Page 22 of Possessive Mate

It took all he had in him not to sweep straight into the room and wrap her in his arms. In all his years in the military, in all his years as one of Karl Ryker's men, he had never had to fight something so damn hard in his life.

“I'm fine,” came the sob, and Hanson knew without a doubt that she couldn't be further from it.

Chapter 10 - Elena

Elena lay stock-still, back to the door, but she could sense Hanson there as if his gaze was physically touching her.

“I'm fine,” she muttered again, gripping her pillow even tighter. “Please, leave me alone.”

She couldn't stop the sob that ended her sentence, nor could she prevent herself from trembling at the thought of his leaving.

But he didn't leave. In fact, he did quite the opposite.

Elena stiffened further as she heard the door click closed behind him. Next, his boots sounded on the hardwood floor, crossing the room towards the bed.

Just like Eddie had, he dropped down and perched on the edge. His hand landed comfortingly on her upper arm. Squeezing gently, he whispered, “I'm not going anywhere.”

The softness of his tone made it impossible for Elena to hold back any longer. She clutched the pillow tighter to her chest and cried into it, hiding her face from Hanson while he gently stroked her back.

The sobbing became gut-wrenching weeping that left her feeling drained and headachy. She couldn't remember the last time she had cried like that, especially not in front of anybody. She had spent so long trying to hold it in that it had become impossible to stop.

And when she finally did, she realized with astonishment that Hanson was still right there with her, his hand settled on the small of her back as if to let her know silently that he was still there.

What is with this guy? She thought. Big, burly, scary-looking army guy Hanson had a soft side. And it was utterly remarkable.

Discreetly wiping her snotty nose on her pillow, she inhaled deeply and dared to roll onto her back.

Feeling more than a little vulnerable, she asked, “Why are you even here?”

Hanson's hand slipped away from her, resting on the bed so close that she could still feel his warmth. He shrugged and said, “It seemed like you needed someone to just be here.”

Elena's insides twisted. This guy was too good to be true. Handsome beyond belief, huge and strong and muscular in a way he could likely pick her up and rescue her as easily as he could throw her down and ravish her, and a golden heart to boot.

It was just too much for Elena to handle. How could she possibly have found someone like that? He was unlike any male wolf she had ever met. Even Jason had cramped up and gotten awkward whenever she had cried.

But Hanson wasn't looking at her with sympathy now, or even awkwardness. He was looking at her with respect.

“Elena, what exactly is it you are trying to run from?” Hanson asked, the question so shocking that her breath caught in her throat.

Adjusting herself into a seated position against the headboard, she crossed her arms and shrugged. Scoffing, she said, “Isn't it obvious? I've been trying to run from my own emotions and, clearly, it isn't working.”

Surprised, Elena froze as Hanson reached out and gently stroked a tear from her cheek with his thumb. The urge to open up to him, to spill everything, was instant. She bit her lip.

He was close, too close, and she feared what might happen if she dared to do so. Sure, it might bring him closer, but it was just as likely to do the opposite. And Elena wasn't sure which one was worse.

“I'm here if you need to talk,” he whispered gently, cupping her cheek in his palm. “Or, I can just listen. I'm a fairly good listener, for a guy.”

He smiled a little sheepishly, and the expression was so beautiful on his face that it made her immediately defensive.

Instinctively, she smacked his hand away from her face and snapped, “What is this? Some way of getting close to me to get back at Eddie for whatever the hell is going on between you two?”

Hanson pulled back as if she had struck him clean across the face. “No, I—”

Elena grabbed the covers and pulled them close to her chin, hiding herself from his gaze. She glowered at him, not daring to even blink.

With a sigh, shaking his head, Hanson rose silently from the bed.

Pain lanced through Elena to watch him do so. Why did she have to push him away like that? Why did she push everyone away?

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