only relax completely when she slips her palm into mine.
Tugging her close, I guide her toward an old couch that, while it looks pretty, wasn’t created for comfort. I wait for her to sit, then I take a seat next to her, my anxiety easing a fraction when my knee brushes against her thigh.
“Wolves select their mates differently than vampires. Females are rare in both species. Wolves can search for their mates their whole life and never find them. If they’re lucky enough to be chosen, they worship their mates. Since females are so few, they’re usually given around seven to ten potential mates, and she can choose to keep them all or none.”
Taking a tiny liberty, wanting her to get used to my touch, I slip my hand over her knee and squeeze it gently. Because in my mind, she’s already mine. I’ve been searching for her my whole life, almost gave up hope she was real. Now that I’ve found her, I’m never letting her go.
