Chapter 14
Sylvan
My wolf has never felt so content before.
Morgan is tucked against my body, wrapped in my blankets, wearing my T-shirt.
It’s tight over her breasts and I can see the outline of one of her nipples under the moonlight pouring through the window.
She’s been asleep for a couple hours now, and her heat has finally calmed. Her temperature is normal.
I can’t sleep. I’m guarding her. Besides, I really like watching her sleep. She makes cute noises every now and then, and it makes me wonder what she’s dreaming about.
Why did I wait five days for this? Everything feels so right, and I don’t feel lonely. Something about her has dug under the dark mud around my heart, and I can feel it beating again.
But at what cost?
Resisting the urge to mark her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I fought every single instinct demanding I take her now. That I consummate our fated bond.
It should be a joyous moment. Not everyone finds their fated mate. But it feels cruel that I should find my fated mate in her, especially given our curse. How can I be certain it’s true? And how am I supposed to protect her when I cannot mark her as mine?
A bruise is already forming on her shoulder, and it pains me that it’s not a true bite mark. If I’d been in my werewolf form and had given her that, I would have mated her to me.
I’ve always found fated mates to be annoying. Catriona and her little pack are a bunch of nuisances. I’ve never quite understood the undying affection.
But now I get it.
I don’t like that I get it, but I do.
If she asked me for the moon, I’d do anything in my power to give it to her.
But the one thing I know she will eventually want, I cannot give.
If I ever mark Morgan, she would be in danger.
After losing everyone I’ve loved, I can’t imagine it.
I can’t risk that sort of loss again, for myself or for her.
She deserves better.
So much better.
Hex Ridge isn’t supposed to be where I am right now. I should have never come to this little town at the foot of the mountains, but I’m here anyway.
There’s no turning back.
I’m bound to the omega witch, whether I want to be or not.
I’m sorry, I want to tell her. It’s horrible of the Fates to give her me as a mate.
She deserves someone who can give her everything.
Well, I can only offer protection, and soothe her during heats.
But I cannot give her a life of love. I cannot give her what I crave, even though every part of me demands that I do.
It’s a tragedy.
But for tonight, I have her in my arms.
And that will have to be enough to sustain me until the next full moon.
I wake up to the smell of bacon cooking, but Morgan is next to me.
Someone is in our house.
I sit up so fast that the bed frame groans, and Morgan startles next to me.
“What’s wrong?” she huffs from under the blanket.
“Someone is here.”
I’m out of bed in a second, already cursing the house. Why did it let someone in? What the fuck is going on? My teeth lengthen into fangs as I pull on a set of black sweatpants.
Whoever the intruder is, I’m going to rip them apart.
“I’ll go with you,” Morgan says quickly.
She’s out of bed in nothing but my blankets wrapped around her and a T-shirt.
She’s not going anywhere. She’s lost her mind if she thinks I’ll let her go down there with me.
“Stay here,” I demand.
Morgan scowls. Her hair is sticking up like a thicket, and she shakes her head. “No. I’m going with you.”
“Damn you,” I snarl. “Can we not have a single nice moment outside of our heats?”
Her eyes darken. The real Morgan is back, and I’ve already pissed her off.
“Fuck you,” she snaps. “I’m going down there with you. You can’t lock me in here. Tabby will let me out.”
In an alliance that makes me want to pull my hair out, the door to the bedroom opens by itself. The house, Tabby, is unbothered by whatever stranger let themself in.
Growling at Morgan does nothing. All the warmth between us has turned cold, and she clearly doesn’t care if her life is in danger.
I rush out of the bedroom and down the stairs, hearing her footsteps behind me as she tries to keep up. I make it to the kitchen and snarl at the redhead standing at the stove.
“Who the fuck are you?”
She turns her head and snorts. “You must be Sylvan.”
“Who the fuck—”
Morgan shoves past me with a happy squeal, launching herself at the willowy woman. “Oh my goddess! What are you doing here?”
She hugs Morgan, meeting my gaze sternly over my mate’s shoulder. “Well, I thought you were dead. I haven’t heard from you in almost a week. I flew in and the front door was open, so I let myself in.”
How in the seven devils had I not heard her?
She has no heartbeat, I realize.
What is she?
“Stop growling,” Morgan demands, turning to shoot me a dirty look.
I rub my chest. Hadn’t even noticed I was doing that.
I don’t like this. This witch has a lot of magic, but it’s a kind I’m unfamiliar with. I can’t sense her. Her scent is barely perceptible. If I hadn’t heard the bacon, I may never have known she was here.
That terrifies me.
Therefore I despise her on sight.
“This is Verena,” Morgan beams. “She’s my best friend.”
“And you knew she was coming here?”
Morgan immediately glares. “No. She’s clearly here to check on me. Did you bring a bag? We can set up a room for you.”
I don’t like any of this. I don’t like a stranger being in our home—yes, our home. I don’t know this witch, and I don’t want her around Morgan.
Maybe I don’t want anyone around Morgan.
I’m being possessive. Probably because just moments ago I had my blue-haired witch in my arms, in my bed, and now it’s all gone—like waking up from a dream.
Verena smiles at Morgan. “I’ll make breakfast if you make me a cup of tea. I’ve been missing your magical brews.”
