Page 62 of A Half-Blood’s Escape
And that was a promise, or more like a vow. I would always protect her from harm. That was my number one job as her mate. Always keep her away from the evil things in this world.
"You will try, but you cannot always be around me to make sure nothing hurts me."
"Maybe I should bring you with me then," I said.
"Where?"
"Everywhere I go. So, you will never be out of my sight again."
She sighed and shook her head.
"So, I will never have any sort of freedom either."
She was just looking for a way to pressure me into letting her go, but she had to see that was simply not going to happen. She stayed, and she would be my queen.
"I won't let you go."
"Then I will die," she said.
I shook my head.
"I won't let anyone take you from me."
She rolled her eyes a bit. She really couldn't trust I could keep her safe, and that angered me. In a quick move, I reached out again and wrapped my hand around her throat, growling a little. She gasped, shocked by my actions.
"Do not doubt me, little wolf," I said. "I have existed for many, many years. I can keep you safe."
Her eyes had grown bigger, and it was clear she was holding her breath a little, probably still shocked, and not sure what to do. Her small hands were wrapped around my wrist, ready to try and pry me off her, if I tried squeezing the life out of her, but that was not my intention. I just wanted her to fucking listen to me for once. I wanted my words to actually sink into her head. I would not let anyone take her from me. She needed to see that.
"You hear me?" I asked.
She swallowed hard and then nodded. I was only squeezing her throat a little. Just enough for her to understand the message.
"Are you going to tell me I can't protect you again?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Words," I said.
"No," she whispered.
Her pulse was racing. Her scent carried the clear traits of fear, but there was something else. I knew she could feel the bond between us humming pleased from this simple contact. My hand around her throat. Even if she was a half-blood, I knew she could feel this was different. Whenever we touched, it was never just a touch. It was deeper, it made our connection grow, and therefore her scent wasn't just a fearful one, no there was something underlying sweet about it. It told me she wanted more, but I also knew that even if her body wanted my touch, her head wasn't quite ready to admit it.
I wasn't used to letting my little prey get away. I wasn't used to having to back off, but I did because I knew my mate was different from the rest. Her values were different. Her wants and needs. The people I had always been around wanted nothing more than to do anything that could make me happy. At least those snobby aristocrats. Gabriel and Ace were not scared to piss me off, but Lara was a fearful one. She ran because she had not been taught to fight.
"Good," I said, and then used the hand I had wrapped around her throat to stroke down her hair.
I wasn't sure if she noticed, but she closed her eyes for a second, and a pleased expression appeared on her face like she couldn't help herself from leaning into my touch.
She pulled back shortly after though, looking away from me. I gently grabbed her chin and made her look at me again. I loved her blue eyes. They were just so sweet, and I wanted to keep seeing them, just like I wanted to trace those pink lips, that were a little parted, almost inviting me to run my thumb over them. Lara didn't pull away or tried to fight me on this either. It just told me she was starting to feel the bond more and more. It would take time for half-bloods to feel it, but slowly they would, and they would be as powerless as any wolf against this bond.
"Do not be afraid, little wolf," I whispered.
I finally gave in to temptation, and let my thumb run along her lower lip. I really wanted to bite it too, but I knew not to push her too hard.
"I'm not," she whispered back.
"Then why are you running?" I asked.
