Page 11 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

Her wide eyes looked both terrified and curious. The last thing I wanted was to move too quickly with her.

"How about you trust your Daddy?" I asked. "I think we need to get you something to eat, and then we ought to talk about what happened yesterday."

Her emotional retreat was palpable.

"Hey, I know things are pretty crazy for you right now," I assured her. "As much as I want you physically, I want to ensure you are cared for in every way. Does that make sense?"

She nodded hesitantly.

"I promise you, Mazie girl. I will protect you. Do you trust me?"

I half expected her to tell me no—hell, I wouldn't have blamed her—but she answered quietly, "Yes, Daddy."

I kissed the top of her head. "That's my girl."

And I meant it.

Mazie was sittingon the couch across from me two hours later, laughing as we watched some of her old TikTok videos.

"So this is what a plus-size fashion influencer does," I said with a grin.

She shook her head. "It's only part of what I do. I make shorter videos on Instagram and TikTok, but on YouTube, I upload longer videos ranging from plus-size fashion to beauty and lifestyle tips. Working to build my platform has been a challenge."

"I can't even imagine the work you've put into your career. Has that always been your dream?"

Mazie tucked one of her knees underneath her and then cradled the other. With her face freshly washed and her hair pulled up into a messy bun, she looked far different than the glammed-up fashion model from her social media channels.

Either way, she was stunning. But I hoped she knew that and didn't believe she needed the makeup or the lashes to be pretty.

"I suppose,"she said slowly. "I guess that for me, it was a matter of knowing that I had to make a living, but I also didn't do very well in public spaces with many people.I'msure you've noticed I am very anxious."

I had noticed, but I didn't want her to feel shame over something she couldn't help. "You aren't nervous now,"I said instead. You may need to get to know the people you're around. Besides your family, there aren't that many who fit into that category.

Mazie wrinkled her face."Well, I don't have a family or even close friends. Oh, I have loads of people who talk to me online or ask questions about my platform. I'm not lonely, not really. I have my therapist, Dr. Baker. She's always trying to get me to meet people in the 'real world,’ as she calls it. She doesn't understand how scary that is for me."

Understanding filled my mind. Suddenly, her intense reaction yesterday made sense. Not only had she awakened in a strangeplace, but encountering two strange men in the process was likely more than her system could take.

I nodded, trying to convey empathy through my gaze. "It makes sense. The online world feels safer and more in your control. Meeting new people in person can be daunting."

Mazie looked down, tracing her finger along the grain of the wood table. "Yeah. I guess that's why I freaked out yesterday—waking up here with you two strangers around. It was too much. I'm sorry I caused such a scene."

"You have nothing to apologize for,"I said firmly. "I can't imagine how frightening that must have been. But know this - you are safe here. We would never harm you."

She glanced up, eyes glistening. "But why? Why do you care about me at all?"

I sighed, unsure how to explain our instant connection. The bond of true mates connected two individuals on a level that the average human couldn't understand. However, beyond that, there was something about her that even Kyle felt. How do I express it? "Sometimes you just meet someone and know they're meant to be in your life. From the moment I first saw you unconscious in the snow, I felt drawn to you. I want to help you, to see you flourish. And I sense you need that, too."

A single tear escaped down her cheek. She brushed it away hastily. "I'm sorry. No one's ever said anything like that to me."

My heart ached, and I wished she could see herself as I saw her—a woman of courage, beauty, and immeasurable worth.

"And I grew up in the system,"she said quickly. "I know that's usually the next question. No, I never knew my parents. I spent most of my growing up in one foster home or another. There were a couple of stints in a group home when an individual placement couldn't be found. I aged out at eighteen."

"Where did you go?"I asked, praying that she didn't say the street.

"A woman at the homeless shelter would save a place for me in her office. She said that I was too pretty to allow me to sleep with the other displaced individuals. She knew a lot about thesystem and helped to get me into therapy and government housing."

"Do you see her very often anymore?"I couldn't help but ask.

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