Page 25 of Tide Touched

When I wake—because I need to pee—I stare up at him. His eyes are closed. He’s never slept here before. Not with me. I get up to relieve myself, shuck on some jammies, then lay back down beside him. The sex was pretty good. I rub tenderly at my breasts. I even liked what he did there. But the hair-pulling… As I lay beside him, I look at the bruise on his side, darker than I’d first thought and find sympathy welling inside me.

Carter’s eyes open as I settle beside him. I press a hand to his cheek. ‘Thanks for staying.’

His face is open, calm. Sincere. He nods, as though he would do nothing less than what he’d promised.

‘Why would you want me to hit you?’ My voice is quiet in the late hour, like a secret held close.

Carter blinks, as though it’s obvious. ‘Punishment.’

I frown. ‘That’s crazy.’

He shakes his head slowly, then opens his arms for me, hope blooming in his eyes.

I make a face. ‘You’re cold.’

‘Do you want me to go?’

‘No.’

Carter smiles, and it’s a relief to see. ‘Then come warm me up, my little Fire wolf.’

Chapter Fourteen

Killian

The day passes in a long stretch of traveling. Even with shifter healing, my feet and legs ache with the exertion. I’ve never travelled this much before, but I know the way by the scents of Water Pack wolves on the breeze.

Beside me, Moira walks with a scowl etched permanently on her brow. I know she’s going through every possibility of what Katherine could be enduring. Just as I am.

We walk in silence, save for the puffing of our breath as we begin to ascend a slight hill. I whip out a hand, nearly winding Moira, who shoots me a filthy look, but I raise my head. I smell something. Someone.

A moment later, the others smell it too, their noses rising to the air.

A deep, earth scent, like freshly turned dirt after rain, washes over us. ‘Earth Pack,’ I murmur. My four guards flank Moira and I. ‘Identify yourselves! I am Killian, son of the Fire Alpha.’

The sky is overcast, thick and bulging with grey clouds ready to burst with rain. The sunlight barely leaks through, but it’s bright enough to see the two dozen figures emerge from the trees several paces away. The man at the front raises his hands placatingly. ‘We didn’t mean to cross paths with Fire Pack. We didn’t know you’d be here.’

Patrick snarls. ‘Killian ordered you to identify yourselves.’

The earth man, perhaps a year or two older than me, smirks. ‘That he did. I’m Elijah, Earth Pack.’ He jerks this thumb behind him. ‘As are they.’

I step forward. ‘What are you doing so close to Water Pack territory, and their alpha estate, at that, Elijah?’

The man is tall, muscular, with dirt-brown hair. He has an air of arrogance I recognise. He’s someone of importance. In his lands, anyway. His gaze slides behind me, to land on my reinforcements? His green eyes widen.

I glance behind me. He and Moira are staring at each other. I frown. ‘Elijah,’ I snap, impatient.

Elijah drags his gaze back to me. ‘That’s… not your concern. We’ll be on our way.’

Moira steps forward. ‘We could use the help, actually.’

I spin to face her. ‘Earth are not our allies,’ I remind her.

‘Well, Water was our ally, and they abducted my best friend. I’d rather be friends with them.’ She inclines her head to the group. To Elijah.

I rub a hand over my face.

‘If you’re in need of aid…?’ Elijah says.

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