Page 17 of Make Me Bleed

Up until that moment, IwantedHank to be my beloved. He’s handsome. Strong. He doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that, as my mate, he’ll have to feed me because anyone else’s blood will taste vile in comparison once we’re fully bonded. He just made it clear he’s attracted to me, and after some of the things Bridget teasingly confided in me about her shifter mate, I’m liking the idea of having a strapping predator of my own.

I wouldn’t have to worry about Peter anymore. No Julian propositioning me for sex in exchange for his blood. If they even tried to bother me, I’d have a bear to roar and send them running.

But hisden?

Conall said Hank lives out in the woods. He had to have clothes nearby to cover up, and it doesn’t take a genius to deduce that he most likely makes his den inside of the dark, dank above ground cave off of the clearing where I found him sleeping.

Dark, I repeat. Enclosed. Not as small as a coffin, but even after dealing with my trauma for more then seventy years, the thought of willingly walking into a cave where the shadows can suffocate me has my body shaking as I clasp my hands together in front of my chest.

Bridget knows about my past. I had to tell her when she invited me to help her search the underground caves for the fireopal. When she sees my reaction, she completely understand why I would shut down at Hank’s suggestion.

Always protective, she grits her teeth. “Yeah. That’s not happening.”

“That so? I don’t hear Lise over there tellin’ me ‘no’, so I can’t imagine why such a wee thing like you thinks it’s okay to get between a male and his mate.

Conall growls under his breath, but Bridget stops him by holding up her hand. A moment later, it’s covered in fire again as she dares Hank to even try to make a move nearer to me.

“Witch?” he asks.

“You know it.”

He nods, impressed. “Li’l firebug, you are. And protective of my mate. Friends?”

“Bestfriends.”

The way Bridget claims me like that does more to warm me up than her fire does. In all my years, I had acquaintances and I had colleagues, but she’s my first true friend. It always amazes me that she feels the same.

“Then I hope you and me will be friends, too. And the wolf,” he adds before Conall’s jealousy takes over. “Anyone who’s lookin’ out for her is someone I can be friendly with. And I’m tryin’. I just…” He looks imploringly at Conall. “Is stickin’ your foot in your mouth after first meetin’ your mate a shifter thing? Or a male thing?”

“Both,” Conall says flatly, though there’s a hint of amusement in his gold eyes.

“Noted.” Hank bobs his head again. “Okay. I see I done fucked it up somehow. The witch looks like she’s gonna set my fur on fire, and my mate seems like she’s about to pass out. I know I’m a big fella. Haven’t sheared off my hair in a while. Probably need a good dunk in the river… but I toldja. You don’t have to be scared of me.”

It’s not him I’m scared of. It’s…

“This is new for me, too,” he says, lowering his voice to a soft drawl. “I didn’t expect none of this, thought I’d be lyin’ if I said this…you…ain’t a dream come true for this ol’ bear.” He takes another deep breath. “But I can scent your fear.” He gentle his voice. “And I can’t stand the idea of my mate bein’ afraid of me.”

Hank exhales. His hands still in his pockets, he bows his back forward, closing in on himself as if trying to make himself appear smaller.

“Elise?”

I dare a peek at him again. “Yes?” I whisper.

“You know where to find me. I know where to find you. This… we’re mates.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I know that. I’m hopin’ you don, too. I have your mark. I’m not goin’ anywhere… so I’ll be waitin’ out by my den for you to join me. When you’re not afraid. Understand?”

Understand?

I blink, then I slowly nod my head.

He quirks his lips in a crooked smile. “Good.” Blowing out a rush of air through his nose, he address the rest of the house. “I’ll wait as long as she needs. Hell, I’ll wait forever if it means she looks at me like I’m worth it instead of like she’s scared.”

And then, before anyone can say another word to the big bear, he turns on his heel, padding away from Conall’s house.

Stunned, Bridget looks over at me. “That’s it? He’s, uh, just leaving?”

I don’t answer her. Not because I’m still terrified at the thought of joining him in his dark, quiet den out in the woods. I mean, Iam, but the way Hank fought against his urges to claim me, giving me what I needed rather than taking what he wanted?

He’s already taking care of me the way only a predatory shifter can.

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