“I get it. Into a den of wolves. Or what you thought was one.”
“They are wolves. Wolf shifters,” he says, confused. He leans back and looks at my face searchingly.
“I know,” I explain. “It’s an expression for stepping into a dangerous place where… where everyone will betray you,” I say.
He jerks.
“That’s what people think of wolves? And yesterday you called me a filthy fucking animal and a monster then left me. And now you speak of dens of wolves as if it’s a bad thing.” He shakes his head.
“And you’re upset at your uncle for taking your mother against her will and that’s what you’ve been doing to me,” I return.
He jerks back like I’ve slapped him. “It’s… we’re mated. You’re mine, Ivy.”
He doesn’t understand.
I sigh. “You don’t get it.”
“You’re right, I don’t. I’m caught between a world of shifters and your world where I understand very little of either, Ivy. And you spoke vilely of me and then left me. And nearly died. Nearly died while I was running off anger so you wouldn’t have to see it and then came face to face with the woman that birthed me, a woman who had her husband and child taken. She’s in a pack where they mourn me, where they want me to be their leader. I don’t know how to be one of them or don’t know how to be with someone like you who doesn’t understand me or them.” He runs his hands through his hair. “And I don’t show vulnerability to anyone and yet here I am showing it to you.”
“Because you trust me,” I whisper.
He looks into my eyes.
“You thought I was the one for you and—”
“You are! I tell you this, but you continue to try to leave me.”
“I explained that,” I defend.
He huffs.
“I get it, baby. You feel like everyone betrays you.” I caress his face again. He leans into my touch and his eyes go so liquid with heat; they glow. “I was angry because you talked about hurting someone merely because I had a history with them. Just because I used to date someone doesn’t mean they deserve to die. Would you actually kill him just because he used to date me?”
His lip curls. He still can’t hack the thought of me dating somebody. How can he feel so possessive this soon?
“We have a major culture divide between us, Ty. We’d have had that if you were a shifter growing up like a typical shifter, but you didn’t grow up in a way that’s typical for… anyone.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“And I don’t even know a whole lot about how you grew up. But I do know that if you and I are gonna work, we’re gonna have to take the time to try to understand one another. Be patient with each other.”
“If we’re gonna work?” he asks. “Does that mean you won’t try to leave me again?”
I sigh and give my head a shake. “It means I wanna try and see what this thing is…”
“You won’t leave me,” he orders. “Ever.”
I roll my eyes. “God, you’re bossy. Go make me some tea and breakfast. I’m injured over here.” I shake my head and fold my arms across my chest.
He looks into my eyes searchingly for a moment and I point exaggeratedly at the stove. “And I could use a blanket over here. My legs are cold.”
Cat let me hang onto her shorts so I wouldn’t have to try to get my jeans over my ankle again.
“Who’s bossy?” He cocks an eyebrow and then his sexy mouth splits into a breathtaking smile. “I’ll make you tea. And food, little boss. What food do you want?”
“A deli sandwich and soup,” I say. “And for you to promise not to kill any of my exes.”
He frowns. “I don’t know how to make that. I can cook meat over fire. I could try to…”
“Sandwiches.”
“Yes?”
He doesn’t know how to make sandwiches. I can tell by his face.
“You slap deli meat between two pieces of bread and put mayo and mustard and cheese and lettuce and tomato if you have it.”
“Okay…” He doesn’t sound sure.
“Soup, you heat up in a pot on the stove. The can will say if you have to add water or not.”
He blinks at me.
I’ll make it,” I tell him. “Just put a chair by the counter and I can rest a knee on it so I don’t have to put my weight on my foot, and you can help. Or stand there and look pretty. Whatever. Let’s go.”
“I need to mount you first,” he informs, looking like he’s getting ready to devour me.
Mount?
I put a hand up.
“You need to wait,” I correct, “until I eat, get some caffeine into me, and take a shower. I’ll have to cover my foot with something so I don’t get it wet but…your mom said I can’t do anything strenuous. And we need to work on your seduction skills there, baby.”