He took her hand and linked their fingers. “That you become my mate, in both human and wolf forms.”
“Is that because of the bond thing you keep mentioning?”
“Yes.” He studied her face. “You feel it?”
“I do.” Tamaska’s heart swelled and she couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
“Then you’ll be my mate?”
“I will.” She leaned over, and kissed him softly. His salty taste burst on her lips, along with his promise.
Their kiss deepened, rolling slowly, full of passion, heat, and sweetness. She wrapped her arms around him, falling into the world of the kiss, of all it held and he pulled her closer, growling softly so that her body came alive with that sweet ache of need.
“Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but I haven’t finished,” said Roan, clearing his throat.
“Oh, I’m fine,” said Kodiak. “More than fine. And would be even better if you went the fuck away.”
“Yes, I see you are, but Tamaska isn’t,” said Roan, holding up a needle and thread.
Tamaska swallowed hard, and stood. “Is that for me?”
“Yep. Now, sit back down so I can stitch you up. That’s a nasty gash.”
Tamaska sat next to Kodiak.
“I need to clean it up first,” said Roan, putting down the needle and thread. “This is going to sting.”
Tamaska braced herself and he got himself ready.
“Fuck.” Agonizing stings flooded her senses as he started to clean the wound, and she closed her eyes and held her breath.
“Fuck. Are you done yet?” she said, her voice tight with pain.
No one spoke for a long moment.
“Just getting started.” Roan patted the wound as he cleaned the outside with gauze. She moaned at the pain. “How did you get this gash?”
Tamaska didn’t like his tone. Something was wrong.
“I don’t remember. Everything happened so fast.” She opened her eyes and frowned.
“It doesn’t look like a fang mark,” said Roan. He turned her arm to one side, then the other, inspecting the wound.
“What else could have made it?” asked Tamaska. “A knife?”
“It’s not a clean cut, so it can’t be from a knife.” He looked at her with concern in his eyes, then glanced at Kodiak.
“What, then?” growled Kodiak. “Out with it.”
“It was a claw.”
“What does that mean?” Tamaska glanced from one of the men to the other. “K-Kodiak?
“Are you fucking sure about that, Roan?” asked Kodiak.
“Yes.”
“Think, Tamaska,” he said. “Were you fighting near any wolves?”