Chapter 13
TALIA
“ What do you mean you couldn’t put the shield on her? You can shield my entire pack lands but not my mate?”
Declan growled.
“I don’t know what’s preventing it.
But when I tried to shield her, A deeper magic was forcing me out.
I can feel the traces left from the original witch who placed her shield of protection, and they didn’t just place it.
I could feel a glamour placed on her.”
Sasha quietly responded.
Shock evident in her tone.
I tried to focus on what they were saying but the sounds started to fade into the background.
I felt like I had been run over by a semi.
My head was pounding, my mouth was dry, and I hurt all over.
What the fuck did Sasha do to me? I tried to open my eyes, but they were too heavy.
Soft, warm fingers brushed my forehead, smoothing my hair from my face.
Celeste? “She’s much paler than normal, and what happened to her freckles? They’re gone…”
Celeste whispered.
“Her glamour is weakening.
Whatever Sasha did while trying to erect a shield must’ve reacted to the glamour Lavina placed , ”
Trystan said.
My heart stopped.
“Come one Tals, you need to wake up.”
Celeste murmured.
I tried again to open my eyes.
Slowly the lids separated and I started to see the faces surrounding me.
Celeste was leaning over me, and Declan still held me from behind.
Trystan, Sasha, Jericho, and Lucas were crowded behind Celeste.
“There she is.
I knew you’d…”
She gasped, her eyes widening.
“Your eyes...”
Speaking took effort, it felt like I'd swallowed rock as I croaked out, “What do you mean they changed?”
I struggled to sit up, and Declan helped, propping me from behind.
Celeste’s lip turned up at the corner as she said, “They’re still caramel colored but they now have a ring of soft violet around the pupil.
It’s quite breathtaking to look at.”
I looked past her to where Trystan was standing with his arms folded across his chest.
He looked worried.
“Is my glamour fading? Will I keep changing in appearance?”
I asked, my question aimed at Trystan.
I held my breath, waiting on his response.
My heart began to pound in my chest as the thought of losing myself even more caused a sense of panic to overtake me.
“It seems to be that way yes, although I wouldn’t think Lavina would have created a glamour that would fade unless you returned to the shifter realm…”
His brows furrowed as he rubbed his chin with his hand.
So why was it fading now? Declan’s hand loosened from my waist as he stood from behind me.
“Talia has been through enough for the day, I think we should all retire for the evening.”
He looked towards Jericho and Lucas and said, “You both are welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms on the top level.
We can discuss more of this later.
My mate needs rest.”
Jericho replied, “I need to speak with you both, so we shall stay the night and return to my pack tomorrow.”
Declan nodded then turned to Celeste and Sasha next, “Sasha, I’d appreciate if you can head back to your coven and find a way to shield my mate.
As well as reinforce the shields around my territory.”
“What would you like me to do, all mighty alpha”
Celeste sneered in Declan’s direction.Declan’s body tensed, his muscles tightened in his jaw, and his shoulders tightened as he turned to face her, “You are a welcomed guest at my mate’s request.
Pick a room upstairs and stay as long as you’d like.”
Celeste stared at Declan, sizing him up.
She held his gaze for a few moments before scoffing with a small smile sneaking through before she turned to Sasha and whispered into her ear.
A small smile appeared on Sasha’s face before she began shaking her head.
Yeah, she liked his protective nature over me already, but as I sat there taking in the room around me and the people standing in it… I needed a moment to myself.
This was all so much to take in.
Turning towards Declan I asked, “Can you take me to your room? It’s late.
With this failing and everything that’s happened… just, can you?”
I hated sounding weak because I was a fighter, Sionn and I were strong, we had dealt with trauma before yet after the week’s events I just needed rest, and to come up with a plan.
Declan looked down at me, the space between his eyebrows creased.
Shaking the hair out of his face he responded, “Yes little wolf.
We will be safe behind the wards.”
He looked out to the others and said, “Everyone get some rest, we will regroup in the morning and come up with a plan.
It ’ s been a trying day, and there is nothing more we can do tonight.”With that, he reached down and grabbed my hand, and helped me to my feet.
I began to sway to the side as the room spun around me.
Declan reached out with his other hand and steadied me, he looked down at me and asked, “Are you feeling steady enough to walk? Or shall I carry you back to our room?”
His room.
Not our room.
Still, I didn’t argue.
“I can walk, but I could use a little support if you don’t mind walking next to me.”
Nodding his head he reached down, looping his arm around my waist.
“I’ll see you in the morning Tals.
I love you, bitch.”
Celeste blew me a kiss as she walked with Sasha towards the stairwell.
