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It hurt like hell, and with him talking to me like that, in a tone of voice I’d never heard from him before, I felt overstimulated. Pain shot up my arm while tingles from his whiskers and his smooth yet rough voice continued in my ear.
When Mari finished, I slumped, realizing I’d held every one of my muscles stiff as she worked. My head rested against one of Draven’s shoulders, and he started running his hand over my thigh, massaging lightly, soothingly.
He wasn’t being a creeper, he was being a wolf. Affectionate, nurturing, tactile. It was just their natures. And right then, I was the beneficiary of all of that from Draven. Someone was hurt and he couldn’t help himself but try to soothe. I didn’t kid myself that it meant anything. He may be kind of insane, at least around me, but his pack loved and trusted him.
And this was why.
The male was brutally fierce, deeply loyal—and as he was proving now, capable of providing comfort, even to someone he’d not long ago seen as an enemy.
Mari did the same with the other arm, and Draven held me tight the entire time. She resewed both cuts, which was less painful since her numbing ointment was still doing its job. Else’s healing balm would help as well when I got home.
Draven slid out from behind me as Mari finished up, and I missed his heat instantly.
“Thank you so much for this,” I said as Mari packed her things. “I owe you. Whatever you need.”
She nodded and grinned. “Excellent. I’m sure I’ll think of something you can do for me.”
I chuckled. “Good, because I meant it.”
She winked and walked out, shutting the door behind her. I turned to Draven, who was by the window across the room.
“Thank you. I know you don’t think much of me and my coven, and I don’t blame you, but you saved my life again and I owe you as well, even more than I did before.”
He studied me a moment. “How are you feeling now?” he asked, ignoring what I’d just said.
“Still a bit out of it.” I felt nauseous and dizzy, but I was pretty sure I could drive. I needed to get home. “If you could help me to my car, I’ll be heading home. I don’t want to impose on you any longer than I have to. You’ve already done so much.”
He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans, which tugged them enticingly lower, and tilted his head to the side. “Oh no, little witch, you won’t be going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 18
Draven
“What do you mean, I won’t be going anywhere?” Iris stared at me wide-eyed.
The way she said the last two words of that sentence, deep and growly, was obviously supposed to be an imitation of me, but there was no missing the alarm there as well.
I moved toward her but stopped myself from saying what I wanted to say because her reaction to what I had just said had kicked off her fight-or-flight instincts, despite her mocking tone. I could smell it, her fear. It was like she’d instantly thrown up a protective wall.
I may not know much when it came to relationships, but I knew saying the words flying around my head right then would only freak her the fuck out. They freaked me out, honestly.
“You’re not well enough to travel,” I said instead. “I’ll contact your family and let them know you’re safe. I’ll take you home later…after you’ve rested some more.”
I thought I could fight it, deny it, what was between us. I was fooling myself.
Iris Thornheart belonged to me.
She was mine.
My mate.
Resistance had only caused harm. I hadn’t been able to stay away from her no matter how hard I’d tried, not when I knew she was putting herself in danger, and my sanity was at its breaking point because of it. Ash was right, my pack needed an alpha who could take care of business, not one constantly pining for his mate. Ending her life wasn’t an option, and if I was honest, never truly had been, not once I knew who she was, or more importantly, wasn’t. Which meant there was only one thing I could do.
Claim her.
If she was with me, not only could I satisfy this unstoppable hunger for her, but I would have some control over her, I could keep her safe.
Christ, the things she’d just told me. She’d almost fucking died a year ago. Some piece of shit had hurt her. He’d tried to take her from me. I could have lost her before I ever found her.
