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)
Determined it’s now or never, I crouch low on the ground behind her. The sound of my jeans moving is barely audible, but it’s enough that she stirs slightly. I pause and hold my breath, afraid that any movement or noise is going to wake her. I can’t ruin this. I can’t have her scream and alert the others. There’re far too many in Shadow’s pack for me take on alone. If this goes wrong, both my mate and I will most likely die, and it’ll be entirely my fault for rushing this. The weight of my decision pushes against my chest and anxiety floods through me.
I remind myself again it’s now or never. With my resolve firm, I quickly lean over, cover her mouth, and wrap my hard, muscular arms around her upper body to limit her struggle and try to calm her by shushing into her ear. She immediately tries to scream, but my hand muffles her cries.
Fuck! Heat engulfs me as she struggles against me, and I have to keep her still without hurting her. Her strangled cry was loud enough that my wolf goes on high alert. His hackles raise. Her body lifts off the floor and bucks against me with a force I wasn’t expecting.
My mate still has fight in her. Even with my hand over her mouth, she tries again to scream, and she pushes against me with all her weight. I lay heavily against her, but my eyes are firmly focused on her belly. I can’t put my full weight on her or push against her with the force needed to keep her still. The sounds of her struggling against me and trying to scream are resonating through the small hut, and if any of the shifters are awake, I’m certain they’ll hear her.
My heart rampages as I shush her.
“Shh!” I push my bicep against her chest and firmly grab her small throat in my hand while whispering into her ear, “Quiet.” I don’t want my hold on her to be threatening, but I know it is. At my voice, she goes still and stops fighting my hold on her. With every hard thump, I can feel her heart race and her body heat with worry. My wolf whines in my chest, wanting to ensure his mate is all right. There’s no response from her or her wolf though. Only silence.
After a long moment, with her still and her eyes wide open, I slowly release my grip on her throat, and the move allows her body to relax slightly into mine. I fucking love it. I love the feel of her body against mine.
For a moment I think our bond must be calming her, hope blooms and I dare to feel relief. I loosen my hand on her mouth and the second I do, my mate, my feisty little mate, bites down on my middle finger without any restraint. Fuck! I struggle to contain the scream climbing up my throat. Her teeth sink in deeper and deeper, breaking through the skin. The rest of her body remains still with the exception of her eyes narrowing in the dark.
I twist my body slightly and curl my toes in an effort to mute my pain. My other hand grips her hip before loosening and stroking gently down her side, fighting the instinct to pry her mouth open. Through gritted teeth, I command her as quietly as possible with only the hint of my pain showing, “Let go.” I speak in monosyllables because that’s all I can manage. “You’re safe.” Her body stiffens and there’s a slight change in her demeanor. Her mouth hesitantly opens, and I yank my finger away. Trace amounts of my blood lingering on her pale lips are barely visible in the faint moonlight. Even with my eyes adjusted to the dark, I can only make out faint details of my mate.
My mate. A mate who can’t feel the pull I do. A mate who has no idea I’ve come to save her. As the seconds pass and she eyes me warily, it’s all too obvious. She doesn’t recognize me as her mate. I slowly move away from her, but she remains still, and I know it’s because she doesn’t trust me. She’s waiting for my next move.
I hover over her body so she can see me, and I offer her my hand—not the one she fucking bit. “I’m going to get you out of here.” I attempt to reassure her. “Take my hand.” At first, she merely glances at my hand and then glances at the opening to the hut. I almost beg her, the plea is on my lips, but then she moves.
She places her small palm in mine but doesn’t grip my hand at all. Her hesitation makes my wolf howl in agony. “Come.” I give the simple low command and pull her closer to the entry, but she doesn’t budge. Her feet stay planted on the dirt and her other hand holds the tattered blanket closer to her, shielding herself from me. I glance behind me when another firm tug from my hand doesn’t get her moving. Her eyes are wide and full of fear as she starts frantically shaking her head.