Page 37 of Shadows of the Soul

Dave raised his hands in the air and backed out of the room. “So you’re aware, your Aunt Liz is on her way back.”

I groaned at the thought of explaining myself and Hudson to her. Then again, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. She was shacking up with the second most powerful shifter in North America.

“He’s gone,” Hudson said. I lifted my head and met his hazel eyes, which were laughing at me. “We can continue this tonight.”

“Tonight, sure, maybe.”

He arched a brow. “Got a hot date?”

“Nope, got a growing house of aunts, a spirit problem, and the foliage has turned deadly. Tonight might be quiet, but recent events suggest not.”

I climbed off Hudson with one last look at his magnificent body. “Hey, Cora,” he said, leaning forward.

“Yes?” I asked, hunting in dismay for my clothes to only find my robe. Walk of shame it was. Rebecca would be in her element.

“Where’s home? And why does the devil want access?”

Icy fear coated my veins as I blinked at the knot in my robe and tried to pull my thoughts together. I had two options: I could lie or declare it to be top secret information. I spun to face him.

“Home is complicated. Technically, you are on the grounds of my home right now. However, I’ve had homes in different towns, and originate from somewhere else. So really, I’d need the context.”

“What did you mean last night?”

Last night? What the hell did I say last night? “Last night I came to tell you I think Lucifer did what he did in order to follow us back to my house and geographically know where I live.”

“Why?”

I shrugged, aiming for causal nonchalance. He narrowed his gaze. Too damn observant. I had to fall for a crazy, suspicious asshole who was capable of sniffing out a lie three miles away. At this rate, Hudson would uncover all my secrets before the week was out. I wanted to trust him, but I’d been taught and conditioned that those who knew my secrets would murder me for them.

“This is one of those things that requires that trust we are building,” I answered honestly. “I won’t lie to you, but I also won’t lay myself bare.”

“I see.”

He got off the bed and pulled his jeans on. A little part of my soul fractured at the hurt look in his eyes. I reached out a hand and touched his shoulder. I expected a rebuttal. He spun, grabbed my hand, and yanked me into his arms. My breath burst from my lungs at the contact.

“Do you understand what being a mate means?” he growled low.

“Family, partnership, protection.”

He nodded and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Protection against all others, you would be my priority. Whatever secrets haunt your soul, you can trust me to take care of you, to keep you safe. Without all the information, and with the devil on your trail, I can’t do my job as your mate.”

“We aren’t mated.”

He clasped my hand and pushed it over his heart. It thudded, sure and steady. I gazed up into his cat eyes. “My animal has accepted you, it knows. And whatever you are hiding inside you, also knows.” I bristled as he continued. “Our human sides need a second to catch up, but when they do, we will be mated. In the meantime, try to tell me everything you can so I can protect you.”

“I have told you everything I can, anything more would endanger you.”

His lips tipped up. “I can take care of myself.”

“As can I, Principal. If you are looking for a damsel in distress to hide away in your castle, I’m not the woman for you. I won’t apologize for being capable, and I won’t make myself less to make you feel comfortable in your masculinity.”

A deep laugh rumbled from him. “And you have no idea how attractive that makes you. I lead the shifters of the North American packs. I offer them protection and safety, but my mate needs to stand strong at my side, and hold her own, not cower when trouble comes knocking. I stopped underestimating you the day you stood on the porch in cut-off jeans with the sun shining through your copper hair like fire and declared yourself as the undertaker. Only a fool would attempt to contain your power, Cora, and I’m no fool.”

He sealed the promise of acceptance with a kiss, hooking another tether from my heart to his. I was screwed. So utterly and completely screwed. And in this moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care one iota.

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

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