“Indeed I will. It will be similar to your bond with Haven.” Then, he winked. “Just a little more intense.”
“Ha.” I laughed. “You’re in for it then. Look at what Haven goes through.” She was always on a constant roller-coaster ride with what I went through on a daily basis.
Kyden brushed his lips along mine. “It will be a moment of great peace for me to finally know all you feel. Trust me, Álainn, nothing will please me more.”
“We’ll just see about that.”
He obviously had no idea what a basket-case I could be.
Chapter Four
With the blanket pulled high up to my chin, I snuggled into the pillow, wanting nothing more than to just stay in bed forever. Happiness swept through me as thoughts of my night with Kyden came rushing back. Leaving him last night was tough, but I made a promise to Rynn that I would be with her when she woke up. I wasn’t about to go back on my word.
Suddenly, I got the sinking suspicion that someone was watching me. I cracked open an eye to see Isla’s face very close to mine. I screamed, startled and bolted upright, causing Rynn to scream right along with me. “Jesus Isla, don’t do that!”
She laughed, thoroughly pleased. “Morning.”
I glanced over to Rynn, who looked a little ruffled. She started laughing and the sound relaxed me immediately. It was a nice sound to hear. “What are you doing in here?” I snapped at Isla.
“I have a message for you.” She smiled brightly.
A few moments passed as I waited for her to say more, but she just sat there smiling at me. “Okay. What’s the message?”
She handed me a piece of paper. I looked at it:
Zia told me about the bond. I’ve already started planning. There’s a full moon party tonight and you better make it. I miss you.
Love, Haven.
I missed her too, incredibly so. We’d never been away from each other this long before. “Do you mind if I come?” Isla asked.
“To the full moon party?” I questioned.
She nodded, happily.
“Are you up for a party?” I asked Rynn.
“What kind of party?” She was understandably hesitant.
Isla interjected. “It’s so fun. The Otherworld always puts on a big bash to celebrate the full moon. You’ll love it.” She bounced up and down on the bed. “Come on, we have to go.”
Rynn looked uncertain. I grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze, hoping it would comfort her. “It really is a good time and you could use a night of fun, right?”
She thought for a moment, then asked. “Will Briggs be going?”
So she was sensing something between them. It made me smile.
Isla laughed. “You think he’d go anywhere without you?” I shot Isla a look to keep her mouth shut. She didn’t take the hint. “You are his mate and all.”
I hissed, glaring at Isla. “That was not for you to tell her.”
Rynn appeared completely taken back. “I’m his what?” she squeaked.
I sighed and glared at Isla. “Time for you to go.”
She scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. “No way, I want to hear this.”
“Oh no.” I got out of bed, grabbed her arm, pulled her with me then pushed her out the door. “You’ve done enough. Let me talk to her.”
Just as we reached the door, Briggs appeared behind her. Confusion marred his charming face as he looked between us. “What’s happened?” he asked.
“She’s kicking me out,” Isla growled.
“Are you now?” Briggs laughed. “What have you done, Isla?”
“She told Rynn about being your mate,” I whispered.
Briggs laughter ceased immediately, tension filled him. “You…” He glared at Isla.
I gave her a shove and pushed her down the hall trying to save her from a serious thrashing. “Just go, Isla. I’ll see you later. We’ll go to the full moon party together.”
She smiled at me as she tried to keep her footing. “Great, I’m going shopping. I’ll get you something.” Thankfully, she left.
Briggs looked past me to Rynn. When I followed his gaze, she was wide-eyed and trembling a little.
“Shit,” Briggs exhaled.
“It’ll be alright. Let’s go explain it to her.” I took his hand, pulled him into the room.
We sat down on Rynn’s bed. Briggs rested at the end of it, keeping a good distance from her probably in hopes it would comfort her, while I sat next to Rynn.
“Mate…what…” Rynn’s words were as confused as the look on her face.
“I’d explain this to you, but I am a little lost myself.” I said in all honesty. “So, go on Briggs. Tell us how it works?”
With his gaze fixed on Rynn, he said. “I did not want this conversation to come about like this. Are you sure that you are up to hearing about this? I don’t want to rush you.”
“I…what.”
He gave her a soft smile, moved forward and took her hand. She stared at their joined hands, then met his eyes again. “Do you feel the connection between us?” he asked, his tone gentle.
She glanced back to their hands and sighed deeply. “I don’t know what I feel. I know that I feel safe with you and I do like it when you touch me.”
Briggs lightened at that, his eyes beamed. “Of course you would, darlin’. It’s because we share a deep bond. Our souls have found their counterpart.”
“So, you’re my future husband?” she exclaimed, obviously still in shock.
He laughed. “That is a human word. You’re my destined mate. As I am yours.”
“I don’t have a choice in the matter?” she snapped.
“You won’t want a choice. This is the way of the wolves. I’m your perfect mate. My role in your life will fulfill you completely. You will not need to look elsewhere because I’ll be everything you will need and want. As you are everything to me.”
“But I don’t know you.”
He gave her a soft smile and it spoke of a thousand words of rightness. “You do—your soul does. Do you not feel it?”
Unexpectedly, she reached out, trailed a finger lightly up his arm and the desire burning through him was undeniable. “I knew from the second I met you,” she whispered. “I wanted to do this to you.”
Okay, now this was awkward. This was such a private moment—one I shouldn’t be witnessing, but I didn’t want to get up and leave. I didn’t want to interrupt them, so I sat quietly, wanting to look away but unable to.
Briggs held both her hands, raised them up to his heart. “We do not need to rush this. I know your soul has been damaged and I will take my time to see that it is healed.”
Tears ran down her cheeks, her eyes flickering between pain and trust. “The weirdest part about all this is that I believe you.”
He wiped her tears away and smiled. “That is a good thing, darlin’.”
In a move that shocked the hell out of me and appeared to have the same effect on Briggs, she leaned forward, cupped his face and kissed him.
My eyes widened as they shared one of the deepest kisses I’d ever witnessed. Her entire body sank into him as he wrapped her in his safety. Their mouths worked perfectly as if they had kissed each other for a lifetime.
After a very long moment, she drew away. “Wow.”
Briggs looked ravished, as he ran his fingers along her neck. “Wow is right.”
They gazed deeply into each other’s eyes as tears fell down her face. I cried right along with her—seeing for the first time since she came here, her eyes held a little life in them—a little hope.
Briggs reached up, cupped her cheek and brushed his fingers down her cheek. “We will take our time with this.”
She smiled, and leaned into his hand.
Wolves were such amazing creatures. The bond they shared must be an intense one because since their kiss, Rynn instantly glowed with happiness. In less than ten minutes, Briggs got her to trust him, and after what she had been through that was pretty incredible. It was as if, in that very moment, she realized that she belonged with him—that he was her safety blanket.
Briggs eventually sighed. “I wish we could stay here, but the gathering has been called and we need to go.”
Tension instantly filled Rynn, her face tight with emotion. Briggs slowly reached for her. He was gentle, his movements slow, not wanting to scare her. It was obvious just how much control it took on his part. The desire in his eyes was fierce. When a wolf meets his mate there must be an immediate demand to immediately bond with them. But judging the way Briggs was being with her, you’d never know it.
“I’ll be with you,” he told her. “Let your fear go. I will never let harm come to you, darlin’.” Then, he cupped her face again. “Do you trust in that?”
She relaxed a little. “I do.”
“Let’s go then,” He kept her hand enclosed in his as they walked toward the door.
I sat there dumbfounded, taken aback a little at what I had just witnessed.