CHAPTER 13
SHANE
-Ouch! You just hurt him; he feels as much as I do, Shane.
-Then just tell him to give me time, that’s all I ask.
-Whatever you wish.
In my heart, there is a ray of hope and an abyss of uncertainty. At the end of the day, what matters most is him, and yet, everything feels so unreal. Confusion still envelops me, but seeing his vulnerability, I can’t help but feel the urge to get closer.
-Liam… -I whisper, and in my voice, there’s a hint of acceptance, even though fear still exists. The fear of the unknown, of the monstrosity that might lurk beneath his surface. But there is also fascination and the desire to understand this man, this wolf who desperately wants to be part of my life.
He leans in toward me, and in an act of total vulnerability, his lips touch mine. The connection is instantaneous.
A whirlwind of emotions shakes me as his lips meet mine. The warmth of his touch envelops my being, and for a brief moment, the outside world fades away once again. But the echo of his words returns, and with it, reality looms over me like a thick shadow I can’t ignore.
Surprise, fear, and undeniable attraction crash inside me like waves breaking against a cliff. How can I be feeling this for someone who is a werewolf? A being who coexists with primitive instincts and a wild nature that could unleash itself at any moment. Every new thought makes me feel vulnerable, as if I were walking on the edge of an abyss.
My mind struggles to hold onto logic. The legend I had always considered a mere myth becomes a cruel reality. Am I really willing to take a risk for a love that could potentially be dangerous? Something in his gaze tells me it shouldn’t be this way, that he is not just a wolf. He is a man, a being who has fought to balance his two identities. But what if his beast ever overcomes the human within him? That is the question that paralyzes me. Didn’t the beast just overpower him in the bathroom?
-Shane? -Liam whispers, pulling away for a moment, his eyes searching mine with a mix of desire and concern-. Are you okay?
His voice, strong yet enveloping, anchors me momentarily, but fear resurfaces. Confusion and vulnerability intertwine, creating a knot in my stomach. I want to trust him, I want to surrender to the nature of our intertwined souls, but uncertainty clings to every thought. At the same time, the desire to be by his side stirs within me, like a fire I cannot extinguish.
-No. If… I don’t know -I finally respond, my voice barely a whisper-. What does it mean exactly to be your mate? Whatever that entails, it scares me.
-I understand -he says sincerely, and the softness in his gaze invites me to continue speaking, but I don’t-. This is all new to you, and what I am is likely something you never imagined in your life. But you don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m here to protect you. Being my mate goes much deeper than just saying you’re my woman, wife, girlfriend, or any term you want to give it. For us, when we find our partner, the one the gods have chosen for us, it’s something for life. For a lifetime.
-What if I don’t want to be with you? -his pupils dilate and his gaze darkens, turning a deep black. The tension in his face is palpable; his jaw tightens as his protective instinct awakens.
-It’s something you can’t deny: the instant connection that is created. The moment we collided, I know you felt that current in the air between us. And then, the more I bonded with you, that connection intensified even more, making us inseparable.
As he speaks, his tone grows serious; a low, threatening growl mingles with his words, revealing the mix of desire and jealousy that consumes him. The intensity of his emotions resonates in the air, as if every word he utters is laden with a primal essence he cannot ignore.
-Bond? What? -I lean back so I can look him in the face, observing his furrowed expression.
-The first night we were together, I bit you; maybe you don’t remember because you passed out…
-And then you continued to do it… -I whisper absentmindedly. I look at him, but tears cloud my vision, making everything blurry-: Did it even bother you to ask me if I wanted to be your mate? -I ask, realizing that a feeling of anger begins to swirl in my chest.
-You don’t understand, little wolf. It’s much more complicated than that. When my primitive instincts take over, it’s very hard for me to find it.
-Like in the bathroom? -he raises his eyebrows, I continue-. You let him take control and fuck me, and not just that, but you bit me again… I mean, marked me. This is your way of saying we’re married.
-I’m sorry, but you don’t understand. And no, eventually we will get married; this just makes you my mate in the eyes of other werewolves. You carry my essence within you; any werewolf who sees you will pick up my scent and know you belong to me.
-And there’s that word again -I gesture, waving my index finger in the air with irritation-. “Belong” -damn hypocrite that I am, because every time he says I’m his, I feel butterflies in my stomach and my heart… I don’t know what I feel anymore. I have so many conflicting feelings that it’s driving me crazy.
Tears threaten to spill again, but I struggle to stay strong. I don’t want him to see me weak, not even in front of his nature. Despite the vulnerability I feel, there is something inside me that wants to believe in that promise. Maybe it’s his calmness that draws me. However, the spark of fear persists, a subtle shadow lurking deep within my heart.
-I have often heard stories about werewolves, tales of power and control. I never imagined I could get involved with one. -My voice is barely a whisper, but the words are a heavy burden that overwhelms me.