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She stares at my wolf as I approach.
I try to force my animal to allow me to shift back but he remains firmly in control. This is what I was afraid of but I can’t do a damn thing right now. He is in control and I’m just along for the ride.
My wolf strolls over to Emmaleigh. She stretches out her legs and pats her thighs.
“As long as you don’t want to talk, you’re welcome to stay.”
My wolf lets out a yipping sound before dropping down beside her, his head on her lap. Emmaleigh threads her fingers through my fur, scratching behind my ear. The silence is peaceful around us as the sun sets over the horizon.
“I was trying to shift,” she says sadly, never stopping her hand. “I want my wolf back. I feel incomplete without her, even though I know she is still in there somewhere. It hurts.” The words carry so much emotion, so much pain, that my soul hurts for her.
My wolf rumbles unhappily and Emmaleigh laughs.
“I know. You and Nico accept me as I am. You’re happy to have a mate but I’m not complete. And it doesn’t matter how either of you feel about it, what I feel inside is what drives me.”
My wolf stares at her before plopping down on her lap for more scratches. I know what she is saying is true, now I just need to figure out how to help my mate.
She won’t move forward with me if she feels like half of herself is missing. I nuzzle deeper into her, taking her scent into me and letting it fill every nook and cranny.
“Can I talk to Nico?” Emmaleigh asks and my wolf begrudgingly allows me to shift back to my human form.
Nudity isn’t something that usually bothers me, or any shifter for that matter. But sitting beside my fully clothed mate, a mate I have yet to claim, has me folding my hands across my lap to hide the evidence of my constant arousal.
“I’m sorry,” she says, staring at the forest around us. “I could feel your worry and relief as your wolf approached. I didn’t mean to cause concern.”
“I would say I wasn’t worried but I won’t lie to you,” I reply. “You’re my mate even if we aren’t fully bonded yet, and I will always be concerned when it comes to you.”
“I can feel my wolf,” she says with a sigh. “She’s still in there and every day she shows me a little more of herself. She’ll be back eventually. Every time you and I go walking through the forest it’s like she grows stronger.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”
“Maybe,” she starts but cuts herself off.
“Talk to me, Em. I want to do whatever I can to help.” My words are selfish and I know it but being this near her and not having her is driving me crazy minute by minute.
She smiles softly once she faces me. “I think it’s you. My wolf feels safe around you.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” The words sounds stupid falling from my lips but I need to know.
I’m a little confused and caught off guard. I don’t have the faintest idea where this conversation is going.
“Yes. It’s a great thing. But I was wondering if we couldn’t try to speed up the process. That is, if you want to.”
Chapter Eight
Emmaleigh
I have no idea whether this will work. I don’t even know if Nico will agree to the idea that popped into my head mere minutes ago, but I know it’s something I want to try. Besides, trying and failing to do something is better than never trying at all. Right?
“You’ll have to tell me what your idea is,” Nico says with a chuckle. “But if you think it will help, I won’t say no.”
I stare at him, taking in every inch of his features. “I want you to kiss me.”
Shock scrolls across his features before he can hide his reaction. Shit. Have I overplayed my hand? This is embarrassing. I can feel my blush as it burns up my neck and across my face. Thank the Goddess it’s too dark for him to see the evidence of my embarrassment.
“Never mind,” I add hastily, jumping up from my spot so I can get away from him.
I don’t get two steps away from him before he grabs my wrist and spins me around, stepping into me and pressing my back against the rough bark of the tree I was just sitting beneath.
