Chapter 36

Chapter 36
I woke up startled, my heart racing, my entire body on high alert. But then I saw I was still there, safe in his room. Once again, I’d had that dream—Quanah in his wolf form, caught in a trap, then me tied to a post and set atop burning logs that quickly consumed my body.
“Scared?” His deep voice, which I was starting to get used to, hit me from across the room.
I looked around, and all I saw was the darkness of the room, no sign of Quanah.
Was I losing my mind, or was I still dreaming?
“Another nightmare. It’s not even a surprise anymore,” I murmured, still staring into the void. “Where are you?”
The bathroom door opened, and Quanah stepped out, answering my question.
He’d clearly just gotten out of the shower, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. His tattooed chest was still damp, with a few drops sliding down his chest and abs, and I couldn’t stop the desire burning inside me.
“Can I know what you see in those nightmares?” I hadn’t told anyone about them, at least not since Quanah started appearing in them.
“They’re no big deal, just nightmares.”
He approached the bed, walking with slow, steady steps, then sat in front of me and brushed a strand of hair from my face.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all these years, it’s that a dream is never just a dream. There’s always something behind it.” His hand rested on my lap, and I was even more surprised. “So why don’t you tell me?”
Quanah was too close, so close our breaths mingled. I couldn’t remember being this close to him without us having sex.
Even in the dim light, I could see his eyes, those two golden orbs shining, never leaving mine.
“I follow a voice in the forest that leads me to a clearing where you’re caught in a trap.” I sighed, recalling the scene that gave me chills. “You’re in your wolf form, and when I try to stop them from killing you, the voice says it’s our fate. Suddenly, I’m tied to a pyre and burn to death while you howl.”
Quanah didn’t say anything, just stared at me in silence. Probably interpreting my crazy dream, or maybe he knew something I didn’t.
“Sounds like the secret is to not follow the voice or try to stop them from killing me.”
“And you want me to watch you die without doing anything?” I asked, my voice rising.
“If it means staying alive? Yes. I want you to run far away. I don’t care what happens to me as long as you’re safe.”
“You don’t need to worry. It was just a dream, nothing more.” I took a deep breath and let my shoulders slump.
I was tired, emotionally drained. My feelings were a mess. I avoided thinking about everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours because I didn’t want to face what was going on in my life.
“A dream can be a warning, like a premonition. It wouldn’t be the first or last time our ancestors tried to send a message through dreams, so you’d better start paying attention to them all.” His voice was low and restrained, very different from the shouting or disdain he’d directed at me since he found out who I was.
His eyes drifted to my belly, and I unfortunately understood everything. Quanah was scared for our son. He wanted to keep the baby safe, and I should be grateful for that. It should be enough for me, but it wasn’t.
I wanted more than that. I deserved more than someone who only cared for me because I was carrying his child.
“I’m not pregnant in the dream, so you can relax. I wouldn’t put my son at risk.”
I threw the covers aside, ready to get out of there. I needed space. Getting away from him would help me think.
“I’m not talking about the baby. I know you’d protect our son.” He emphasized our, and I realized this was the first time he didn’t refer to the child as just his. “I’m talking about you. The last thing I want is to know something happened to you because you were trying to protect me.”
He was trying to confuse me. That was the only plausible explanation for this speech.
“Where’s this coming from? Can I know?” I asked bluntly. “Because until yesterday, you wanted me gone. The only thing stopping you from getting rid of me was the baby.”
“I didn’t…” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I know I haven’t been easy on you, but the problem isn’t with you…”
“Really? You’re going to say "the problem isn’t you, it’s me?"” I growled and pushed his hand away, immediately getting up from the bed. “Look, you might think I’ll run off after what happened yesterday, but if I learned one thing, it’s that I’m better off here than anywhere else. You don’t need to be nice to me just to keep me from running.”
I walked to the other side of the room and stopped by the window. The night outside was cold; I could see the mist covering the treetops, but it still seemed more inviting than staying in this room with him. It was too tempting.
I felt his presence when it was too late. He was right behind me. His breath hit my nape, and I sighed. I couldn’t fall for this seduction again, even if my whole body burned with desire when he was this close, and just thinking about how little he was wearing drove me crazy.
“I’m not afraid you’ll run, but I hate the idea. And just so you know, I’d chase you to hell and bring you back!” His words stirred me, making my heart leap, but I held my breath, trying not to give in. “Look at me, Bridget.”
I felt his fingers touch my hair, brushing it aside until he reached my nape, sending shivers from head to toe.
I turned, unsure of what I’d find, and his bare chest was right in my face. I looked up, and he was staring at me seriously, even though lust was reflected in his eyes.
“Let’s just say I’ve never trusted witches, and I have my reasons. But the fact is, that made me decide I’d never sleep with one, let alone have a child just to break a curse.” I was shocked. This confession was the last thing I expected to hear from him, especially now. “The problem was never you but this whole situation we were put in.”
“So you never hated me? All that anger was…”
“Things from my past.” He cut me off, not seeming ready to share what in his past made him act this way, but I could be content with what he was telling me, at least for now. “I can feel a lot of things for you, but hate isn’t one of them.”
Hearing those words didn’t help quell the fire burning inside me.
I wanted to hear what he had to say, especially about his past, but it was hard with his chest right in my face.
“And can I know what those things are?”
A lopsided smile spread across his face, showing just how far from innocent his intentions were, and I hoped he’d give me what I needed.
“You know the story of the big bad wolf, don’t you?”