Page 149 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

I didn’t say anything else. I just scooped Haven up into my arms and cradled her against my chest. The nurse removed her IV. Then Haven looped her arms around my neck, burrowing her face into my chest.

I walked out of the clinic with her in my arms, Nolan trotting along behind us, still ready and in his wolf form. I carried her all the way to my house, holding her as close to my body as I could, using the mate bond to soothe her and settle her frayed nerves.

When we reached the house, Nolan stayed on the porch as I took Haven into my room and settled her on the bed. I turned the lamp on, looked her over, taking in the uncomfortable hospital gown she wore. “Do you want one of my shirts?” I asked

She nodded, and I kissed the top of her head, then went to my dresser to grab a shirt for her. Through the bond, I could feel her calming down, and I could hear her breathing through her nose.

“Can you untie this?” she asked me as I handed her the T-shirt, her fingers pinching the fabric of the gown. “My shoulder is still sore,” she added softly.

Her voice was still raspy from the damage to her vocal cords, but the swelling and bruising on her neck was already diminishing.

“Of course,” I murmured, moving behind her to help.

She pulled the loose gown off her arms, and I stayed in my spot, putting the shirt over her head so she didn’t have to lift her arms. I closed my eyes to give her privacy, even though I’d seen her naked before. But I didn’t know where we stood anymore and wanted to be respectful.

“Do you need any other clothes?” I asked her as she changed. “I’m sure Maddie has more in one of the guest rooms.”

“I’m fine for now,” she said.

“Okay,” I replied, peeking through my shut lids to see if she’d finished.

She gave me a weak smile. Her eyes were still puffy and watery, and even though she was calming down from her panic attack, there was still lingering anxiety under her brave face.

My lycan whimpered in my head, urging me to take her in my arms and hold her, but I held myself back, too nervous to hurt her or scare her.

“I’ll sleep on my couch,” I muttered as I turned off the lamp, pointing at the white couch in the sitting area of the master suite.

I stepped away from the bed, but her hand grabbed mine with an iron grip, stopping me from going any further. I turned to her, and she shook her head, scooting over to make room for me on the bed.

“Are you sure?” I asked, and she nodded, leaning back against the pillows and sliding under the white comforter.

She rolled onto her right side and curled up into a ball as I crawled onto the bed with her. I lay down next to her on my back, an inch of space between us. I could feel my lycan glaring at it in my mind, pushing at me to close the gap.

I clenched my jaw, though, and held still. I didn’t want to push her. She wanted me with her in the bed, but did she reallywantme? Would she spurn my affections, or would she return them?

The answer to those questions came in the form of her small voice. “I need you to hold me, Wes.”

I wrapped my body around hers in less than half a second, pressing myself close to her. She didn’t need to tell me twice.

I would take whatever she let me have. Because I knew the next day we would need to have a very long, important talk, and I didn’t have even a tiny idea of how that conversation would go. I just prayed to Selene that Haven wouldn’t give me too much hell come morning and that the day would end with our bond still intact.

CHAPTER 50

HAVEN

I awoke wrapped in a cocoon of soothing warmth, surrounded by the scent of Wesley’s cologne—stronger and sweeter than I’d smelt before. I nestled further into the warmth, pressing my back into Wesley’s solid chest, and pulling his arm tighter around my body.

The safety and security I felt from being close to him settled my heart indescribably. His skin against mine set little fireworks off everywhere we touched. Those tiny sparks spread pleasure and warmth throughout not just my body but my entire being. My soul.

It was strange. His touch had always felt different to me, but after the previous night, that sensation was even more pronounced.

I tensed, and my eyes popped open as everything from the night before came crashing into me all at once. The club. Lennox attacking me. My panic attack when I woke up in an unfamiliar hospital.

And Wesley. Wesley coming to my side when I was hurt. Wesley staying by my side and comforting me while the doctor and nurses stitched me up. And Wesley taking me in his arms and bringing me to his house so I didn’t have to stay in a place that reminded me of one of the worst days of my life.

But he’d also ignored me for almost an entire week. He’d given me the space I’d asked for, yes, but then, when I was ready to talk, he’d given me the cold shoulder. Ghosted me. For real.

I swallowed against the tightness and burning in my throat, blinking back the wetness pooling in my eyes. I fought an internal war within my heart as I lay ensconced in Wesley’s arms in his bed.

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