Page 92 of The Ashpaw: Part One

And yet her body was telling her it could be.

“She is frightened of you,” Eidan said.

Darion’s jaw tightened, anger finally bleeding through. Anger Fern only knew too well.

Eidan continued. “I have spent weeks trying to undo what you did to her.”

The alphas stayed silent, while her body warmed to Eidan’s words.

He had been there for her, more than anyone else in the past month. If it weren’t for him, Darion would have cut off her hand or worse.

“She trusts me enough to sleep beside me,” he continued. “She lets me touch her without flinching.” He demonstrated by reaching over to touch her head and guide it to rest on his shoulder.

Fern let him without any resistance, closing her eyes and inhaling a shuddering breath.

“Do you understand how hard-won that was?”

Reinn watched but said nothing, and Eidan’s voice lowered.

“She needs stability. A gentle hand. A mate who will put her safety and needs above his own. You know that cannot be you.”

Darion raised an eyebrow in question. In defiance.

And then looked at Fern.

“Come here.”

Just two words, that was all, and Fern’s body obeyed before thought could catch it.

One moment she stood beside Eidan, and the next she was crossing the room.

Horror flooded her so quickly she nearly stumbled.

No.

No, she hadn’t meant—

But her wolf surged eagerly toward the bond, soothed by the command, by the certainty of him.

The one who’d marked her, who’d awakened her.

Fern stopped beside Darion, breathing hard, and he placed a steady hand on the back of her neck, pulling her in.

And damn it all to Solas’s Hells, his scent instantly undid her, and she whined in spite of everything. Still seeking him out. Still wanting him.

She could feel betrayal, hot and furious, coming off Eidan in waves, and silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Weeks of his patience, his care, his kindness…

Undone by two words. One order.

“So that’s how you’re going to do this,” Reinn said softly, a hint of a challenge in his voice.

Fern closed her eyes, shame burning so hot she thought it might split her open.

“Darion,” Alastair warned. “I will not hear another whisper of her mistreatment, do you understand me? She is moon-blessed, and if you cannot care for her accordingly, I will find someone who can.”

Darion nodded once, and then led her out of the door. And she let him, unable to look back. She could not bear to see her failure reflected in Eidan’s eyes.