Page 37 of Bind Me

“Family is so fucking complicated,” I add. “They give us life, but then go and fuck us up.”

Twisting my way, she glances at me with those expressive pale blue eyes. Up close, I notice the golden-green flecks in her irises.

“You can say that again. I lost my parents when I was young and feel like I’ve been looking out for myself ever since. I just never expected my mom to transform, or in the way she did. It still affects me so long after.”

Her voice shakes, and she falls silent, the weight of her words hanging between us. A physical ache spreads through my chest, matching the pain in her eyes.

My hand is on her thigh, even if Chowder is nudging it with his body.

“I lost mine when I was younger, too,” I confess, a roughness tracing my voice. I hate talking about the past, about them, but for Sasha, I will. “My father was always doing deals, always involving himself with the wrong people. So, to know that his decisions lost both his and my mom’s lives…”

She looks me in the eyes, a softness behind hers. “It’s like they leave us with their messes to clean up.”

I nod, remembering the shit fight I faced when the gang came after me for my father’s payment, for blood. I shake those memories away. I did what I had to in order to survive. It gained me a reputation for making many afraid of me, but in a place like Tartarus, that’s a godsend.

She places her hand on top of mine, and for a moment, we’re two broken souls, realizing we’re not that alone.

“Thanks for being here for me,” she murmurs. And aside from Chowder, who hasn’t ceased his nudging, the cabin falls silent.

“How about I head out and bring us food from one of the nearby shops?” I offer, lightening the heavy mood.

Shaking her head, she gets up and straightens her posture.

“Look, it’s best if you go. I need… just some time alone to process everything.”

I study her, every inch of me dying to lean in and hug her, to chase away her worries. My gaze lowers to her luscious lips, and I can’t forget our kiss, how she tasted like the sweetest honey, how I’m craving to discover if the rest of her tastes as delicious. I’m not sure how much longer I can be a patient man, especially if my beast has any say in it.

But her quiet worries me that there’s more she’s not telling me.

“Are you in any kind of danger? Call me paranoid, but I always expect the worst.”

A half grin pulls her lips up. “The only danger is me dealing with memories I buried long ago, along with my mother I thought I had known. I told myself she was dead so I could move on…” She literally shakes herself.

I stroke her arm, stepping closer to take her into my arms, but she moves away. It leaves me with a stabbing ache in my gut.

“Really appreciate your help,” she states.

It’s frustrating as hell to have her push me away. My fated mate. Nope, this isn’t going to do.

The creak of the door suddenly sounds, and I turn to find Chowder pulling it open, eyeing me with daggers.

“How fast can he leave?” he says in his chirpy voice.

“All right.” I admit defeat, but worry seeps through me that my fated mate shouldn’t be grieving on her own. That ache burrows through me. It strangles me. But I’m going to rectify this once and for all.

“I’ll be seeing you real soon, Sasha.” I stroll out of the cabin, Chowder seeming to almost smile at seeing me go.

I chuckle to myself because they have no idea how much more of me they’re going to be seeing real soon.

Chapter 11

Sasha

Chirps and squeaks are the first thing I hear as I wake up. A smile tugs at my lips at Chowder’s cheerful noises. I push myself up from the bed, feeling as if I’ve had the best night’s sleep for the first time in who knows when. It’s as though the bed has somehow become softer, embracing me.

Once I blink my eyes open, I stare up at a black ceiling, and I startle at the fear that collides with me.

I’m not in my bedroom or my bed—or anywhere I recognize.

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