Page 69 of Cursed Wolf

“Most of what I see is threads. Everyone has several threads connected to them, and those threads have different qualities, depending on the person. For example, if someone is a habitual liar, their truth thread will be weak and all kinked up.”

Wow. He just continued to fascinate me at every turn. “I see. So it’s kind of like you can see certain aspects of people right away. For everyone else, it takes time to find out that information.”

“Yeah, you could say that. I see other things that don’t always make sense either, but they always come to fruition.” He told me about Laylah, the sister of the angel’s leader, Camael, and how he saw puncture marks and blood on her neck.

“Holy shit,” I breathed. “In one way, that’s an incredible gift, but it must feel like such a burden to hold so much knowledge about people.”

“It feels like a curse sometimes,” he admitted. “I’ve never been able to block it out. It does help me to get a good read on people, and I’ve been able to help the pack at times. But yeah, sometimes it’s all just too much.”

“I’m sorry.” I stretched up to kiss his neck just under his bearded jaw. “You can unload on me, if that would help.”

“There’s more,” he said with an apologetic smile. “Can’t you tell I’m stalling on the way to this big reveal I’m trying to make?”

“Oh, wow. Okay, I’m listening.”

Tryn paused for a long time, rough fingers circling on my shoulder blade. “I can also see fate threads. The threads that connect two people who are meant to be together, as destined by fate.” His fingers stopped moving. “I could never see my own threads, fate or otherwise, until a few days before you hit me with your car.”

“I never did apologize to you for that, did I?” I laughed softly, grabbing his beard to kiss him. “I’m sorry, handsome. I’m so glad we met, but I wish it didn’t have to be over injuring you with a two-ton hunk of metal.” He didn’t respond, and the true weight of what he was explaining about fate threads hit me right then. “Wait, so you’re saying…”

“I followed my fate thread to the human world.” Tryn brought his index finger to my chest, drawing down until he stopped right over my heart. “That was why I ran across that road that night. I followed the thread to find my fated mate.”

His thumb and forefinger pinched close together but not touching. Then he drew his hand toward himself slowly, fingers close together as if he were gently running them along a length of string. His hand stopped when he reached his own heart. “I can see it now, in this space between us.”

My heart thundered as the weight of what he was saying sank in. “Wait, fated mate? Is there a difference between being fated and just mates?”

“Well, mates can be any serious romantic pair. But being fated means we are meant for each other, predestined by forces outside our control.”

I swallowed. “And that’s…me?”

His hand fell to my waist again, giving me an affectionate squeeze. “Of course it’s you. Who else would it be?”

“But you’ve known the whole time? Since the very beginning?”

“Since I woke up in that cage at your vet clinic and saw the thread that connected my heart to yours.” He stilled, watching me carefully. “Are you upset?”

“Upset? God, no. I just…wow.” I brought a palm to my forehead, thinking back to every interaction we’d ever had.

He sat next to me in the bar on purpose. Talked to me like he genuinely wanted to know me. Scared off Dr. Stone like the hero I didn’t know I needed. He gave me his number to put the ball in my court and not pressure me. Showed me an incredible view and kissed me on an amazing first date without pushing for more.

“Good wow or bad wow?” Tryn looked anxious, trying to read my expression.

“Good. So, so good. I was just thinking back to everything and how you were so wonderful the whole time. You knew we were supposed to end up together but you never acted like it was given. You let me set the pace and never acted entitled to my time, my body, anything. Our relationship happened so…organically.”

“I knew I had to be careful with you,” he said softly, running his hand from my ribs to my hip. “Not only were we perfect strangers, we were from completely different worlds. I never wanted to drag you into something that you didn’t fully understand or consent to.” His hand came to my face, thumb stroking the corner of my jaw. “And of course I wanted to get to know you. Fated mates means forever. What good would rushing and forcing things do? We have forever to fall in love.”

“Well, I didn’t need forever.” I caressed the edge of his beard, mirroring the way he touched me. “And while I can’t see the thread between us, I think I knew on some level we were meant to be too. You just…” I swallowed past the knot of emotion in my throat. “You showed me who I really am.”

Tryn’s nose touched mine, his thick arms encircling me. “Are you saying you love me, Emmaline?”

“Yes.” I sniffed and laughed through the happy tears squeezing onto my eyelashes. “Way to be romantic.”

“I love you too, my ferocious, beautiful mate.” He wiped my tears and kissed my brow. “I’m so glad you rammed into me and broke my leg.”

“Hey now, it was a hairline fracture, which I still find unbelievable. You werewolves have some serious bone density.”

“We werewolves,” he corrected with a smirk.

“Yes, we.”

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