Chapter Six

Pearl

I woke up tired and confused. Last night didn’t go as I expected, and I didn’t mean the almost dying part. Somehow, Rylan and I had gotten out of sync, or he wasn’t getting the hints I was dropping. I just didn’t think I’d have to spell it out, but maybe I did.

Rylan was pressed against my back, his hand resting firmly on my thigh just below my hip. It was deliciously distracting. I’d craved his touch before, but somehow, it had ramped up since I came back from the Between. I didn’t just crave it now; I needed it. The bond between us had gotten stronger, the pull I felt to him undeniable and hard to resist. The urge to complete the mate bond was a constant throbbing between my thighs.

While I wanted nothing more than for Rylan to distract me with his body, I couldn’t deny that it wasn’t the right time or place. Yet, a part of me was restless, needing the mate bond to be complete so I could focus on other things.

There was no other way. I had to tell Rylan what I was feeling. As my mate I had to trust that he would understand and do whatever I needed him to.

Rylan sighed then moved his head, so his nose was in my hair before inhaling. His hand on my thigh tightened, and I wondered if he could tell that I was aroused just lying in bed with him.

“Mmm,” he hummed in my ear. “Morning.”

“Morning.” I stretched my legs.

“How’d you sleep?” He nuzzled my throat and gently kissed my skin.

“I slept well,” I lied, not wanting to upset him. “You?”

“It took me a while to go to sleep,” he admitted, his tone making my chest hurt.

“Hey.” I turned over so I could see his face. “What happened last night wasn’t your fault. You know that, right?” I searched his eyes, hoping to see acceptance, but all I saw was fear. I’d ruined the tender moment, but I didn’t care. He needed to know that I didn’t blame him.

He nodded his head, but I knew him well enough to know when he was lying.

“I was so helpless.” Rylan growled, propping himself up on his hand so he could stare down at me. “You nearly died trying to break whatever was controlling me. You saved my life.”

“Then, you saved me.” I smiled, cupping his cheek. “We saved each other, which is what mates are supposed to do, right?”

“Protecting you is my job, but instead, I hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me; your aunt did. Plus, it’s my job to protect you too. You’re the predestined alpha that will unite the packs. You’re important.” I meant for my words to be reassuring, but when his lips pressed into a line, I knew that they were the opposite.

Rylan sat up, avoiding my eyes. Annoyance changed to anger as he turned away from me. My wolf viewed it as some sort of rejection. How could he still blame himself? It hurt that I’d saved him just for him to have to carry the burden of failure that wasn’t his to carry. Hopefully time would help him realize that.

I sat up too, swinging my legs over the mattress to the floor. My stomach growled loudly as I headed for the bathroom. I relieved myself then returned to the bedroom, ready to go raid the kitchen I remembered seeing. After that, I needed to check on Estella, the human part. She’d been unconscious when she appeared, and I prayed she hadn’t been scared out of her mind when she woke up and I wasn’t there.

Rylan grabbed my hand, tugging me closer to him, shaking me from my thoughts. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve already said that,” I countered, unable to fight the urge to lean into him. “It’s almost like you don’t believe that I forgive you.”

“I’m trying.” He rubbed my back, and I sighed, enjoying the intimacy. “Just give me time.”

I leaned away so I could see his face then stood on tiptoe, placing a kiss on his lips. The subject had a pin in it for now, but I was determined to make sure Rylan didn’t blame himself for things out of his control.

Kissing him in this moment was a mistake. As soon as his scent filled my nose, his taste on my tongue, the urge to feel him everywhere overcame me. I deepened the kiss, dipping my tongue into his mouth and groaning when his grip on me tightened.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pinning him against me as I pressed my front to his. Nipping his lips elicited a moan that seemed to travel from his diaphragm. It was sexy as hell and had the effect of heightening my arousal. My leg lifted, curling over his hip, allowing him access to the place that I desperately wanted him. Rylan grasped my thigh. His fingers moved upward to my ass cheek, pulling my pelvis into his.

I sighed between kisses, moaning as his erection rubbed me at just the right angle. My body heated as the foreplay ramped up to new levels. There was an ache inside me, a need that only he could satisfy.

A knock on the door startled us both. Rylan took a step back, his jaw clenched like he was struggling to control himself. I grinned inwardly because this was what I wanted, what I craved. The urge to complete the mate bond was an incessant buzzing just under my skin. Ready at a moment’s notice.

“Uh… I’ve got some food cooking and coffee ready,” Deacon called through the door after clearing his throat. “Oh, and your friend is awake.”

I gasped, having completely forgotten that I wanted to check on Estella. Rylan was my own personal distraction, one that was proving to be a problem.

