Chapter Nine
944 Words
James’s POV
The sweet scent of honeysuckle and vanilla filled my senses as I slowly woke.
I blinked the sleep from my eyes and looked beside me.
Lilith was still fast asleep, her small hand resting safely in mine.
A smile spread across my face.
She was alive.
For a moment, all I could do was watch her peaceful expression. Relief settled over me like a warm blanket.
Then reality hit me.
How in the world was I supposed to explain all of this to her?
She didn’t even know werewolves existed.
I sighed, carefully slipping my hand from hers.
The second I did, her fingers searched the blankets, trying to find my hand again.
A laugh escaped me.
I leaned down and gently pressed a kiss against her forehead.
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered.
“You know she woke up last night.”
I turned to find Quinn leaning against the doorway with an amused smile.
“She did?” I asked, unable to hide the excitement in my voice.
Quinn nodded. “You were passed out like a baby.”
She crossed her arms. “Every time she tried to pull her hand away, you tightened your grip and growled in your sleep.”
Heat crept into my face.
“I did not.”
“Oh, you absolutely did.”
She laughed. “You looked like an overprotective guard dog.”
I rolled my eyes.
“She’s a fighter,” I said quietly, looking back at Lilith.
“I knew she’d make it.”
Quinn smiled.
“I’ll give her that. The poison is completely out of her system. And she’s healing faster than I thought she would”
My shoulders relaxed.
“But…” Quinn continued, “…before things go back to normal, you need to tell her the truth.”
I looked at her.
“The sooner she knows what we are, the better.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Easy for you to say. Your mate grew up in this world. I have a human for a mate… I don’t even know if she’ll believe me.”
Quinn laughed.
“Oh, she’ll believe you eventually.”
She grabbed her coat from the hook. “Come on. We need to get her some clothes.”
“She should be able to move into the pack house tonight. I’ll have my Beta go to the apartment and end their lease. Once they get everything settled I want her things in my room.”
Quinn slowly turned to look at me. “I think you’re moving just a little too fast there.”
I grinned.
“I’m moving too fast? Who was it that got pregnant two months after meeting her mate?”
She gasped dramatically.
“I’ll have you know…” She pointed a finger at me. “It was two months and two days.”
I burst into laughter.
“I stand corrected.”
Lilith’s POV
I slowly woke as the soothing tingling sensation disappeared from my hand.
My body instantly craved it again.
Without even thinking, my fingers searched the blankets for him.
He wasn’t there.
A wave of disappointment settled over me.
A moment later, I felt soft lips brush against my forehead.
The simple touch sent sparks racing through my body.
For some strange reason…
I wanted to jump out of bed and kiss him.
The thought startled me.
What is wrong with me?
Instead, I forced myself to stay perfectly still and pretended I was still asleep.
“I’ll give her that. The poison is completely out of her system. And she’s healing faster than I thought she would. But…before things go back to normal, you need to tell her the truth.”
Tell me what?
I fought the urge to open my eyes.
As they continued talking, a thousand different thoughts raced through my head.
What are they hiding from me?
Is this some kind of cult?
Am I being held captive?
Was I kidnapped?
Why was I poisoned?
What if they’re Cannibals?
The more I thought about it, the worse the possibilities became.
I barely noticed when the room fell silent.
A few moments later, I heard the door close.
I waited… Five minutes past Nothing.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. The bright lights almost blinding me. Looking around I noticed the room was empty.
Carefully, I swung my legs over the side of the bed.
As I prompted myself to stand my injured leg protested immediately, but it held my weight.
Not good enough to run… But maybe good enough to defend myself.
I quietly searched the room, trying not to make a sound.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with dried herbs, glass bottles, strange powders, and handwritten notes.
Definitely some kind of healer… or a witch.
I searched through a few cabinets and drawers.
A flash of silver caught my eye.
A scalpel.
“Finally,” I whispered, clutching it tightly against my chest.
I took a shaky breath.
Okay… now get back into bed.
Pretend nothing happened.
Just as I turned around…
Footsteps stopped in the doorway.
My entire body froze.
“What are you doing?”
A deep male voice spoke from behind me.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t breathe.
Every instinct screamed at me to run.
Slow, steady footsteps echoed across the room.
Each one made my heart pound harder against my ribs.
He gently placed his hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face him, and just by the touch of him feeling the tingles running down my arm and back I instantly knew who he was, the mystery man.
- Writer
