Page 24 of Unknowingly Being his Brat

I huffed and moved around his kneeling body. I was so out of here. Silas would likely visit once I was feeling better. Maybe he could tell me what had gone down since Darius appeared to be useless unless it was to annoy my very existence. Taunting me with his gorgeous smile and alluring scent. Yeah, I really needed to go.

“Milo,” he sighed, walking up behind me. “You need to rest.”

I glared at him again, before I resumed my walk to where the front door had to be.

“Please.” His begging tone was sincere enough to make me pause. “I…” he took in a steadying breath. “I can’t see you going through pain again, Milo. Please just rest and let me take care of you. I promise I’ll shift and tell you everything after you’ve eaten.”

So this need for him was because of our fated bond? He felt like he needed to care for me? Was it painful for him to have me here when he didn’ttrulywant me? Or was he doing this because he’d changed his mind? Maybe seeing me almost die had changed things for him. It had for me. I’d realized those last few seconds just how badly I’d wanted things to have gonedifferently with Darius. But it wasn’t for me to fix this, at least it didn’t feel like it. He’d pushed me away, then called me a whore, and then kissed me, only to then ignore me for days.

I was so confused.

My one regret in life would’ve been never feeling loved. I had once, I knew as much, but I’d long forgotten how it felt. Darius was my only chance at feeling it, so I slowly made my way back in front of the fireplace, hoping Darius wasn’t about to break my heart.

Again.

Chapter Twelve

Darius

Milo had almost escaped my care, and if that wasn’t proof we needed to talk, nothing was. On his weak legs, he’d searched for a way out. A way to get away from me. Did he not want me? Or was he scared I was about to reject him again?

No matter his reason, he’d decided to stay, and I’d promised him we would talk. So, even if my insides were screaming with nerves, I handed him the plate with steaks on it. They were cooked more on the medium rare side, but we wolves tended to prefer that in our wolf forms.

Milo ate slowly, his neck likely aching with each swallow, but I knew he’d glare if I showed up with tiny cut up pieces of meat.

Backing up a bit to free up enough space, I quickly shed my clothes, then shifted before I could talk myself out of it. Milo eyed me as he continued to eat, practically begging me for some answers.

“Hi,” I said, feeling more nervous than I ever remember being.

“Hi,” he replied, not even looking my way as he ate the last steak.

“So,”I began. “You’re likely wondering what you’re doing in my house?”

“Actually, I’d much rather know if Jeremy and Cass are okay, but I guess they have to be, for you to think me resting and getting no answers were the highest priority. It wasn’t as if I could ask you to shift to explain things to me, and when I tried to leave to find someone who wanted to hearmetalk, you stopped me.”

Okay, me staying in my human form had been a mistake, noted.

“They’re okay,” I hurried to say, ignoring the part where I’d left him wondering if his brother and Cass were alive. I was messing this up already.

“I’m glad.”He laid down and stared into the fireplace, either dismissing me, or waiting for me to continue our conversation.

“Do you want me to leave?”I asked, knowing if he truly wanted that, I would.

“No.”

My paws padded across the soft carpet, silent as I approached him. He was such a gorgeous wolf, lean but tall, his fur had this golden shine to it in the sunlight whenever it hit just right. Here, with the firelight cascading over his fur he looked mesmerizing. Like a pull on a string, I was tugged close to him, my wolf needing the warmth of his body, his nearness.

Hell, I just needed my Milo.

“I never should’ve called you immature,” I finally admitted, allowing the silence to stretch around us before I continued. “I was the immature one, acting like I was in charge of our relationship.I don’t wish for us to have that sort of arrangement. I want us to be equals, for us to communicate and compromise.”

Milo still didn’t say anything, just stared into the flickering flames, his eyes reflecting their motion.

“I wantyou, Milo.”

He finally turned his head, his eyes searching mine. I hoped he found what he was looking for. I hoped he could see my very soul. If he could, he’d never doubt just how much I wanted him.

“Are you sure?”he asked, his tone hopeful but wary. “It’s not just because of the fated mate thing?”