Page 81 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

Clay’s body went still. “You know him?”

I took desperate gasps in as I tried to breathe through the fear, the panic, and the overwhelm.

Clay slowly eased my body to his chest.

I was soaked in a layer of sweat and sucking in deep breaths, but he didn’t care.

He pulled me closer, hugging me fiercely, without tightening his grip enough to hurt.

For once, he didn’t say anything.

Clay was usually so good with words—but I could tell that this time, he didn’t know which ones to use.

I didn’t either.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Finally, he said, “I wish I could kill that fucker all over again.”

A rough laugh escaped me. “I’d like to watch, the second time around.”

“Deal.”

“I don’t know what to do now,” I admitted, though it pained me to get the words out. “I don’t know how to go back to living the same way I was. I don’t know how to go back to work. Or how to focus on making myself a new home. Or… how to feel like me. I can barely breathe right now, Savage.”

“That’s okay, Gorgeous.” He pulled me closer. “Do you want my help, or do you just want me to hold you?”

I didn’t have to think about it long.

His presence was nice, but physical contact wasn’t enough to get me through what I was dealing with.

“Help. Please.”

“The way I see it, you have a few options right now. It’s going to take time to get past all this fucked-up shit, and there’s no way around that. At the moment, you can get in my car and push through the bad memories while I drive you to my cabin for heat. We can stay there as long as we want, afterward. Or I can take you to my house and either try to distract you, or hold you while you cry. I’ve got a few other insane ideas, but those are probably the best choices.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Letting him carry me to his place and distract me would be the easiest option. I could pretend none of the bad memories existed for the moment.

But when morning came, I was going to have to get in his car.

And I didn’t want to have this same experience in the morning.

So, there was really only one option.

“Let’s get in your car.”

He kissed my temple.

Then, he lifted me off the ground and carried me into the passenger seat, sitting down with me on his lap.

I inhaled deeply, and his scent eased my fear just a little.

“Do you like the way I smell, Gorgeous?”

“It would be impossible not to.”

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