Chapter 17

My voice is gentle and sleepy. “You’re warm.”

Sebastian studies me before coming over and standing before me. He pulls back the covers and joins me underneath. I scoot back to give him space, but instead, Sebastian holds me against him, wrapping his large arms around me once again. The position is so comfortable that I find myself melting in his grasp.

The warmth of his body heats me up. Even if I am no longer shivering, I do not want him to let go. Not only does his touch play mercilessly with my nerves, but the sounds of his breathing has me more assured than ever. I am in the highest comfort deemed possible.

The cloud I am floating on has my eyes fluttering closed. If it were not for the sunlight, I would be fast asleep.

“Are you comfortable?” he asks me, and for a moment I think he is joking.

“There is no word to describe how comfortable I am.”

At this moment, I feel defeated, no longer hiding from him. We may have just met a few days ago, but Sebastian already knows my secrets. He already knows about my gifts and the people that may be hunting me. We have already slept in the same bed. As usual, I am split in two, as one side wants to do everything with my mate right now, and the other worries that the first will get their way. My life was slow and repetitive before crossing the stream, and now it is cluttered with drama, longing, and fear.

Though being caressed in my mate’s caring arms seems to hypnotize me, I cannot lose sight of what is important. I have to find out if this alpha really is after me. I know that I am assuming a lot from Henry’s attack, but this is the only way to explain it as of now. This man and his father have kept my parents on edge and kept them from being with me. I will not let him suppress me too.

***

Later in the day, after Sebastian left to continue with the searches, I find myself running into Henry. He is hopping around, no longer confined to the bed upstairs. Though his ankle is obviously in no condition for walking, Henry does not let that stop him.

“Are you sure that’s safe? What if you fall down the stairs?”

Henry shrugs. “I’ve already done it a few times. The fear has faded. But I wanted to talk to you about something. Since I can’t do much, I went down to Sebastian’s office and searched through the books. A lot of them are super old, and I ended up finding one on myths. Evangeline, you’re a myth.”

“I’m a myth?” I repeat as I help him to the couch.

“Well, technically you and everyone else with your ability. In the book, it’s called the Daughters of the Moon Goddess. It talked about how they communicate with her because of a spiritual link. It runs in very few family lines, and that’s talking about hundreds of years ago. Really, they couldn’t emphasize enough on how rare it is, but it’s there overall.”

I smile. “Yes, as a myth.”

“But it’s not a myth. You and your grandmother are living proof,” he says excitedly.

“I suppose so, but you’re the only one who believes me. I’m not even sure if Sebastian does.”

“You told him?”

“I had to eventually, I mean with the attack and all. To make the long story short, I think the alpha of my old pack is trying to kill me,” I explain. “Wait, that’s one more person who believes in the ability.”

Henry rolls his eyes at my sarcasm. “So you think the men who attacked me are looking for you, to kill you because of your ability?” I nod.

“Wow, luckily I didn’t tell them anything. I acted like I didn’t know who you were.”

“Thank you.”

Henry leans back on the couch, getting comfortable as I sit down beside him.

“The book is on the second bookshelf. Two shelves down from the top and has a green cover. I think it’s called Lycanthrope Mythology if you ever want to look at it.”

Bruiser comes moseying into the room before he jumps up on one of the seats across from us, lying down. I have begun to love the dog, enjoying what it is like to have a pet.

“He is always with you.” I glance at Henry. “He is my dog.”

“When did you get him?”

“About three years ago. Everyone was tense in the house. Sebastian was arguing with my father about taking over, and my mother was trying to get them to calm down. I just got sick of the yelling, so I took my dad’s truck and drove to the closest town—”

“You went into a town?” I ask, extremely intrigued and curious. “What was it like? Could they tell you were different?”

Henry takes a breath as if he is venturing back to the day in his mind.

“It was eye-opening. I wasn’t a very good driver. My dad taught me when he could. So I parked in this dirt lot. After that, I wandered down a street and went into the shops. The people, they were talking about what to have for dinner or how their daughter is getting married—”

“Married? What’s that?”

“It’s a thing people do to connect themselves if they are in love. They put a ring on their finger, and it’s a symbol of their union,” he explains.

My brows furrow. “Like mates?”

“It’s their version of it. They choose who they want to be with for the rest of their lives. They have no mate bond.”

“How odd,” I murmur. “Could they tell you weren’t human?”

“They didn’t have a clue. You know, our kind live among them in the cities and towns. I told you that not all rogues are bad people. Some just want to live life out there, where they are free.”

The longing in his eyes pulls at my heart. Henry wants to be free, out in the world, making his own decisions. He wants to live alongside the humans and follow their way of life.

“Anyways, there was an animal shelter in the town. I saw Bruiser and decided to take him home so that I could have a little piece of the town with me.”

“Why don’t you go live out there? It’s obvious that you love the idea of it.”

Henry sighs and shakes off my words. “I can’t, Evangeline. I’m the alpha’s brother, alpha blood. If anything happened to Sebastian, I would take over, and if I find my mate…I don’t know. Maybe one day.”

The idea of towns and cities overwhelm me. After living with my grandmother, secluded in the forest, this pack is to me as towns are to Henry. I am content here, satisfied here, and I believe I can be for the rest of my life.

Henry is not like me though. He craves more, to see and experience more. I hope he finds his way to the place he desires. He deserves that. Henry has a free soul, and he must express it.

“I always thought you were so happy.”

He looks at me, wanting to know more. “I am happy.”

“You would be happier out there.”

“Until then, I’ll be okay.”