Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
My heart beats hard against my chest and she glances down, as if she felt it or heard it. A glimmer of hope torments me, wanting me to believe she can feel the pull.
I swallow the lump in my throat and tell her “of course” even though every second that passes draws a deeper gouge into my agony.
“I’m going to take a shower.” I whisper the words into her neck and gently set her on the bed next to me. Her lips part, but again slam shut. I close my eyes in anguish. She won’t even talk to me. She feels the need to censor herself and I don’t like it. “What?” I open my eyes and give her a small, forced smile. “Tell me whatever it is.”
Her eyes dart to the floor and then back to mine. “Can I set up the baby monitor? Is that okay?” Her voice is so small and full of defeat. As though I’d deny her that request. I shake my head at my stupidity. Of course I should have thought of that.
“Did you get one today?”
“Grace and Lizzie brought me more things for the baby.” She keeps her head down as she speaks and I fucking hate it. I’m ashamed that her submission turned me on in the least.
“Have you decided what you’re going to call him?” I try to lighten the conversation, but my voice is uneven as I push the words out.
“No.” Her fingers play with the hem of her nightgown with nervousness. I only nod my head and look past her at the door to the bathroom. I need some fucking distance to wrap my head around all this shit.
“Do you need anything else?”
I fucking hope the answer is yes so I can give her whatever it is that she needs, but she shakes her head and barely speaks, “No, s—”
My jaw ticks as she stops herself from saying “sir.”
She twists her fingers in her hand as she realizes her mistake. I decide to ignore it and not bring any more attention to it. “Do you need any help?” I bristle with anger and tension toward myself and I’m doing a shitty job at hiding either of them from my scared mate.
She shakes her head but at least meets my eyes. “Okay then. Go ahead and set up whatever you need.” I walk around the bed to the bathroom, but I don’t fucking breathe until I close the door. I want to pound my fist into the wall, but that’ll only scare her even more. Fuck! I turn the shower on but keep the temperature low. I need to cool down. I stand with both hands against the wall as the water hits the back of my head and my back, dripping down my face and falling off my lips onto the floor. What the fuck am I going to do?
I’ve told her she’s my mate and she doesn’t believe me. Tears of anger and despair prick my eyes. She frightened of me and afraid to do anything because she thinks she’ll disappoint me. Fuck! My hand balls into a fist and I’m desperate to let out every emotion that brings me to my knees. It’s a death you’re forced to live through when a mate denies you.
I wish I could take out all of this anger onto that piece-of-shit shifter. His lifeless body flashes before my eyes. I ball my hand into a fist and slam it against the wall as a snarl leaves my chest. The tiles crack at the impact, leaving blood and shattered pieces of marble to fall to the floor. She can probably hear it, but the release is exactly what I need. I keep myself from doing it again and again like I really fucking want to. I lean my head back, close my eyes, and let the water splash on my face as I feel my hand heal.
When I open my eyes I spot several bottles of girly shit. Slowly, the emotions calm.
Grace or Lizzie must’ve got her something to wash up with. I flip the top cap open and see it’s been used. She accepts help from them.
She trusts them. She’s bonded with them. Hell, she heard Lizzie…even if it was out of desperation. There is hope; she just needs to get comfortable here. And with me. I sniff the bottle and quickly put it back. I prefer her natural smell better, but if she wants to use this shit that’s fine with me.
I convince myself that she’ll feel a pull to me at some point. Hopefully once I claim her, my essence should outweigh his. After all, I’m her rightful mate. Although, I honestly have no idea how it works. I’ve never known a wolf to claim an already claimed mate. My heart stills and my blood runs cold. I better still be able to claim her.