“Love you too, don’t go scouring the pack houses for men tonight, ok? You need your beauty sleep too.”
She scoffed at that and flipped me off, walking up the stairs, her pink hair bouncing as she went.
Looking over her shoulder she yelled, “You better keep her safe Declan, or I will follow through on my earlier threat.”
Declan scoffed beside me.
I frowned up at him and asked, “Earlier threats?”
“Let’s discuss it when we get to the room shall we? I don’t feel like having a dagger to my throat for a third time tonight.”
When we made it to the bedroom, Declan held the door open and helped me through before making his way to the attached bathroom.
“What are you doing?”
I asked him.
“You have been unconscious for a week, you were stabbed before that, had your mind prodded open tonight, and even though my blood healed you physically after your attack, you almost died that day.
I figured the least I could do was help you into the tub.
Help you to feel clean.”
Declan responded.
Walking into the bathroom he turned on the light and sat me down on the bench by the door while he walked forward and turned on the water.
Watching him as he moved to the cupboards above the sink had me questioning if this would make him think I was accepting the mate bond…Shaking my head I said, “Thank you, that is… really considerate of you.”
See? I could be nice as well.
“Do you prefer bath oils or bubbles?”
He had oils and bubbles.
What kind of man was Declan? I guess I truly didn’t know anything about him.
That was probably for the best, seeing as I still wasn’t sure I was sticking around.
He seemed determined to convince me though.
“I would love some oils.
Lavender scented if you have them.”
I leant forward to pull my boots off, but my head spun.
“Maybe a bath isn’t such a good idea , ”
I said, leaning my head against the wall.
I closed my eyes , hoping that when I reopened them the room wouldn’t be spinning.
Feeling a tug on my boot, I opened my eyes to find Declan kneeling before me.
His dark hair fell across his face as he gently undid the laces.
His shirt stretched over his shoulders and it made the muscles beneath them more noticeable…I bit my lip, a small moan slipping out.
That caught his attention.
Declan lifted his head, gently slipping the boot off my foot.
“Does the sight of me kneeling before you make you wet for me little wolf?”
Nope.
Nope it did not.
Fuck I’m such a shitty liar, especially to myself.
Seeing such a powerful man kneeling before me, well it did make me wet.
My panties were soaked, even in my condition I wanted to strip him down and explore the ridges of every muscle on that strong body of his.
But I wouldn’t tell him that.
“No… It just feels good to get my boots off.
My feet are killing me.”
I replied.
He chuckled.
“You are a shitty liar.
I can scent your arousal.”
His eyes glowed as he stared up at me.
Fuck.
I’d been knowingly apart of the shifter world for five years now, yet I didn’t think I would ever get used to the keen sense of smell we all had.
Especially the males.
He moved on to my next boot, slowly undoing the laces before sliding it off my foot then he looked up at me as his hands trailed up my thighs.
My breath hitched as his fingers slid under the hem of my shirt, the warmth of his touch caused my skin to tingle.
“Lift your arms.”
he breathed out.
“I can undress myself you know.”
my voice was heavy with need.
“You almost fell over trying to take off your boot.”
Well, he had me there. “Fine,”
I huffed.
I lifted my arms, and he slowly slid the material up my chest, his fingers grazing the sides of my breasts.
His fingers hesitated near my scars…but he didn’t say anything which I appreciated.
He slowly rubbed the pad of his thumb over them, then finished lifting the shirt over my head.
I sat in just my bra and pants , with him still kneeling before me… “Lift your hips, little wolf . ”
Following his command as if I was in a trance, I lifted my hips, and he yanked my pants down my legs in one swift movement.
Once they were all the way off, he started to slowly trace his fingers along my legs.
Moving up my thighs, they paused near my center.
Was he going to touch me? Did I want him to touch me? My core was starting to throb.
I needed release so badly.
Declan lifted his gaze towards mine and smirked, then he stood up.
He.
Stood. Up.
It was probably a good thing too.
I didn’t need to cross anymore lines than I already had by letting him undress me.
“Let ’ s get you in that bath.”
He moved away and poured the lavender scented oils into the water.
I just gawked at him while he bent over the tub, sleeves of his shirt rolled up past his elbows, the muscles of his arms rippling while he moved.
He dipped his hand into the water , checking the temperature, then straightened and walked back towards me.
“I’ll leave you to finish undressing and get in the tub.
I’ll be in the bedroom should you need me.”Then he walked out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
What.
The.
Fuck.
Was. That.
Sliding down the wall, I gave myself a minute to think.
Fucking mate bond.
That had to be it, and he was a fucking tease.
I could smell the lavender coming from the tub, that scent always calmed me.
