I curled against Frost’s warmth, my body still tingling with aftershocks of pleasure. His steady heartbeat beneath my ear provided a rhythm that lulled me toward sleep.
“Frost…” I murmured, my eyes growing heavy
His fingers traced lazy patterns along my spine, soothing and gentle,
I surrendered to sleep, dreamless and deep for the first time since my suicide attempt.
When I woke, sunlight streamed through the windows, warming my skin. I stretched, feeling muscles that had been knotted with stress finally relaxing. The space beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. Frost had been gone for hours.
I sat up, pushing tangled hair from my face, and noticed something the nightstand–Barbara’s Fantasies, the erotic novel Id smuggled from the library weeks ago. I thought I’d lost it during my destructive tumpage before my suicide attempt. I reached for it, turning the worn volume over in my hands.
There’s a lot to learn from that one single book”
I startled at Kalus’s voice. He stood in the bathroom doorway, a towe slang low around his hips, water droplets still clinging to his chest from his shower.
was about to return it back to the library,” I said, holding up the book, hoping to distract from my discomfort.
A hint of amusement crossed his fa
his face. “There’s a lot to learn from that one single book.”
“You should have it back,” I offered, extending the book toward him
“Not yet; I really love this book, maybe even as much as you do,” He approached the bed, his movements fluid.
I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of my nakedness beneath the sheets. “Kaius… let’s talk.”
or that?
He paused, something cautious flickering in his eyes. “Are you ready for
I nodded, clutching the sheets tighter, “Yes. I am so sorry for what I said to you. I said it to hurt you, but I didn’t mean any of it. Your mate was a blessing. I should never have brought her up. I should never have used that against you, and I am so sorry. Could you forgive me?”
To my surprise, Kaius’s expression softened. “Oh Elowen, don’t cry. You were not the only person who said something very wrong. I knew the story of your mother, and I was going to tell you either way, but I didn’t mean to be that harsh on you.”
Tears? I hadn’t realized I was crying until he mentioned it. I wiped at my cheeks hastily.
“How did
you
know about that?… my mother I mean,” I asked, voice thick with emotion.
Kaius moved to sit on the
he edge o of the bed, careful to maintain some distance between us. “Isaw it. I was a child then, but I knew about this woman–she was younger then, but she had been my father’s favorite; she was exactly his type, the stubborn ones that hardly ever submitted; it would be much more fun to break her. But when father decided she was no fun anymore, I stopped seeing her. There were others after her too, but it was strange how she seemed to have disappeared and was never talked about anymore.”
The casual way he referenced my mother’s torture made my stomach clench, but I forced myself to stay focused.
Kalus… how old are you? The question slipped out before I could stop it.
1/3
Thirty and two,” he replied without hesitation.
I blinked in surprise. “You are over a decade older than me,”
No, I’m not. His eyebrow mised slightly.
“Isn’t that against some law?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light despite the seriousness of our conversation.
His lips quirked into a half–smile. “Just in case you didn’t know, I am complete lawbreaker/
“You look really young, I observed, studying his features.
“I do believe it’s part of the Alpha gene. I’m well aware that I look maybe a decade younger.”
Thesitated, gathering my courage. “Can I ask a question, Kaius?“,
Depends on what it is?”
“Did you pick me because you discovered who my mother was to this pack?”
Something shifted in his expression–surprise, perhaps, that I’d cut quickly to the heart of the matter.
A few years ago, I saw this file belonging to your mother. I had almost forgotten about her, but for some reasons, I wanted to know where she was, what she was doing, and if she was finally free got all the details even before I visited the Mistwood pack. But then I saw you, and things got even more interesting. I knew everything about you too; that’s how I knew about Dorian, your ex–mate. I had paid an anonymous visit to the pack more than once, and I did like watching you.”
A chill ran down my spine. “You knew my mother was a slave there, and yet you waited for me to bring it up?”
“Yes. It would only make me a creep if I told you that 1 know everything about you; I knew you would get to that.”
My mind raced, trying to process this new information. “She says you want me here… as some kind of punishment for her running bway.”
“Go on,” he prompted, his face unreadable.
“I don’t know, you’ve never given me any reason exactly, and her perspective seems quite logical”
why I want you here?”
“Do you think that’s why I
I considered the question carefully. “Why?”
He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “After I took over as the Alpha, I ended the slave trades; now our captives have a choice. Do you know why?”
When I didn’t answer, he continued.
“Because I never wanted another woman to be treated the way your mother was, ever again. Elowen, I’m not trying to get back at her
Tears welled in my eyes again. “I feel like a fool for blaming her; if cly she told me earlier…..
“Hush, Elowen. Everyone makes mistakes, but I’ll rather you blame me for that. Seeing you in there… in the tub, I wondered what would have happened If I didn’t get to you fast enough; I would have lost you too, his voice broke slightly
The mention of my suicide attempt made me flinch. I hadn’t though he would bring it up so directly.
“And it would have been entirely my fault. Maybe then I’ll let your mother do with me as she pleases; after all, I had been the reason her child committed suicide. I never really thought it would get to that, but you have to promise me, Elowen, that you will never do that to yourself again.”
The raw pain in his voice startled me. I’d never heard him sound so vulnerable.
“I promise, Kaius.” The words came easily, and I meant them,
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