Page 11 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
He snorted disbelieving my reply. “Even if it didn’t concern you, I want you more involved if you’re to become Luna.”
My eye bugged and panic set in. Initiating a Luna meant a ceremony where all the supernatural societies were invited, which included the hunters. That meant my father.
“Breathe, Isabel. Nothing is decided yet. We have plenty of time to figure things out.” I nodded trying to calm myself. “But eventually he’ll have to be informed. You’re mine. I’m not letting you go without a fight.”
“And if I wanted to go.”
He balked back like I punched him. “Is that what you want?”
I considered his words before shaking my head. “No.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was stiff but let me tug him closer. “This is what I want, with you.” When I pressed my lips to his they were firm and unmoving. Pulling back, I could see the hurt in his eyes. “Gideon?”
“Do not ever ask me that again,” he growled. His tone made me want to blow up or cringe, I wasn’t sure which. “I know you do not understand what mating means and whether you believe it or not the connection would not have been made without you wanting it. I meant it when I said I wouldn’t let you go without a fight and if that means I’m fighting against your own self-destructive behavior than I will.” He threw back the covers and climbed out of bed.
“Self-destructive?” I sniped, sitting up covering myself with the bedding wishing I wasn’t naked if we were going to argue. Gideon turned from his path to the closet to face me. Even with his anger bubbling around him, I still let my eyes dance across his masculine form.
“Oh come on, Isabel. You’ve been fighting against what you want since the moment you arrived. Whether it’s because you can’t allow yourself to be happy or if it’s the close mindedness the hunters have drilled into you, I don’t know. But you struggle to admit that you want me.”
“I do want you.”
“And it took you weeks to admit that even after we had sex. We’ve mated. The bond is secured and yet you still can’t admit that you feel it. Do you understand how infuriating that is? To have a woman that Iknowdesires more from me but who is too damn stubborn to admit it.”
“Did you not just hear me say I want you?”
“Yes, you’re finally able to admit you enjoy us fucking but what about our mating, Isabel? What about that?” he spun heading into the closet.
I threw back the bedding following after him, no longer caring about being naked. “Do you understand what I could lose?”
He paused tugging on his pants upon hearing my words. Glancing over his shoulder he replied, “Do you know what you could gain?”
My mouth fell agape. His words struck like a dagger to my chest. I had no idea how incredibly selfish I’d been until that moment.
“You’re right,” I called out when he turned to leave with the remainder his suit in hand causing him to pause at the threshold. “I’ve only been thinking about my life with the Hunter Order. I haven’t even allowed myself to consider wanting anything else. That was supposed to be my life. I grew up knowing what I was to become and the mate of the Alpha wasn’t it.”
“Isabel, you do understand that if I succeed in bringing the wolves out into the open your life there would change anyway?”
I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself feeling incredibly exposed. “I’m afraid to want this, Gideon. What if you’re wrong and I allow myself to want this and your real mate shows or your interest in me fades?”
“Isabel,” he breathed. He closed the distance between us in a few strides. Cupping my face between his palms, he forced me to meet his eyes. They were swimming with sympathy. “That will never happen. Even before I knew we were mates, I craved you in a way that I have never wanted another woman. The moment we kissed I was hooked. When we first fucked, I knew I had to have you again. The surprise I felt when my wolf claimed you wasn’t just that you were a hunter, but because I couldn’t understand how I hadn’t seen what we were before? All this time, my mate right under my nose, but I couldn’t do anything after that. I couldn’t seal the bond not as long as you were my prisoner. Releasing you was the hardest thing because I knew I could lose you and yet I desperately wanted to do it. If you stayed it was because you felt this too.”
“I do feel it, Gideon, but I’m afraid of it.”
“I wish I could make you understand how unnecessary that fear is when it comes to this. Are you mine, Isabel?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. Are you mine?”
He grinned running the pad of his thumb over my lips. “You’re stuck with me forever. A mating bond can only be broken with death and I plan on us both living a long time.” His green eyes glinted wickedly just before he kissed me. He eased the kiss back placing one last peck before pulling away. “I brought your laptop up last night. You apparently left it in the car.”
My eyes bugged surprised I’d forgotten it. He gestured his head to the table in the corner silently answering the question I hadn’t asked.
“What time is it?” I wondered curiously.
He checked his watch. “Just after nine.”
My eyes widened. “I need to call Eric.” I headed to the computer and flung open the screen. Looking for the app I needed, I was just about to dial before Gideon laughed. “What?”
“You’re not going to call him like that are you?”
I glanced down realizing I was completely naked. I spent so much time without my clothes on around Gideon that I hadn’t even realized that it might be an issue for someone else.
