Page 148 of The Wolf King's Mate

“Did the wolves leave the forest?”

“No.”

I closed my eyes.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you. The doctor thinks the mate bond may change how the transformations affect you. You might be able to rely on my energy, too. We could change all the mated humans, and stop there.”

“So we could change a human every other day?” I whispered. “There are ten thousand mated humans, Enzo. And so many others who will take mates if that’s what it takes to get themselves turned.”

“We’re going to figure it out.”

“Are we?”

“Yes.” He ran his hand slowly down the length of my hair. “Trust me, Princess.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did.

If Enzo said he would protect me, he would do it. No matter what it took.

“Do you think you could get some food down?”

The idea made me queasy. “No.”

“Alright. The next time you’re up, I’m going to make you eat double.”

“Mmkay.”

He pulled me closer, and I fell back asleep against his chest.

Everything was going to work out. I had to believe that Enzo could make that true somehow.

The next timeI woke up, I was feeling a lot stronger. He carried me to the kitchen, and I sat on the counter while he cooked for me. When I asked for a shirt, he helped me into one of his long-sleeved ones. It was old, soft, and had his scent basically woven into the fabric.

His hands and arms brushed my skin frequently as he cooked. It felt nice. Really nice.

After we ate, I curled up in his arms in the chair he occupied. He hadn’t offered me my own seat, and I didn’t ask for one. I didn’t feel steady, and he seemed to want me on his lap anyway.

“Everyone wants to see you,” he said, “But we can’t let them.”

“Who’s everyone?”

“Fletcher. Your parents. My brothers. The pack.”

“The pack?”

“Everyone knows Nova is still unconscious and healing, so most of them just want to see whether or not you’re in good enough shape to turn someone else,” he grumbled. “And to mate with me.”

“How many days until the full moon?”

“It’s the day after tomorrow.”

“There might be time to?—”

“No.” He knew what I was going to say, and didn’t even consider it. “We’re not discussing that. It’s not an option. We seal the bond when you’re healthy, or we don’t seal it at all. And not sealing it isn’t an option. The longer we wait, the more likely someone will get brave enough to try to take you from me.”

I nodded reluctantly. “What are we supposed to do until then? And why can’t we let our families see me?”

“Well,theycan see you. It’s the pack I don’t want involved.”

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