35

G E O R G I E

✿

"Georgie, wait, dammit!"

I quickened my steps, crossing the living room, skirting the brown leather couch. I almost reached the door. I mustered all my strength to stop the waterfall building in my eyes.

"Now, damn it-" He grabbed my arm. I jerked him free.

"I'm going to be a rogue!"

My hand, already in the air to grasp the door handle, froze.

"In a month, to be precise."

My eyes fixed on the oak door in front of me. Observed the individual grains, which swung together and drew picturesque lines across the wood. "What? That's impossible.' I whispered. He was Beta Officer of the King's Pack, deeply embedded in the Pack's community. How could he become lonely and aggressive? The man and wolf might only be separated by a razor-sharp line, but that couldn't be a sufficient reason to forget his human side altogether and let the wolf take the lead.

He was standing right behind me and his breath tickled the back of my neck. 'I already told you that André was a drunk and if he had too much in one evening his hand would slip. Nya was the only thing that kept me grounded back then.”

I closed my eyes, before me the image of a little boy, beaten black and green, holding a small hand. I dropped my hand. "Your sister."

He brushed my hair back over my shoulders, exposing the back of my neck. "Yes. I took care of her every day. Nya was a little bundle full of sparkling energy, she was my little shadow, followed me everywhere. But one night, when . . .” His fingers, making little patterns on my skin, faltered. “then André freaked out. He lunged at me, almost beating me to death.”

I had to claw my black top so hard that it almost tore off in order to be able to think clearly and fight the unbridled anger inside me. "What about your mother? Didn't she defend you?"

His fingers continued their pattern on my skin. I shuddered. "No. I was a burden, a misstep that should never have happened.”

I found it difficult to breathe. "That... Argh! How can she!"

He laughed softly. Then he ran his nose down my neck. Then his mouth followed, wandering down my spine. "My wolf protected me for this."

My legs were shaking and it was difficult to breathe, but now for a different reason. "May I kiss him?"

I felt sharp teeth dig across my shoulders, travel to my neck. "I'm sure he wouldn't object." I heard the mischievous grin in his voice.

I wanted to grab his hair, pull him to me and bite him. But I settled for my long-sleeved top, the fabric of which had to believe in it. 'And what about the man? May I kiss him too.”

"I think your mind is wandering," he admonished, but his hands, now resting on my hips and tucking under my shirt, said otherwise.

I was inclined to turn and demand more of him, but this was more important. I focused again on the pattern of wood in front of me and distracted myself from his rough, large hands, which sent single sparks of electricity through my body. 'No, they don't. Tell me more. Then what happened?'

He pushed my top higher, stroking me, his soft touch contrasting starkly with his cold voice. "I was so angry. So damn angry I just freaked out. I freaked out. It was the first time I let my wolf take the lead. I lunged at him, losing control. My wolf tore his throat.” he said and I leaned into him, he should know that he wasn't alone. “My sister was so scared of me that she ran away. That night it stormed violently. The ground was slippery, the wind strong. She must have fallen into the river because when I found her her body was already floating on the surface. Three days later my mother fell off a cliff.”

I turned to him. "Oh God, Beau... I'm so sorry..."

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “There's a curse on my mother's family. Every firstborn son turns into a rogue. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

“Beau, you didn't go wild, nor did you kill your family. Your sister wasn't your fault and your mother made her own fate. As for André, he didn't deserve anything else. This anger has nothing to do with being a rogue. He abused you,” I clarified, but he didn't seem to hear me.

“I already feel the madness and the aggressiveness as well. My wolf is gradually letting me walk less, forcing me to change and move away from the human side more. Just a month and then-"

'I won't allow that. There has to be another solution.' I interrupted him, absolutely convinced that there wasn't just that option.

His thumb brushed my cheekbones, up to my small jewelry scar. "Once Rogue, you can't go back."

And then everything came together. "Is that why you don't let me get close to you? Why are you resisting our bond? Because you think you're going to become a rogue?"

He withdrew his hand. "You did not understand me? I'm going wild, Georgie, rabid. All the males in my family have killed their packmates. Their children. Your mates,” he growled. “I'm not going to break your heart or leave you. I'll kill you, rip your throat out. Your blood will be on my hands."

"No you didn't understand me." I gripped his hands tightly in mine. "I won't allow that."

He dragged her away. “That's not in your power. It's a curse, a devil's oath, black magic, call it what you will."

"Then I don't care." He looked down at me as if he wanted to shake me. Pressing into my brain that I was talking nonsense. Still, and without a shadow of a doubt, I repeated, "I don't care." He was scared. Fear of sealing my fate and dragging me into the abyss with it. "I haven't been afraid of death for a long time, Beau."

He tensed. His muscles bulged. "Don't ever say that again."

"I don't want Isaac for a mate, I want you," I whispered. Cursed should be my tears that could not be stopped. "I've always wanted you."

A deep rumble rumbled through the house. "Are you aware of what you're saying? What are you getting yourself into? I won't hold back."

"Yes, I am," I said without hesitation.

He slowly leaned over me. Put his hands on the oak door, flanked my head. My breath came ragged under his glowing gaze, from which manly, green flames flashed. I pressed myself against the door, my body in turmoil. "Are you accepting me?"

Instead of an answer, he slowly kissed my tears away. His mouth traced a fiery, hot trail down my chin and down my throat. His tongue flashed out, licked my skin, and then bit the back of my neck. Not deep enough to leave a lasting imprint and solidify the bond, but definitely enough to send hot bolts through my body.

"Mine." he growled, biting down harder.