Page 44 of Shadowed Bond

I stay there holding her hand in mine, because if there is one thing I can do, one thing I have not already fucked up beyond repair, it is this.

I can stay.

Beside Her

Charlotte

Iwake to the sound of steady beeping. For a moment, I don’t move; my entire body feels heavy, and I’m aching, like I’ve just fought in a battle.

Where am I?

It takes a few seconds before everything rushes back at once.

The veil, the collapsed tunnels, the Blood Moon.

And…

Ares.

My fated mate.

My eyes flutter open, and I flinch, trying not to stare at the stark white ceiling. Then I realise I’m not alone; one of my hands is being held. I turn my head slightly to see Ares sitting beside my bed, his hands clasped around mine.

He looks… awful.

Good.

He deserves it.

Ok, maybe not, but I’m still angry at him.

His hair is a mess, but he’s cleaned up somewhat; there are dark shadows beneath his eyes that make it very clear he has not slept. He’s changed into sweatpants and a white tee. I spot a bandage wrapped around his shoulder, another around his forearm, and then the delicious sparks of the bond sizzling between us.

My chest tightens, and just then Ares looks up, his eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, neither of us speaks.

Then his grip tightens, and the relief that flashes across his face is so raw that something inside me almost softens.

Almost. Because I still remember what he said.

‘I don’t need this… Mates are weaknesses… I don’t need someone people can use against me…’

My expression turns cold, and I slowly pull my hand away from him.

His jaw tightens, but he lets go.

Good.

“Arden…” he begins, his voice rough. “You’re awake.”

“Surprised you’re still around, Westwood.”

I turn my head slightly, looking around the hospital room instead of at him. The crest on the file sitting beside my bed tells me we’re at the Black Storm Pack. I don’t remember arriving here, which means he brought me.

Of course, he still had to protect me after being such a prick.

Goddess, I hate this man.

“You fainted, so I brought you to the Black Storm Pack; it was the pack nearest to us,” he explains as if realising what I’m thinking about.