“Of course.” Morgan is delighted by her presence in a way that is now making me jealous. What do I have to do to make her that happy around me? “Let me go change. And Sylvan should too.”
“Oh,” I say flatly. “Should I?”
Now her cheeks are burning, and her eyes are sharp.
Is she feeling possessive too?
“Yes,” she says seriously.
Amusement hits me and I lean against the door frame, showing off all my muscles. I don’t work out as much as I do for nothing. Verena’s brows shoot up, and she glances at Morgan, then back at me.
My sweatpants sit right on the V of my hips. Morgan’s gaze sweeps over me, and then she’s in front of me pushing me back. “Out of the kitchen,” she growls.
I let out a husky laugh as she keeps pushing me until we’re at the stairs.
“Don’t want someone else seeing what’s yours?” I ask casually.
“Fuck you,” she snarls under her breath. “Go get dressed, wolf. No one wants to see you walking around like that.”
“You’re one to talk,” I say. “You’re wearing nothing but my shirt. I could bend you over these stairs and fuck you right here, if I wanted.”
She scoffs at me, then pushes past, rushing up the stairs.
Despite the fact that we have an unwanted guest, I smile.
I’ve never seen her like this.
It’s cute.
And of course I’m going to change for her.
I follow her up the stairs and smile again when she slams her bedroom door shut. We have so much laundry to do and . . . Fuck. Why the fuck had her friend decided to show up now? I wanted the day with Morgan. I wanted to clean up the messes we made and enjoy her presence, and now it was all ruined.
I change quickly and head back down to the kitchen. Verena is standing there with her hands on her hips, her expression far less pleasant without Morgan here.
Crossing my arms, I regard her seriously. “Can I help you?” I ask.
“I know you’re a big strong alpha wolf,” she starts. “But I will gut you and turn you into a rug for my Boston apartment if you ever hurt Morgan. Do you understand me? I do not care who or what you are, but she’s my best friend. I love her. And I do not like you.”
Well. Perhaps I misread her. This is exactly the kind of person I want around Morgan. She’s protective and fierce, like a she-wolf.
“I would die for her,” I say simply.
Verena blinks, taken aback. Her shoulders soften as the bacon starts to pop and hiss, the scent of burning filling the kitchen. She lets out a short curse and pulls the pan off, shaking her head.
“Why did you come in and cook?” I ask. “How did I not smell you? Why can’t I hear your heartbeat?” Why do I feel like there’s something terribly wrong about her?
She freezes, her grassy green eyes going wide. “You shouldn’t be able to . . . What kind of werewolf are you?”
“A bodyguard,” I say simply. “What are you?”
“I’m a witch,” she says with the same simplicity I’d just feigned.
So, we were both liars. But, I know she cares about Morgan. She wouldn’t threaten to kill me otherwise. I don’t really care about her secrets, so long as they don’t endanger Morgan.
“You should go back home,” I say.
“I will in a few days. After I’ve made sure she’s safe. She’s been through enough.”
That, we can agree on.
“Besides. I’m making her favorite breakfast. Maybe you can take some notes, since you’re her mate.”
I bristle at that, but before I can argue, I hear Morgan’s footsteps on the stairs.
I poke my head around the corner, stealing a glimpse of her.
She’s barefoot, her hair is brushed back into a messy bun, and she’s wearing a black sundress.
She’s got a rosiness in her cheeks, and I listen for her heartbeat. I’m always searching for it these days.
She joins us in the kitchen, shoots me a dirty look, and then immediately beams at her friend.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she sighs. “You didn’t have to make breakfast.”
“I know, but I figure you could use some food.” Verena doesn’t explicitly state the obvious, but it still hangs in the air. Morgan has been in heat for far too long, and she does need to be fed.
She should be fed by me, though. Not a weird “friend” who makes me uneasy, or anyone else for that matter.
“I’ll make some tea and coffee.”
I resume my post against the door frame and watch the two of them silently. They’ve known each other for a long time. I can see that much. They move around the kitchen with ease, snickering under their breaths as if I can’t hear every little joke and insinuation.
I don’t want to leave Morgan alone, but I know she wants time with her friend. I don’t like or trust Verena, but if she tries anything, I will be close enough to stop her.
“I’m going to go clean,” I finally say.
“I won’t let her out of my sight,” Verena says with a strained smile.
“We’ll save you some breakfast. And coffee.”
“Okay,” I grunt. “Please drink some water.”
Verena outright laughs at Morgan’s pinched expression, and I see she approves of that request. Reluctantly, I pry myself from the kitchen. As I leave, I hear their words.
“I can’t believe you resisted that for so long. Are you insane? He’s so hot.”
Morgan growls. “Why are you even looking at him?”
“Woman, I have eyes. I can still appreciate what the goddess has thrown at my best friend.”
“Okay, well. Keep your eyes to yourself.”
Verena’s laughter echoes through the entire house and I chuckle as I head upstairs. When I open her bedroom door, I go still as our scents hit me.
Everything is truly a mess. I ripped up her blankets. There’s feathers everywhere. I don’t even remember tearing open pillows, I’d been so focused on her.
It’s going to take hours to do this laundry.
More laughter floats through the house, and I roll up my shirt sleeves.
I’ll do whatever I can to keep her safe and happy.