I stood up and didn’t feel to dizzy so I finished taking my bra and underwear off then walked over and stepped into the tub.
The tension left my muscles as I slid down under the water, though it did nothing to relieve my arousal.
I slid my hands down my body, reaching between my legs .
I spread my slick folds, slipped a finger inside , picturing Declan’s hands instead of mine.
A moan slipped from my lips as I imagined Declan fucking me with his thick fingers.
My walls began to tighten as I used thumb to rub my clit until I was on the brink of an orgasm.
Curling my fingers to just the right angle, my legs closed to increase the pressure and my body began to tighten just as a loud cry slipped from my lips.
My release consumed me, making my vision go blurry.
Once my body came down from the aftershocks of my release, I slowly removed my fingers and rested my head on the back of the tub.
As the pleasure left my system, the chaos of the other day pressed back into my thoughts.
What would tomorrow bring? I still wasn’t sure if Declan had told his pack that we were here, or that he now had a mate.
A mate who was bringing danger to their doorstep.
A mate who was the heir to the shifter realm and wasn’t sure she wanted it. Did he want to pursue this bond because he found out my lineage??
Speaking of Jericho… was he still my alpha? Since I hadn’t been made a part of Declan’s pack? I still had to be marked right? We had to seal bond and mark each other to be officially mated.
I slid further into the tub until the water covered me completely.
I held my breath and counted to thirty while I tried to center my thoughts and calm down.
My lungs began to burn in my chest, letting me know I needed to take a breath.
I slid my back against the tub and pushed my way to the surface.
I took a deep breath, pulling the air into my lungs as my heart raced in my chest.
I pushed the hair out of my face and reached for the shampoo and conditioner Declan left beside the tub.
It was also lavender scented.
Did he keep these here for his female guests? He sure as shit wasn’t expecting to find a mate and bring her home.
I finished getting myself clean and chose to relax for a few more moments.
Tomorrow would be here before I knew it and I didn’t know how many peaceful moments were in my future.
Standing up I reached for the towel and stepped out of the tub.
I was wrapping the towel around me when the door to the bathroom opened.
“Did you pass out? You’ve been in here for over an hour,”
Declan said , staring at me from the doorway.
His gaze travelled up and down my body, nostrils flaring as he scented my arousal in the air.
“No, I did not pass out and if I had I probably would have drowned given you’re just now coming in to check.”
I snapped as I strode over to the counter.
“I hadn’t checked on you because I was out getting you some clothes to wear.
I figured you wouldn’t want to sleep in a pair of my boxers and a t-shirt.”
Well, he was wrong about that… men’s clothes were ten times more comfortable than the stringy shit women had to wear, but I did not want to cover myself in his scent.
That would be confusing for us both.
“Well, thanks.
Do you have a brush I can use?”.”
He stepped into the bathroom, opened the top drawer of the armoire next to the counter and pulled out a brush.
Setting in on the counter, he crossed his arms and stared at me.
“Would you like some help getting dressed?”
he said with a smirk.
“I’ll manage just fine, thank you.”
He stepped closer to me and leaned down.
“I’ll just go grab those clothes then.”
The feel of his body next to mine caused goosebumps to break out all over my skin.
“You do that.”
I grabbed the brush from the counter and began to brush the knots from my hair.
Seeing as he didn’t have any products I could use to detangle this mess , it might take me awhile.
I tugged at a knot, catching my reflection in the mirror.
My whole body went still as I took in the changes Celeste had mentioned earlier: the ring of violet around my pupils and the lack of freckles on my cheeks.
My skin looked brighter, too, smoother.
“They are quite striking.”
I jumped back with a squeal.
My cheeks flushed as I said, “You shouldn’t just sneak up on someone like that!”
I whirled to face him, smacking his chest as I spoke.
He grabbed my hand and held it there.
“I mean it, little wolf.
Your eyes were beautiful before, but they’re even more captivating now.”
Reaching up, he tucked my hair back behind my ear.
My heart pounded in my chest.
I swallowed thickly, my voice coming out as a whisper.
“I don’t know who I am anymore.”
He tilted my chin up and said, “You are still the fiercely stubborn woman I met in the woods.
Nothing can change the core of who you are, not even a lineage such as yours.”I nodded, unable to form a response.
He held my gaze for a moment before handing me a pile of clothes.
A pair of sweats, underwear, and an oversized t-shirt.
I smiled while grabbing them from his hands.
They looked comfortable and just what I needed right now.
He closed his eyes briefly and gently kissed my forehead, “Don’t worry, that shirt is brand new.
No one’s scent will be on it but your own.”
I appreciated the gesture.
“Thank you, I’ll be right out.”