Page 121 of Blade's Battle
“Healing powers aren’t always passed on to a human. Did you heal faster after your first blood-bond?”
“That’s not the same—”
“Why, because the facts don’t suit you here and now? As for your other claim, someone’s been lying to you. An alpha can withstand the dangers of blood-bonding a human, as I’ve done. By pack law, you are mine, Anna.”
Damien pulled her away from Drake and pushed her toward Blade. She was tired of being pushed and pulled everywhere. It seemed everyone thought they owned her. When had she ceased to be Anna Carson? She’d married Kurt and become Anna Winters. Then she’d been single again A widow until her next designation as Drake’s prisoner. Then she’d become Blade’s girl and now she was to be his mate. When would she get to simply be Anna?
Anna turned her back on the entire group and walked away. Several shifters called out her to her, though she couldn’t make out who or what they said precisely. She kept walking into the woods, not sure where she was going or why, only that it was what she needed to do.
Then someone lifted her up and cradled her. She shut her eyes and let her head drop against the hard chest even as the last bit of energy drained from her. She didn’t need to see or smell who held her. She knew he’d find her. Blade would always find her. After all, he was the other half of her soul.
* * *
BLADE
Blade’s entire world seemed to disappear when Anna walked away. It didn’t matter who was shouting, or the threats of war bouncing around him. His Angel was hurting, wounded, and walking off into the woods as if she’d been cast out. Blade didn’t wait for permission to leave his alpha. Nor did he have to fight Frank and Hayden to get away from them. Their hold had ceased the moment Anna punched Drake and started walking away. They knew she needed him, and that he needed her.
He caught up to her in seconds, scooped her into his arms, and kept walking. He didn’t know where she was, but he walked until she told him to stop. She was still healing from injuries and recovering from a virus. The emotional wounds, the ones she’d never shared with him, had laid buried for far too long. Maybe she’d share them with him in time. Until then, he’d carry her wherever she needed to go.
The moment her arms went around his neck and her head leaned against his chest, he felt complete. She knew it was him, accepted him. It was enough, more than enough. He walked until the moon rose high in the sky. Even when she drifted off to sleep, he kept walking. Only when it started to rain did he seek shelter. It wouldn’t do for her to get soaked, not with how compromised her system already was.
Before he entered the cave, he scented the air, to make sure there were no animals inside. The cave itself was shallow but dry. He sat down against the back wall, holding Anna in his lap and watched the rain fall.
A hand cupped his cheek. He must have drifted off at some point for the smell of wet dirt and sunshine already filled the cave. The only sounds he heard was the rain dripping from the trees and the even breathing of his Anna. He was in no rush to open his eyes, given how warm and loving that touch against his face was, but he needed to make sure she was well.
“Morning, Angel.”
Bright blue eyes stared at him. She was still curled in his lap, a perfect fit. Despite the color in her cheeks, her muscles tensed. Anna was nervous. “I don’t remember much of last night,” she said as she glanced toward the cave entrance and the sunshine pouring in. “Or how we got here.”
He lifted her as he rose. “You walked away.”
She stared at her hand, confused. “Did we blood-bond?”
Hell. She didn’t remember any of it. “Drake interrupted the ceremony. Said you were already blood-bonded to him.”
Blue eyes flared. “I. . . I. . .” The terror in her face said enough. No matter what Drake claimed, or what proof the alpha had, Blade knew Anna had not willingly blood-bonded him.
“Breathe, Angel. Nice and slow.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t care what Drake said, you’re not bonded to him.”
She turned her palm upward, showing him the scar.
“A forced blood-bond is meaningless. No one will recognize it, least of all me.”
From her slender fingers at the back of his neck to her legs stretched over his arms, her entire body relaxed. “I pushed it out of my head,” she said, as she rubbed her palm against her side, as one would wipe away dirt.
“I think at some point you may need to talk about it with someone. It doesn’t have to be me. Tess, or Frank, or a human in town somewhere, a counselor maybe.”
“Why Frank?”
“He doesn’t gossip, and he’s a good listener. And you seem comfortable around him.”
“I’m not ready to talk.” She lowered her head, away from him. That wouldn’t do.
Blade kissed her head. “There’s no rush.”
At the sound of a branch snapping outside, Anna jumped.
“You’re safe. We’re near a deer trail. They’ve been through all morning.”
