Page 33 of Moon Fated

I nodded, tears streaming down my cheeks. “But?—”

“No.” He shook his head. “Nathan’s an alpha. Whether he got there rightfully or not, his pack is his responsibility. You and Callie were his responsibility and he treated you like shit.” Rowan’s eyes drank in the shadows from every corner of the room. “He’ll pay. That’s a promise.”

I nodded and sniffled as his hands cupped my face tenderly. "It kills me that that’s what you thought love was.”

I exhaled, wrapping my hands over his. “I never thought that was love. I just…”

Rowan fixed his eyes on me, his wolf so close to the surface his eyes gleamed. My wolf rose to meet him, and energy pulsed between us.

“You never thought you were worthy of it.” Rowan’s voice rumbled through the kitchen, sinking into me like a hand against soft clay.

“We’re going to rewrite this story. Give it a new ending."

“Rowan—”

Without another word, he scooped me up and strode purposefully toward the bedroom. My heart hammered wildly, but I didn't resist, some part of me understanding his intent. Needing it.

Gently, so gently, Rowan lay me on the bed, settling beside me. One hand smoothed my hair back as the other found my hip, his thumb caressing soothing circles.

"You are worthy of worship," he murmured. "Can I show you?"

I swallowed hard, nerves and longing warring within. "I...I'm afraid," I confessed.

“Of me?”

I shook my head. “No.” It was the truth. Maybe I had been afraid of him, but the relief of his scent moments ago spoke truth. No. I wasn’t afraid of Rowan Steele.

Words bubbled up my throat before I could stop them. "I’m afraid of wanting too much. Of losing myself again."

Rowan's lips brushed my forehead. "You won’t ever lose yourself. Because I’ll be there to catch you.”

His hands found mine, then slid up to cover my wrists. With aching tenderness, he lifted them from the bed, stretching my arms over my head. “I’m going to show you what love looks like. What you’re worthy of.”

My pulse fluttered wildly in my throat, my wolf panting in anticipation. Somewhere far in the distance I was aware that we were still in Nathan’s cabin. That we’d come here searching for Callista, and that the dagger was still wrapped up in my bag on the floor next to the bed.

But all thoughts left my head as Rowan’s breath warmed the inside of my elbow. Holy shit. He kissed me with such tenderness, my stomach dropped out from under me. Rowan trailed his lips up to my wrist and back again, then threw his leg over my hips, crouching over me as he replicated his soft torture on my second side.

“I love the scent of you,” He murmured into the soft flesh beneath my shirt sleeve. “Your skin is like velvet.”

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. Nathan had never said anything like that to me. He hated my arms—said they looked weak. As if reading my thoughts, a low growl rumbled in Rowan’s chest. “Terrible liar, remember?”

A ragged laugh escaped my lips, and Rowan drank up the sound like it was water. He dropped his hands from my wrists and traced my edges, making me shiver. His fingers landed at the hem of my shirt. “Is this okay?”

I nodded, then sank into the bed as his palms pressed flat over my stomach. He moved down the bed and lifted the fabric, pressing his cheek over my belly button.

I pulled my hands down from over my head and threaded my fingers in his hair, trailing over the tops of his ears and lightly scratching his scalp. I loved how his stubble felt against my skin. Loved how I could hear his breath coming faster. And his scent—the wild spice of his arousal sent my wolf into a near frenzy.

“Rowan—”

“Shh. My way.”

I grinned. “That was regarding the room search.”

“I don’t remember putting any time limitations on that edict.” He trailed his fingers over my ribs, then lifted his head to look at me as his hands found the waistband of my pants. “This okay?”

My breath caught in my throat. I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be giving in to this magnetic pull. I was only in Black Lake for a few more days, and both of us knew it. Yet I couldn’t stop myself from nodding.

Rowan didn’t drop his eyes as he flicked the button open and pulled down on the zipper. His chest rose and fell as he pulled the waistband down over my hips.

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