side of me needed this, needed to know he was close. He was safe. It wasn’t until I smelled the blood that coated his muzzle that my nausea returned. Damien cleared his throat, and Hunter turned to him snarling again.
“Hunter maybe it would best if you shifted.”
Damien allowed his power as an Alpha to slip into the command. I bowed my head in submission. I expected Hunter to the same and to do as he was commanded, but instead he continued to rumble a low growl. Hunter snapped his teeth one more time and shifted. I knew though without a doubt it wasn’t because Damien commanded him too.
Hunter’s eyes were still a little more wolf than man, though his body, and his lower bits in particular, were indeed fully man. I could feel the impulse to look down. I was in severe discomfort and, though tempted, I just did not to spoil something special seeing him naked in this way. I looked at his face though. It was dirty, and his mouth was coated in blood.
I swallowed, hard. I wasn’t squeamish about blood. I had seen Griffin after shifts and he wasn’t exactly a peaceful wolf. What bothered me was the fact that it was a warlock’s blood. That Hunter killed him without second thought. He saw a warlock, jumped, and killed.
There was more to his past, and it had to do with magic. How could ever tell him about my other half now? It would have to die within me, and I guess I’d have to be okay with that.
I would be okay. I could find happiness with Hunter. And if that meant forsaking a side of me I never wanted, I didn’t care.
Chapter 18 — Hate Runs Deeper Than Love
Jude had showed up a few minutes later with shorts for Damien and Hunter. They slipped their clothes on. Hunter helped me up and we headed back to the house. I didn’t want to seem weaker than I already looked in anyone’s eyes, so I pushed myself. I walked tall and upright. It was a painful. I wouldn’t want to repeat it again in that shape, but I made it. I personally wanted to get back to Hunter’s cabin wrap a very large blanket around myself and sit. Process what had just happened. The wolves had another idea. Damien led us back to his house. A crowd waited.
The twins and Jen were there and while I was grateful for their presence, but I didn’t like the rest of the pack, the members I barely knew, standing around watching me. Most of them looked worried, which was kind of them. But some of the she-wolves… they looked pleased. They looked at me like I was weak.
Hunter didn’t leave my side, and his hand never left my body. Whether he was holding my hand, or wrapping his arm around my waist, he was always touching me. I took comfort in that. Jen moved forward, toward where we were, but she didn’t come too close, seeing how on edge Hunter was, but silently asked if I was okay. I gave her a nod.
Damien called out commands, but I was so focused on the sitting down that I didn’t even hear him. I only wanted to rest. The stress of the night weighed on me. Hunter squeezed next to me and held me close. He didn’t seem to care at all that he was shirtless, and his face was still covered in dirt and blood. He sat uncaring with his pack members watching him. I felt uncomfortable, but I felt safe surrounded by the pack. Encircled in Hunter’s warmth, all I wanted was sleep.
I began to drift off. Everyone muttered their thoughts. I snuggled closer to the Hunter. I felt his lips press against my forehead. He shifted his posture as if to leave. I held onto his chest, my blunt nails biting into his skin. I didn’t think I would be able to open my eyes, but I managed to crack them open.
“Don’t leave me.”
His eyes were hard. His jaw was clenched so tight the muscle in his cheek ticked. His nostrils flared.
“Never.”
He swooped his head down and kissed me hard on the lips. It wasn’t tender. His lips were fierce. It was a reminder and a promise. My eyelids slid shut. Hunter didn’t pull away when he lifted me in his arms, but it jostled me enough and my eyes popped open of their own accord. I wrapped my arms around