Page 98 of Savage Desire

“Have you spoken to anyone about it?” I ask, real concern taking hold of me as I connect with the helplessness she’s sinking in.

She sniffs, wiping at her nose as she shakes her head. “No. There’s no one for me to talk to. Not in the coven at least. Everyone’s acting strange and none of it makes sense.”

“How can I help you, Bryony?” I murmur, and her eyes snap to mine. “Apart from that,” I add, making it clear exactly where I stand, and she sighs, completely deflated.

“I’ll figure it out, Polaris. Thanks,” she breathes before rushing off toward the dorms.

My heart aches at her despair, and the people pleaser in me immediately feels bad for declining her offer, but if I only learn one thing here, I want it to be the knowledge of putting my own thoughts and emotions before others.

Torn over what to do, I glance back at the academy building, my stomach grumbling since I haven’t eaten a single thing yet, but my view is obstructed by a white-haired wolf with a stack of two pizza boxes in his hand.

He shuffles from foot to foot as he eyes me before clearing his throat. “I was hoping we could talk now,” he states, and I exhale.

“This morning has been a lot. I’m…” I look down at my arms, the bruises hidden beneath my jacket, and I bite back the urge to cry, or scream, or whatever release my body is searching for as I turn back to him. “I don’t know if I have the mental or physical capacity for anything right now,” I admit, and his eyes narrow as he likely catches a glimpse of the swelling on my face.

“Bianca hurt you.” It’s a statement, not a question. One I can’t deny. He wipes a hand down his face as he balances the pizza before offering me his hand. “Please, Silver. Let me takecare of you. Even if we don’t talk just… let me make sure you’re okay.”

I glance at his upward turned palm, then to his face, repeating the motion three times before I settle on his marbled eyes and place my hand in his.

“Don’t make me regret it,” I mutter, and he smiles.

“Never.”

35

POLARIS

He doesn’t release my hand. I didn’t expect him to. Maybe I would have been disappointed if he did. I let him lead me along the pathway that edges the manicured lawn, but doubt starts to kick in as we head toward the dorms, bypassing the onyx witches’ building as we go.

“I don’t know if coming to your dorm is a good idea,” I blurt, my pace slowing slightly, and he offers me a tight smile as he continues to balance the pizza boxes in his other hand.

“I thought it might be better than me intruding on your space,” he states.

“We could find a place outside,” I consider, glancing around in the hopes that somewhere will stand out to me, but he swiftly steps in front of me, bringing my attention to his face.

“You’re hurt, Silver. Let me help.”

The pleading in his eyes is clear, and despite the fact that I know it’s not a good idea, I don’t refuse as he carries on toward the wolf dorm.

It’s quiet as we head inside, reminding me everyone else will be in the dining hall for lunch. He doesn’t say a word as he leads me up the stairs before opening the door across from Tatum’s room.

Stepping inside, I hope to catch a glimpse of the man he is, but the walls are as bare as mine, his personality utterly invisible in the space he calls his own. Gray curtains frame the window across from me, the bedding to our left matching the shades while drawers line the wall to our right.

His fingers release mine as he drops down on his bed, spreading the pizza boxes out as he does. “Eat first. I know you skipped breakfast,” he murmurs, immediately giving me a pointed look. However, I remain frozen in place, arms gingerly wrapped around my waist and my bag hooked over my shoulder.

“I’m okay.”

“I’m sure you are, but you need to take care of yourself, and if you don’t, then unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with me doing it instead.” The thin line of his lips confirms he’s not going to budge on the matter, and right on cue, my stomach grumbles, siding with him. The gleam of victory shines brightly in his eyes as I shuffle the short distance to his bed, choosing to sit on the other side of the pizza boxes to keep as much distance between us as possible.

Avoiding his stare, I eat as ordered, biting back groan after groan as I enjoy the deliciousness that is a cheesy pizza. It’s simple compared to some of the options I’ve seen in the dining hall, but sometimes things don’t need to be fancy, they just need to be delicious.

Five slices down and I can’t eat a single bite more. Asher must sense the limit I’ve reached because he’s discarding the leftovers a moment later. My heart rate picks up the moment he turns back to me, and the intent stare in his eyes tells me we’re not going to address the elephant in the room first.

“Let me take a look at you.”

I shake my head. “We should talk first,” I insist, and he offers me half a smile as he shrugs.

“You can hate me until the end of time, Silver, but I’m checking you over first. It’s my job, remember?” he states, turning to his nightstand. He pulls a pot out of the top drawer before returning to me. “Will it help ifIhelp or can you?—”

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