Page 7 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

Kyle shook his head. "It's just something we call him. I meant Ajax. He knows how to reach me if you start to feel worse. As for now, rest up, doctor's orders."

After Kyle left, an awkward silence filled the room. I sat up slowly, rubbing the back of my head where it had hit the floor.

"Are you okay?"Mazie asked, her voice laced with concern.

I nodded, though my head was pounding. "I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've walked into a door."

A hint of a smile played on her lips. "Do you make it a habit of running into them often?"

"Only when beautiful women are in my bedroom,"I replied without thinking. Heat rushed to my face when I realized what I had said. "I mean...not that there are ever..."I trailed off, clearing my throat.

Mazie giggled, the sound melodic to my ears. She clutched the sheet tighter around herself.

I stood awkwardly. "I'll, uh, let you get dressed now."

As I turned to leave, her small hand grabbed my wrist. I looked down at her touch, electricity coursing through me.

"Please, don't leave me alone,"she said softly.

My heart ached at the fear in her voice. I sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.

"I won't leave you,"I promised. My hand found hers, dwarfing it in my extensive grasp. Her skin was so soft, so warm.

She peered up at me through her messy curls. At that moment, everything else faded away. It was just her mesmerizing hazel eyes looking into mine. I noticed things about her I hadn't before - the smattering of freckles across her cheeks, the fullness of her lips. She was breathtaking.

Neither of us spoke. We didn't need to. Slowly, I leaned in, watching her closely for any hesitation. When I saw none, my lips met hers in a gentle kiss.

Warmth spread through me at her touch. In that kiss, I knew she felt the same connection I did. I had found my mate. And I would never let her go.

3

MAZIE

Imust have fallen asleep after slipping into Ajax's warm T-shirt and black boxer briefs. After I rolled the waist, they fit well enough not to fall off. I dozed off, knowing that at least when I awakened, Ajax would be there.

I even remembered waking up a few times at night, and Ajax was there to brush back my hair or hold my hand every time I whimpered. I looked over at the chair he'd slept in, but he wasn't there any longer. I felt a pang of guilt for forcing him to stay with me. There was also the familiar self-loathing attempting to claw its way out.

Confidence had never been my strong suit, but I had seen improvement through therapy. A child of the foster care system, I had been shuffled from place to place, never really having a proper home.

All my life, I just wanted to belong to someone and be unique to someone. My therapy taught me I didn't need anyone to be fulfilled, but that didn't stop me from longing. It didn't stop the hurt the abandoned little girl had always felt when left behind.

Here I was, alone once again.

Feeling far too lonely in Ajax's enormous bed, I climbed off andnoticed a space underneath the side table. I knew it was a regression to hide in small spaces, but Dr. Baker had pushed much further than ever before.

Snagging the sheet, I climbed under the side table and covered myself with it. Then I began my breathing techniques once again. In my third round, I smelled him coming into the room.

How could I smell someone from across a room when I was wrapped up in a sheet? The weirdness of the situation was almost more than I could handle.

"Hey," he walked straight over to where I was hiding but didn't touch me. "Are you alright?"

I didn't answer. Because honestly, I wasn't alright. Unless I had been heavily drugged and dreamed the last twenty-four hours, and that wasn't likely.

"I'm going to pull you out, Mazie girl," he warned me right before I felt his hands grasp my waist.

I allowed him to pull me out, and quickly, I wrapped myself around him like a baby cub.

I felt more than heard his soft chuckle. "You're so sweet. I'm sorry you've been through such an ordeal. Do you want some breakfast?"

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