Page 22 of Wolf Desired

KNOX

Audrey sagged against me,her body going completely limp and her breathing turning deep and steady with unconsciousness. The heat from her skin cooled, faster than I would have expected, but then her fever hadn’t been a hundred percent natural. It had been spurred on by the magic of our mating bond.

Our now complete mating bond.

Warmth, unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, swelled around my heart, and a sense of calm, of being home, stronger than what I felt when my twin was steadying my soul, surged into the very essence of my being.

How could I have been so stupid to think sealing the bond with Audrey was a bad thing?

It was the most right thing I’d ever done in my life. Even my wolf, while still pissed that he was collared and yearning to claim Audrey again with him in control of our body, was satisfied.

But that still didn’t address any of the reasons I couldn’t be her mate. How could we possibly have a life together when I lived most of my time as a wolf and she couldn’t even shift? I couldn’t even spend more than a few hours inside.

That thought made me suddenly aware of the walls surrounding me. The bathroom wasn’t the smallest I’d seen, but it was still an enclosed space with one too-small window.

Holding Audrey steady on her perch on the counter, I kicked off my boots, stepped out of my wet pants, and yanked off my soaked shirt. Then I carried her out to the porch, snagging the blanket on the back of the couch in the living room as I walked by.

I should have taken her back to the bedroom and left her with Bishop, but I wasn’t ready to let her go. Just holding her was steadying my soul and I needed to stay calm. I had too many thoughts whirling in my head and no answers.

A low growl rumbled in my chest as I wrapped the blanket around us and settled on the porch swing with Audrey cradled in my arms.

She sighed in her sleep and nuzzled her nose into the crook of my neck, taking in deep, slow breaths of my scent while her sweet scent and musky arousal clung to me, fueling the sense of rightness.

Mine. All mine.

Except she wasn’t just mine. She and Bishop had feelings for each other, and as much as I wanted to hold her and never let her go, I knew Bishop would be good for her. Better than me.

In fact, I should push him to claim her as soon as possible. Maybe his claim would distract her from our bond and she wouldn’t be compelled to be with me.

She could have a normal life.

With my brother.

My wolf heaved against the collar, snarling and snapping his mental teeth at me. Giving her to Bishop and then trying to step away from her life was unacceptable. She was ours. We’d never leave her.

Even if it’s best for her?

We’re what’s best for her,he growled, the collar making him sound far away and muffled.

But we weren’t best. Hell, I didn’t even know what to say to her when she woke. Even if the heat fever prevented her from remembering having sex in the bathroom, she’d know right away the mating bond was sealed. There was no mistaking the sense of completeness, of rightness… of permanence.

It felt so different from the heavy aching cage around my heart and the chain binding us together that had first formed and I’d filled with ice to keep us apart.

Ice and distance that I’d known had hurt her.

And now I really had no idea what to say to her.

Sorry wasn’t enough. And neither was an explanation. Now that we were bonded, my reasons felt stupid and yet still so significant.

Fuck. I had no idea what to do. I’d never been in a relationship before. I’d had a few flings before my wolf had taken over and I’d gone feral. They’d been pity or curiosity fucks, girls wanting to say they’d had the wild brother, the dangerous one. But none of them had been serious.

Hell, none of them had even been casual. How could they have been? I wasn’t normal. I was fucked up. I didn’t want to meet friends or family. I didn’t want to be social and go to parties or dinners or events. I wanted to be left the fuck alone.

Until now.

But alone was the best option for Audrey.

She had a life to build, a fresh start waiting for her in Stonehaven, and my fucked-up head would only stand in her way.

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