“Well, he did, but then the rogues killed him anyway. They dumped his body close to the border, but not before making me watch them rip him apart. He was in pieces by the time they were done with him.”
“What was his name?”
“Lyle, he said he was a border patroller. One of their warriors.” At this point, I don’t think there is anything more I can tell him about my late mate. We met for a few hours, and for the most part, he spent them unconscious or being shredded to pieces by rogues.
“I can ask Ezra if you want to know where he is buried. They would have found his body if the rogues left him on the border. Angie was from the same pack, she is also buried over there. We can visit and put something on their graves if you like,” Andrei offers, a sad look crossing his face.
I nod, even though I don’t plan to do anything. Visiting his grave won’t bring him back or change the fact that he isn’t my mate anymore.
He stands up, picks up his empty plate and holds his hand out for mine which is also empty. I didn’t even notice when and how I inhaled all that food. I hand him the plate, and he takes it.
“Thank you,” I force a smile. This is the first real meal, other than raw creatures, I have eaten in years. I had managed to forget how good food can taste. And as much as I hate to admit it, this one is better than it smelled.
“See, he isn’t so bad, Sage. So maybe we can stay,” Sierra suggests, wagging her tail in excitement. She’s already so obsessed with another chance to have a mate that she’s blind to everything else.
And while she might have let her guard down, I hold mine up twice as hard for both of us. We have experienced too much horror in our lives to pretend it never happened. If she can’t protect herself, I will protect her. Just like all those times when she did me.
I mentally roll my eyes at my wolf and scoff. “Yeah, everyone shows their true intentions eventually, Sierra.” I block her out so we don’t get into another argument and slowly rise from my seat.
The next moment, Andrei stands next to the kitchen door and awkwardly smiles at me as he tilts his head toward the living room. “Want to watch some TV?” he offers and leaves the kitchen without waiting for my answer.
Andrei
She is talking, and that already is something. Definitely, progress compared to how she was acting earlier before Kat spoke to her.
And even though she keeps her distance as she sits on the edge of the couch, I still feel a little giddy inside. Sage is talking, actually sitting down, even if far from me, but we’re in the same room, and she isn’t trying to attack me. She hasn’t growled in a while either, so that’s another point I take as a good sign.
Unfortunately, despite the progress, I have to admit some things don’t please me. For example, the fact that Sage looks like she is ready to run at a moment’s notice.
No matter how much or how little she talks, it is obvious she still doesn’t trust me or my intentions.
Halfway through the movie, she is fighting sleep as her head lolls to one side, her eyes slowly shut, and then, as if someone has poked her, Sage jolts back awake.
Every so often, Sage’s eyes nervously meet mine to make sure I haven’t moved off the other couch.
I lose any interest in the movie we’re watching as my thoughts take me to places I don’t want to visit. A brief movement on my side catches my attention and pulls me back to reality. I snap my head and almost smile at the view. Sage’s efforts to remain awake are futile, and eventually, exhaustion wins, and she passes out.
Quietly getting up, I walk to the linen cupboard and grab a blanket before walking back out, and placing it over her. She doesn’t wake up, so I decide to sit on the floor beside her.
Donnie has been annoying me, constantly needing contact with his mate, but I know touching her in any manner will freak her out, so he has to settle with being close to her.
That is all I can allow him at the moment. As much as I want to touch her too, I can’t risk it. Every instinct inside me screams to get closer, to seek out any skin-to-skin contact, but leaves the moment she jumps whenever I make any sudden moves.
Her scent fills the air, invading my senses, even those I thought died long ago. I rest my head on the side of the couch and make myself more comfortable.
For the first time since Angie died, I am tired. There isn’t the odd sense of being wired, antsy and uncomfortable. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel disgusted by being in my own skin.
Sleep is something I took for granted in the past. It was nothing, but one of those things that held me back from achieving more and having more things done over the days. That is, until I found myself in a situation where I could barely achieve a night’s rest.
I’m unsure of how long I slept, when I am woken by Sage, tapping my face. Her fear perfumes the room and instantly makes me alert to find her pressed back against the couch. Her knees are pulled flush to her chest, as she stares at the hall.
I scan the room and the hall, looking for immediate danger, as the door alarm rings and Zane’s voice flits through my head. “Finally, Alpha, I couldn’t wake you and have been standing out here for ten minutes.”
I get up and glance at Sage. “It’s my Beta; I will be back,” I inform her, rubbing my eyes and walking to the front door.
I press my hand on the panel and the door unlocks. I pull on it, and Zane is standing there, with a few bags in his hands. I notice it is daylight and realize I must have slept all night.
Judging by the song of the morning birds and the quiet outside, it is very early in the morning.
“I was going to drop these off last night, but by the time I got back, it was after midnight,” he greets, handing me the bags and my wallet.