Chapter 64

Chapter 64

I responded, "You're back," feeling my heart pound as I observed how he had picked up on the movement. His boot on my shoulder started to push considerably harder against my skin as I was reminded of how he had touched me the previous evening.

Numerous things had transpired after he touched me, as well as since I made the decision to distance myself from him.

But instead of saying anything, he simply looked at me.

"I saved you some food." I made an effort to loosen his grip on me, but he persisted in wanting to see me in a certain way and in a certain place.

As I stared into his eyes, I realized that I wasn't ready for any of it. He was waiting for me, waiting for the words he expected me to say in light of what had transpired the night before, waiting for the reason I was here.

When I said nothing significant, he leaned over me. He moved faster than I could decide, but the heat of his body nearly made me want to draw him over me and hold him there.

He straightened his back, scooped up the plate at my side, and left.

He had moved so regally, so easily, that for a split second I forgot how to breathe as my hand, which had been wrapped around his calf, fell to the floor. It was almost as if I had lost all meaning to him. Before I located him again, I had to get myself off the ground while my vision was tilting back and forth on its axis. When I finally found him, I was almost sorry that I hadn't.

My partner approached Becky as I was staring at her, and my claws were digging into the ground beside me. I watched as he served her and her friends the plate I had set out for him, but even with my inner wolf biting away at me, I knew exactly what he was doing.

Becky was exactly where he wanted her to be, and he was only doing this to harm me. She grabbed onto him and rubbed his arm as if to reassure me that she had been correct. I observed as she did this.

I knew I had to leave this place as soon as possible because the ache in my chest was becoming more intense and wild energy was surging through my body.

I got up from the floor, but Erica and Morgan were in my way before I could get more than a few paces.

"Don't leave; he's just angry—he'll get over himself in a little bit." With Edmond snuggled up in both of their arms, Morgan hugged his mate close to him, his hands moving down her sides. His voice was unusually quiet as he talked to me.

They were so ideal and so lovely. I could feel the pain of it pressing into my heart because they were the mirror of all I was unable to have.

For someone who had spent the majority of the day with a grumpy alpha, Morgan was remarkably composed. Though it didn't really matter because my goal remained the same, I wondered what Derrick had told him about what I had done or if he had just refused to talk about it. How could I tell him the truth when he wouldn't talk to me?

"He's angry because of me, and that's why I need to leave." The two of them were not having any more of my drama, despite my attempts to get past them.

You ignored what I said, didn't you? You're going to take Edmond from me and give the big bad alpha a taste of his own medicine, because I told you that men don't stay furious for long when it comes to their partners." She had moved away from Morgan and toward me, giving me her son.

"Erica, I don't think that's a good idea." Her partner warned her, but she ignored him.

Holding onto Edmond, I was perplexed as he gagged contentedly, unaware that he was a part of a larger scheme. Though Erica appeared adamant that this was the answer to every issue I had, I didn't see how it was meant to make a difference.

I told her, "That doesn't make any sense," as she turned to leave, dragging Morgan along.

She called back. "It makes perfect sense," she said.

Naturally, she was correct.

The wild side of our wolves was biting at each other, and the space between us was straining our mate bond. I lingered with Edmond among the trees, pulling at the branches and scurrying through the leaves, and I could feel his gaze following every step.

As I held Edmond, my senses became calmer and my powers simply retreated, but he also brought with him a new kind of anxiety.

Deep down in the pit of my stomach, I could feel Derrick's need for me; the intensity of the sensation was pulling at my back. Across the breadth of the garden, his thoughts were visible to all—a combustible edge that seemed ready to break.

And I was aware that it wouldn't be attractive when it happened.

With a possessive growl that reverberated throughout the yard, Derrick's pack lowered their heads in submission to the sound. I could only watch his territorial inclinations play out at this point because they were taking center stage.

All it took for the alpha to break was to give birth to a child with an unmarked partner.

My body stiffened when I finally turned to face him.

It smelled strongly of his intrusive yearning for me, which I was breathing in. Now that his savage side had surfaced, he was free to take whatever he liked.

"Morgan." The silence that surrounded him felt like ice that was about to break as his voice roared.

It was too late for Morgan to tell us that this was what was about to happen. I just stood there holding a dumbfounded kid in my arms while Derrick held his quiet discussion with his beta without once looking away.

Erica moved gently in my direction, mouthing an apology before releasing her son from my hold. Derrick attacked me as soon as she moved out of the way.

I took a deep breath, and he pinned me to the tree, his beastly side gaining control as his claws penetrated the bark, confining me to his chest.

"Are you here to taunt me? Is that what this is?" I moved carefully, and there was anger in his dark, angry eyes. My fingers brushed lightly over his shoulders and forearms before coming to rest against his chest.

"Is it not enough to want to be near you?" I could feel his irregular heartbeat beneath my fingertips; I could feel my powers probing the edge of our connection; and my voice was timid and uncertain as I continued to stare at his body.

I was wanting to take one last glance at him before I ruined everything. Not enough?

I watched as Derrick's face muscles jerked, breathing furiously, before he lifted my eyes to his. He had his big hand around my chin.

"Kylie." And as soon as he mentioned my name, I realized that I would have to lie till the end of time in order to spend every moment with him.

"Remain beside me," he said. "Be by my side, in my bed, until the full moon rises—eat my thoughts, take up space wherever I go.

"To the very least, allow me to have you entirely till the full moon."