Chapter 9 #3
Things sure changed fast as hell, but he was beginning to find his footing.
Telling the Talons that he was leaving had almost killed him, but they’d been supportive.
They understood the sacrifice Gina had made and hadn’t judged them for it.
Or at least, he hadn’t caught on to it. He’d always hold the Talons in his heart.
They were the Pack of his family, his ancestors, his son, but he wouldn’t go into the Redwoods without them knowing he’d be handing over his allegiance.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was something he had to do. He at least had that much honor left.
“You’re really close to your brothers then,” he said, bringing his focus back to the matter at hand.
He wanted to get to know Gina. It scared him how much.
He might have gone into his mating, this partnership, thinking he would hide himself from her, but he didn’t know how much longer he could do that.
The mating bond pulsed between them, bringing him closer to her, even as he tried to deny it.
He wasn’t sure what was coming or even how they would travel the path they’d made for themselves, but he knew he couldn’t go on trying to act like he wasn’t affected. His wolf wanted her; he wanted her.
Could he one day love her?
If he could let go and face the chance of pain, yes, yes he could. She was strong, worthy, funny, brilliant, and beautiful. Everything he wanted in a mate. Or at least, everything he thought he’d wanted in a mate before he’d met Helena.
Helena had been striking. She had been one of the most beautiful women in the entire den.
He’d liked the way she’d laugh or try to joke around more than anything.
She didn’t take much seriously, which he’d thought had helped him calm down after a shift or long day spent dealing with wolves who tried to prove their dominance to him.
The Pack had been much different before Gideon took over, and the transition had not been easy.
Coming home to Helena had been nice because she just wanted to play or have sex. Easy.
Then she’d gotten pregnant, and things turned to shit.
Now that he thought about what he wanted, he knew it wasn’t a woman like Helena. Yeah, she was beautiful, but looks only went so far.
He didn’t like comparing Gina to her, but he couldn’t help it.
Gina wasn’t the same kind of beauty as Helena.
While Helena was all ice and Nordic features, Gina was warmth and strength wrapped up in a sultry aura.
She also was much more dominant than Helena had ever been.
The way she fought back and fought for herself turned him on more than he’d thought possible.
He liked that, while he could protect her if needed, she was just as capable of protecting herself. He hadn’t known he’d wanted that until she’d shown up in his life.
And now they were mates, and she wasn’t going away. Not that he wanted her to.
His mind whirled.
He didn’t want her to go.
He wanted her to stay.
What the hell had happened in these short days since they’d been mated?
He’d seen the true side of her courage and had finally, what? Said it was okay to risk being hurt again? He wasn’t sure, but he knew he couldn’t hurt Gina in the process. He couldn’t be the asshole he’d been. Not when she’d done nothing wrong but been herself.
“Quinn? You aren’t listening to me. What’s going on?”
He shook his head and cleared his thoughts. “I’m just thinking. It’s not a big deal.”
She frowned. “Thinking about what? You looked really serious just then, like someone had sucked the air out of the room.”
He set his beer down then cupped her face. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t move away. Progress.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
She closed her eyes. “Don’t thank me, please.”
Quinn lowered his head so he was only a whisper away from her lips. “I have to. Thank you for taking a chance on us. I…I like you. I admire you. I want to know you more. Do you think you’ll let me do that?”
She opened her eyes and sucked in a breath. He could feel the heat of her skin on his, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t.
“I want to know you, too.”
He growled softly then took her lips in a kiss.
She moaned under him, and he brushed his tongue against hers, deepening the kiss. She tasted of sweetness and promise, and he wanted more of her. Craved more.
She shifted and ended up on his lap, her core right above his dick. He groaned then pulled back, trying to catch his breath.
“I actually wanted to talk,” he said on a laugh. “You know, find out who you are beyond the blessed Redwood wolf and witch.”
She cupped his face and grinned. “I want to know you beyond the father and scarred wolf that everyone sees.” She swallowed hard. “I had thought you wanted nothing to do with that when I came here before.”
He would regret that day until he died. He’d acted rashly and might have ruined a chance at healing, at a future. That was, if he could make this work with Gina. Hope never worked without the inherent risk, and he knew he had to be prepared to make that happen.
He brushed her hair away from her face. “I think we went about this the wrong way, and we should start over.”
Her eyes widened. “Uh, Quinn? We’re already mated. Your son is sleeping in the room behind us, and I’m currently straddling your legs. I mean, I can feel your cock under me so I know you’re not unaffected.”
He let out a hoarse chuckle. “Damn right I’m not unaffected. What I’m saying is, we should look at what we’re doing and what we have in front of us without worrying about what happened before.”
Her jaw dropped. “You…you’re serious?”
“I think…”
He didn’t get a chance to say what he was going to. Instead, his wolf went on alert as the scent of someone who should not have been anywhere close to him invaded his senses.
Gina stiffened. “Quinn? What’s wrong?”
His eyes widened then he looked toward the front door as the one person he never wanted to see again walked through.
“Helena,” he growled.
Gina sucked in a breath but didn’t move.
Helena grinned at him, her bright blue eyes filled with something he couldn’t decipher, and her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze.
“Quinn. I’m back.”
Hell. No.
She couldn’t be back. He wouldn’t have her back.
Fate really fucking hated him.
Hated. Him.