Fates Entwined

53

Wesley shrugged. “Some tea would be nice, I suppose. Thank you.”

We stepped into the kitchen and I immediately headed for the kettle. I was grateful for something to keep my hands busy, but as I filled it from the tap and set it on the stove, the silence became more deafening.

Wesley’s eyes followed me, and I became very aware that I was wearing only a thin black nightgown with nothing on underneath it. No wonder he'd been staring at me. I wanted to hug my hands to my body and hide myself, but that would just draw attention to my lack of proper clothing. I glanced down and saw my n*****s, which were extra large due to breastfeeding, on full display through the thin fabric. How embarrassing.

I kept my eyes down, away from Wesley, and hoped he couldn’t see me blushing. I felt like a kid again with a hopeless crush on my best friend's older brother, following him around and waiting for him to notice me. I hadn’t felt like that for a long time, not since I’d been mated to Aiden. But now those feelings were back and stronger than ever before.

Finally, the silence became too much to bear and I had to say something. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” Wesley said, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “I’ve spent the last few months moving the Cancer pack off the island and back to our village now that the threat from the Sun Witches is over.”

A twinge of bittersweet happiness went through me. I was glad my old pack members were able to return to their home, but I missed it too. “That’s great news,” I said and hoped he couldn’t hear the sadness in my tone. I turned away and busied myself with pulling mugs and tea bags out of the cupboard. “I bet it was hard to be in hiding for so long.”

“It was,” Wesley said. “You know, you’re always welcome to come back anytime.”

I wrapped my hand around the handle of one of the mugs and squeezed a bit to ground myself. “I’m not a Cancer anymore. My parents are dead. I have nothing there."

“You have me,” Wesley said, his voice low and much closer than before. I hadn’t even heard him cross the room, but when I turned around he was right behind me.

“Wesley—” I started but stopped as he took my hand and unwrapped my fingers from the mug. He threaded his fingers through mine and leaned against the counter.

“I feel this undeniable pull toward you." His bright blue eyes stared into mine, and I worried I might drown in them if I didn't look away. “Do you feel it too?”

I nodded before I could even think about lying, my heart pounding in my chest as I breathed in his scent. Salt and sea and shore pine. It was as familiar and comforting as I remembered. He smelled like home.

“I’m pretty sure we both know what that means,” Wesley said.

The hope in his voice made my heart twinge, but I finally managed to look away. “I can’t do this. I already had a mate.”

Wesley’s hand tightened around mine. “What happened to your mate was a tragedy, but it doesn’t mean that you have to spend the rest of your life alone. Aiden was in the past, but I could be your future if you'll let me."

I pulled my hand away and went back to making our tea. “I had a teenage crush on you, but that’s it. I’m an adult now, with responsibilities. I have a kid to look after." I sniffed and began pouring the water into the mugs. "Why would you want a single mom anyway? You're handsome, smart, and a powerful alpha. You could have anyone."

He moved up behind me again, setting his hands on my hips. His breath tickled my ears as he leaned in close. "The only one I want is you."

I set the kettle down and spun around, shocked by his words. "What?"

Wesley's hands stayed on my hips like they belonged there. "I don't care that you had a mate before, or that you have a kid. I want you, and everything that comes with that." He dipped his head, his lips so close to mine. "You belong with the Cancer pack. Your daughter too."

I sucked in a breath at his words. A desperate, hungry part of me wanted to give in. But it wasn't that easy. “Adriana is a Pisces. She can't⁠—"

Wesley lifted his hand and touched my lips, silencing me. “It’s okay if you aren’t ready."

He stroked his thumb against my jaw and I shivered. It felt so good, and it had been so long since anyone had touched me like this. I swayed in closer to him, that pull between us growing stronger and stronger. I wanted to kiss him, to touch him back. I braced my other hand on the counter, trying to stop myself from reaching for him. I knew if I gave in, there’d be no turning back.

“I’ll wait for you,” Wesley said. “As long as you need.”

I lifted my head toward him, waiting for him to kiss me and undo me completely, but he didn't close that final distance between us. Instead, he took my hand and pressed his lips to the back of it, which was somehow even worse, especially when I saw the look on his face. Like it pained him to hold back, but he had no other choice. He would never cross that line, not until I said it was okay, because that was the kind of man that Wesley was.

He let me go, leaving me reeling. I leaned back hard against the counter, watching as he took a few steps back. I should say something, I thought, but my mouth and my brain both seemed to have stopped functioning properly.

“It’s late," he said. "I’d better get going."