Alpha Queen (Claimed by Wolves #4) - Callie Rose Page 0,26
time I saw her look so dejected, her skin was racing with black marks against her will. I think it shows growth that she’s bleeding anxiety and the magic hasn’t appeared painted across her body.
The bedroom falls silent, though I can hear bright, happy birdsong outside with my heightened hearing. I’m sure she can too, except she’s too worried about what’s happening inside of herself to stop and smell the roses.
“I wish I wasn’t a witch,” she says in a small, broken voice. “I wish I was all wolf.”
I reach out and take her hands, gently untangling each finger from the ball she’s created. “You shouldn’t wish for that, moonlight.”
“Why? It’s the truth.” The words come out forcefully, but I can hear the tears behind them. She finally looks at me, and her blue eyes are red-rimmed, glittering with unshed tears.
My heart feels like a fucking stone in my chest, and I wonder how much of this is my fault. I set a precedent that made her feel only half-loved. Made her feel like only half a person. And even though I’ve told her how much I love her and tried to make up for the shitty way I acted in the past, I haven’t done it well enough. I haven’t done it right.
It’s up to me to fix this.
I tug her into my lap and wrap her in my arms. Her soft hair tickles my face as I rest my chin against her head, and I clench my jaw as self-recrimination rises up in me. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been a better mate.”
“What?” She shakes her head in confusion, shifting a little in my hold. “You’ve been a wonderful mate.”
“No, I haven’t,” I say simply. “I fell in love with you when I thought you were a wolf. When my wolf recognized you and chose you, before your wolf came out. But then your witch side showed itself first, and I… lost it. I just lost it.”
Sable straightens and pulls away just enough that she can look up into my eyes. “For obvious reasons, Dare. I haven’t forgotten about your pack. Some wounds can’t be healed.” Her hand brushes over the scars on her abdomen, and I can almost hear her unspoken words—I should know.
“I was even more of an asshole when I learned to love you despite the fact you’re a witch,” I say. “Because the truth is, my job is to love you for all of it. As your mate, I should love you for the wolf, for the witch, for every part that makes you Sable. I love you. You’re half witch. Therefore, I love your witch side just as much as I love your wolf side. I love all of you. Not despite anything. Because of everything.”
“That’s sweet,” she says, bumping my chest with her shoulder and offering me a small, fragile smile. “Thank you for loving me, Dare. I love you too. So much.”
I can tell she’s trying to shift the conversation, that she still doesn’t quite believe me. I grit my teeth, furious at the asshole I was in the past. I know I’m not the only person who made her doubt herself over her witch powers, but I hate that I played any part in making her question herself.
Still cradling her against me with one arm, I rest one hand on her chest, ignoring the way my cock thickens at the feel of the swell of her breast beneath my palm. Her breath hitches a little before resuming its steady rhythm.
“This heart?” I murmur, dropping my voice low. “It’s the best one I know. I’ve never met anyone like you, moonlight. I trust you with my life. I trust you with my heart. I fucking love and accept every single part of you. Just like you need to accept every part of yourself.”
She catches my hand in hers and looks away from me, her gaze sliding out the window into the golden afternoon light. “I don’t know if I can.”
Looking at the way the sunlight illuminates her face reminds me of the night I first saw her. I brush her hair back, sliding my fingers through the silken strands. Sometimes, when I fall back into old habits and think about running out into the wilderness to lay waste to the witches, I think of Sable in the moonlight. I think of how much I love her, and how thoroughly I know she belongs to me.