76 - ra


    For a brief moment, I wake up utterly disoriented. Where exactly am I? A strange, electric sensation tingles across my skin—something entirely unfamiliar. Carefully, I shift my gaze around the dim space, wary of making any abrupt moves. With everything that''s happened, being cautious is crucial; you never know who might be watching from the shadows.


    I nce down and realize I''m stillpletely naked. So, we never made it back home. We... Ben and I. Oh, damn... Ben and I. He was hurt badly, on the verge of death, and I simply couldn''t allow that. I marked him the moment everything changed. Oh, Goddess, what followed after that was overwhelming. I breathe in sharply, catching his strong scent lingering all over me. His touch still echoes on my skin—the way his fingers traced, held, and guided me. My body obeyed everymand his hands gave.


    He promised no one else would touch me, that no one could im me. I suppose time will tell if that holds true. Our Elders aren''t exactly viins, but they do enjoy their privileges. I know they cared for my mother when she was with them, but they treated her as if she were their possession, and my father let it happen. He allowed them toy im to the most precious gift the Goddess ever gave him. They shared her like a prized toy-valuable, yes, but still just a ything.


    "You know," Ben''s warm, silky voice breaks through my thoughts,ced with yful humor, “I really liked hearing your thoughts when you first woke up.”


    I turn toward him, spotting him sitting not far away, leaning against the cave wall with a fire crackling beside him. "I didn''t realize mates could hear each other''s thoughts," I say, blinking in surprise. "How long have I been out?"


    Ben grins, a mischievous half-smile tugging at his lips, making my heart flutter. "Turns out, I''m pretty talented at pleasuring you into aa."


    “That''s not an answer,” I tease, scooting closer. “And how did you even get a fire going in here?"


    He pulls me gently in front of him. I hesitate only briefly-he''s never given me a reason to doubt him. Being cared for without having to ask is something I''m going to have to get used to. I lean back against his warm chest, tilting my head toward one shoulder so I can still gaze up at him.


    "You''ve been out for a while," he exins. "I''m not exactly sure how long. I''m pretty convinced this is one of those witch illusion bubbles-time here doesn''t work like it does outside. What feels like hours or days to us might be seconds or minutes to the rest of the team, or the other way around. As for the fire... Alpha James insisted we learn how to protect our human side. If something happens to our wolf, it hurts, but we can survive. Our wolves, though-they need our human part to live. So we''ve trained on the bare essentials: finding water when there''s none, knowing what foods are safe, conserving energy, building shelter, and regting body temperature in extreme weather." He touches a leather cord around his neck. "This is a flint. Alpha James gave us all one a long time ago. I never take it off-the cord stretches to fit my wolf''s thick neck."


    “Who''s calling me thick-necked?” A deep, rumbling growl vibrates through my mind, and I gasp. I''m not sure if it''s the new voice or the surge of arousal that makes my breath hitch. Benughs softly, pulling me tighter into his embrace.


    "Can you talk to my wolf too?" I ask eagerly, half-turning toward him. "I didn''t know mates could do that!"


    "I''ve been speaking to her, yes. She''s sweet."


    "Sweet? No way. She''s a sarcastic little devil, but I love her," I reply with a grin.


    "My mate gets the best-and worst-of me," Ben''s wolf chirps in my head, or maybe it''s both of our minds. I catch the satisfied look on Ben''s face.


    “Great. I''m so lucky to put up with the pain-in-the-ass part of you,” I tease, curling closer to him. I want to feel as much of him as possible. My thoughts are clearer now, and the tingling sensation is a wee bonus.


    "So, what''s our next move? We have to get home, but are you up for traveling? Your outside wounds look healed, but how''s the inside? And as much as I like being naked next to you, I definitely need some clothes before I freeze my tits off.” Iugh, squeezing him yfully.


    "I can move whenever you''re ready. The bonding did exactly what you hoped-it''s strong. I''m hoping we can step out of this blizzard just like you, Marietta, and Branna did the first time we found a Shadow Marker. When I gathered kindling, I didn''t go far past the cave entrance-I didn''t want to get separated. I think that''s why I felt sick when you were dismantling the markers. You were on one side of the barrier, and I was on the other. Maybe it was because we hadn''t bonded yet, but I didn''t want to test that while you were resting." He gives me a sexy look that makes my heart race. I''m pretty sure I''ll be jumping his bones again before we even leave.


    I shake my head, trying to focus. "Stop looking at me like that."


    Ben raises an eyebrow, but the smile never fades. "I don''t know what you mean.”


    "Come on, sexy man. Let''s go home and save our pack." I stand and hold out my hand.


    He hesitates for a moment, then exhales deeply. "Let''s go home." He takes my hand, joining me.


    As we walk toward the cave''s mouth, I feel a surge of energy and determination. Whatever this witch can throw at us, I''m ready. The snow still whips sideways, but strangely, I don''t feel the cold at all.


    We step out together, hand in hand, bracing ourselves against the elements.


    Then, suddenly, the storm freezes—as if someone hit a pause button on the world around us.