Page 82 of Frost Wolf

25

SOREN

We arrived at Yana’s house a few hours later. My pack would take care of the bodies. Will was healthy, thanks to Yana, and I was sure that Torin would take care of business in my place. My mate came first. She needed me.

Yana was still covered in blood. She had slept during the drive with her head pressed against my chest.

I opened the door, and the cat jumped in front of me, meowing.

“Hi, buddy. She’s fine.”

My pack would laugh. Cats fear us, but this one rubbed himself against my legs.

“He’s hungry,” Yana muttered from my chest.

“How are you, my sweet girl?”

“Tired, so tired.”

“Let’s get you a bath and put you to bed.”

“Feed Spike, please.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, I can walk alone upstairs.”

“No, let me put you in the bath.”

She nodded. I would not allow her to walk on wobbly legs.

The water filled the tub. I elongated my claws and ripped off Yana’s dirty clothes. She stood there, naked, her eyes looking lost.

“He loved me, you know. He loved me.”

She said the words more to herself. I lifted her in my arms and put her in the half-full tub. Warm water covered her scratches. Using a cloth, I rubbed away the dried blood.

“That feels nice.”

Yana had her eyes closed. Tears ran down her face.

“I can’t believe Nick could do such things. My entire life was a lie.”

My wolf roared. I cupped her pretty face and kissed her gently on her nose.

“Your life is not a lie. Our mating bond is real. I’m real, and I would give my life for you. Your father was real. He loved you. The pack, your family, your work, the fact that you’re a healer. This is all real.”

The cat slipped through the door and jumped on the tub’s edge, trying to rub itself against Yana.

“Even the damn cat adores you.”

She smiled. It was a soft smile.

“It just hurts. I spent so many years trying to make Nick happy, doing my best to work at our relationship only to find out he never loved me, that I was only a mark to him.”

“That’s all gone now.”

“Soren, you have blood there.”

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