Rylan adjusted himself. I waited a beat before opening the door. Deacon was gone, seeming to have sprinted back down the hallway when he realized that he’d interrupted something.

I opened the door, intending to follow him to the kitchen, but I paused to glance over my shoulder.

“It’s all right. I’ll be behind you.” Rylan waved for me to go.

I nodded, feeling slightly guilty for not finishing what we had started.

The cabin looked different in the daylight. My first glance had shown the walls were made of logs giving the place a rustic feel while the décor was more modern. It felt luxurious without being obnoxious. It reminded me of what my home had once been. Surrounded by forest, as if it was made to look like nature itself had built it.

“Good morning,” I announced, hurrying into the kitchen and finding Estella sitting at the small dining room table, her hands wrapped around a mug.

I sat down beside her, wanting to grab her hand and ask if she was all right, but I didn’t want to bombard her. She’d been completely isolated in the Between, so touching might be too much for her to handle.

She looked startled when I sat down, but she quickly recovered, all trepidation falling from her face. I smiled at her, happy to see that she was adjusting quicker than I originally thought she would, her white wolf was under the table at her feet. The wolf was leaning its head against Estella’s calve, maintaining contact like wolves did in the wild. I was so happy to see them together that my chest tightened as unbidden emotions rose to the surface.

“Good morning,” Estella replied, her voice quiet like she wasn’t used to using it and didn’t know how to control the volume.

“I’m sorry I didn’t check on you sooner.” I hoped she wasn’t upset with me.

“I was sleeping until a bit ago.” She frowned, looking down at the cup in her hands. “I haven’t felt hungry or thirsty in a long time. It was jarring. Thank the Moon Spirit that my wolf was there to ease my mind.”

I smiled at the wolf under the table, glad that I was able to reunite the two of them, even though it wasn’t in the way I was expecting. I was disappointed that they wouldn’t be whole again. If I was in her situation, I’d want to have my wolf with me however I could.

‘Agreed.’

A door on the opposite side of the table opened, and Deacon stepped through, carrying a platter that was piled high with what appeared to be every bit of meat he could scrounge up. It smelled delicious, and my mouth started to water, but I couldn’t help raising my eyebrows at him.

“I’m useless in the kitchen, but I can grill,” he said in response to my silent question.

“Deacon and kitchens do not mix,” Rylan teased, entering and heading straight for the coffee pot. “Are you sure the coffee isn’t burnt?”

“Estella doesn’t think so,” Deacon shot back, grabbing some plates and utensils.

“It tastes heavenly,” Estella praised, closing her eyes as she took a sip.

My smile grew when she sighed contentedly as Deacon settled into the chair beside her, his eyes observing her with an intensity that I recognized.

Rylan distracted me by placing a steaming cup down in front of me then sitting in the seat next to me.

“Are there eggs? I can make some,” Rylan offered, eyeing the platter of grilled meat.

“I asked Estella what she wanted to eat, and she said meat.” Deacon shrugged like it was a completely normal request.

“I see.” I grabbed a plate and fork then speared some sausages and bacon. As wolves, one could never go wrong serving meat.

“It smells divine,” Estella said hungrily.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve eaten, so take whatever you want,” I encouraged, handing her a plate and fork.

“What do you mean by that?” Deacon’s voice dropped a couple octaves.

“Mean about what?” I asked him, confused by his question.

“You said she hadn’t eaten in a long time,” Rylan said, watching his friend, who was tense.

“Well, she’s been in the Between for decades,” I reminded them.

“Start at the beginning,” Rylan suggested, looking from me to the human Estella and back again.

“Something terrible happened to Estella that split her human and wolf halves apart.” It was the easiest way to explain it, though I didn’t have all the details on how or why it had happened just the vague answers the Moon Spirit had told me.

“Spirits.” Deacon cursed, looking a little queasy. The thought of being separate from my wolf was enough to make me feel icky too.

“I was a sacrifice.” Estella spoke softly as she stared at her plate that was piled high with food. “That’s why the Moon Spirit kept me in the Between and promised that my wolf and I would be reunited one day.”

“I can’t even imagine how painful that was.” Rylan sympathized.

“Being in the Between was easy. It was the separation that nearly killed us both.” The wolf Estella rose to a sitting position and rested her head in the human Estella’s lap, giving her comfort the only way she could.

Human Estella ran her hand over her wolf’s head, scratching her behind the ears absently as she seemed to relive something terrible from her past.

“You’re here now,” I reminded her, placing my hand on her shoulder.

“I know. I was kept alive for a purpose, and I intend to do whatever I have to help you defeat my sister.”

“Wait, sister?”

“My sister is Tamra, and almost a century ago, she tried to kill me.”