Chapter 10

I was running.

My feet were stomping on the woodland floor, creating the sound of thunder. The fire was licking at the heels of my feet, reaching and stretching across the muddy ground as it followed me and adhered to my skin. The fire grew worse the harder I fled. As I started to wake up, the nightmare pushed into my skin, and I moaned against the terrifying sensation that was crawling up my throat.

These were nightmares I hadn't experienced in a long time, but this one felt so much more real than the others. I was yanked from the horrific location inside my thoughts, and my body trembled from the sudden lack of warmth. In an attempt to get my blanket closer to my body for comfort, I tugged at it instead, but something was impeding its motion.

I let out a frustrated groan, but it didn't seem to move.

Vera was most likely back in my room; if she had come to sleep next to me, my nightmare would have been worse than I realized.

When I reached to push at her body to get her to quit hoarding the blanket like she always did, I heard a manly grunt of unfulfilled longing and restlessness instead. My wolf growled beneath the noise in my half-conscious state—that couldn't be correct.

"Kylie—" His voice might have sounded annoyed to others, but I wasn't annoyed at all, and I knew that whatever I was doing in my semi-conscious condition was trying his wolf's patience.

For a brief while, my thoughts raced back to the events that transpired prior to me discovering myself in bed with my partner. A shirtless chest met my gaze, and in my still dazed state, I was struck helpless as I marveled at it. My eyes fluttered open in intense understanding.

My hand moved unbidden, trembling across his skin, and my damaged arm healed completely. I waited for him to say something, not wanting to see the look on his face, and when he didn't, my hand found its mark. I ran my fingers over the proud muscles' ridges and felt his muscles tense. His skin was hot to the touch. I ran my hand languidly over his body, exploring the width of his chest, and it felt lovely.

I thought how amazing it would feel to have his hands on me instead, if touching him felt as good.

He gave me a low, growling growl as if he could read my mind, and I sprang up in bed and moved away from him as soon as I realized what I was doing. With my legs tucked under me, the blanket moved with me, revealing more of his body.

I didn't mean to do that, but how could I not enjoy the view?

I muttered, my voice scratchy from dehydration and the tethers of sleep, "I thought it was a dream." He pushed himself up to take his seat, and his eyes darkened. Taking a quivering breath, I felt his hand touch against my cheek as he leaned down to me.

"Is that why you were groaning in your sleep because you were dreaming of me?" When he said that, my eyes widened, and I yanked myself away from him in a panic, losing my footing on the bed. With a sharp thump, I hit the hardwood floor, and the pain shot through me, making me howl.

I hadn't thought to consider how my sleep-related noises would sound to someone who wasn't aware of my nightmares. I was going to have to ask Vera whether my groans were truly that offensive.

Yes! Fuck, I still had to make sure she was okay; at this point, she was undoubtedly really anxious about me.

His deep chuckle enveloped me, causing my heart to race once again as memories of my existence beyond this bubble began to fade.

"Who the hell doesn't have carpet in their bedroom, and why the hell aren't you wearing a shirt?" More than anything, I felt humiliated by my incapacity to keep my hands to myself. I wasn't angry. Since I was the one sleeping in his bed, he didn't need carpet, and he didn't need to wear a shirt. This was his house.

Before I saw his face angled over the edge of the bed, I heard the bed creak under his weight. His lips curled into a smirk as he glanced down at me, and as I met his gaze, I understood that he wasn't making fun of me but rather that he was simply too happy to be with me. His chuckle warmed my body, and I bit the insides of my cheeks to keep from laughing along with him. I huffed.

I most assuredly wasn't going to offer him the joy of my laughter.

"Are you hurt?" For a little while, his features became serious, and my body relaxed. He smiled again when I shook my head in admiration.

"As for your other questions—I think my lack of attire will be a preference from now on when I am around you; I like the way your eyes devour my body even when you act all shy about it." I opened my mouth in an attempt to argue, but he simply nodded. "And for the carpet, I will change the flooring if that is what you want." He had something shining in his eyes, and I knew he was trying to win my approval.

All wolves were taught from an early age to adore their mates for the rest of their lives, and he had waited for his mate to do the same. However, no one had ever instructed the alpha king on what to do when he found himself mated to a witchblood wolf.

Even though partners should be beneficial to one another, I have witnessed my mother misuse any affection she received and utilize it as a means of gaining control since I was a small child.

What if he treated me in that way?

I mutely muttered, "I don't know what I want," seeing his expression as it tightened.

"Oh, Kylie, you have no idea how long I have been waiting for our mate bond to happen. Since the beginning of time, mates have always wanted each other.