Page 52 of Haze

Something’s wrong. She’s not in heat. My wolf is quick to observe.

It’s been long enough, her heat could have waned, but this doesn’t seem right. Her body’s hot, and she isn’t strong. The room feels off with unsettled energy.

“Kathleen,” I call to her, “talk to me.”

She shakes her head. “You should go.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I grab her tighter, pulling her to me.

She’s been extremely connected with me the last four days. After our talk, when I told her I’d wait for her to say yes, she leaned into us. I had started to feel her effortlessly in the growing mating bond. Now, the bond between us is feeling painfully thin. It’s almost thready like the pulse of a dying heart.

Lena tries to pull away, and instead of letting her, I hold her down. Putting my legs between hers, I force her to lock eyes with me. Hazel globes, locked on my own, lack the usual fire.

I urge her to explain. “Tell me?”

Lena shuts down. Her defiance is gone. With a feeble whine, she looks away from me. It’s almost submissive.

Her voice is weak. “When do you want to announce you’ve claimed the Ardelean Alpha Female?”

“You can’t be serious.” I pull on her bottom jaw to bring her eyes back to me. “I don’t care about that.”

“Yeah. Sure. That’s why you let yourself into my place, bit me to mark me as yours, and why we’ve had unprotected sex for the last four days? I was in heat. Chances are I’m pregnant. I...” She squirms, fighting under me.

Oh, faolan, what is going on with you?

I hold her still and tilt my neck, exposing my tender shoulder. “You bit me first. You’re not alone in this.”

“You say that now.” A massive tear rolls out of her eye.

“Kathleen,” I rumble lowly, trying to reassure her of my feelings. “I don’t know who has left and hurt you like this, but I’m not going anywhere. If you’re carrying my pup, we’ll talk about it when we know more, but for now, let’s clean up, make some food, and spend time getting to know each other.”

She shakes her head but says nothing. It feels like a dull knife is being forced into my chest and dragged down and out my gut. I know she feels the bond between us starting to grow. From the first night in the bar, she said it herself: my wolf wouldn’t let me walk away.

Sure, it’s only been days of our bond growing, but surely, she must feel some of my happiness and excitement. How does she not know this isn’t about who she is to our people but what she is to me?

Oh, faolan, let me love you. I try to push everything I feel into the bond.

Her stomach heaves. It’s an unsettling sound. I free her and move out of her way as she darts to the bathroom. A second later, a retching sound comes from the bathroom as she empties her stomach’s contents into the bowl.

Briskly I make my way to the kitchen to grab her some water and look for something easy on the stomach. Finding nothing but some plain white bread, I bring her a slice back with the water.

Lena is sitting on the end of the bed. Her nimble fingers work her brown locks into a braid. You’d think after four days in bed, my cock would be spent, but I’m stiff thinking about her whining for release as I wrap my hand around that braid.

I focus back on her needs. She needs me.

Trying not to jostle her, I sit next to her. “Sip slowly.”

Lena doesn’t fight. I press the back of my hand to her forehead. She’s burning up.

“Are you still in heat?” I don’t feel the intense pull of lust from the last few days.

She shakes her head. “I’m sick.”

“Wolves don’t get sick, Kathleen. This is serious.” I reach for the nightstand and my phone.

Lena smacks my hand. “Wolves don’t contract illnesses, but we suffer side effects. We might burn it off faster, but if we drink too much, we do, in fact, get hangovers. It’s a side effect. It should pass.”

“Side effects?” I question with a sinking feeling that puts me on edge, my gut telling me this is more serious.

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