Wounded Kiss (To Be Claimed 1)

“She needs to heal. Why isn’t her wolf healing her?” I don’t understand what’s happening.

He ignores me, which only intensifies my alarm, speaking his next words aloud so Liz can hear. “Little one, you okay?” I’m pretty sure the two syllables she shouts into his shirt are “Fuck you!” A grin threatens to pull at my lips, but I stop that shit; she’s not okay. And I don’t know how to handle her if she can’t heal herself. How can I be rough with her then? How can I be who I am with my mate if she’s unable to take something as simple as this?

“Baby girl, bring your wolf back so she can heal you.” I focus on the one thing all of us need. “I don’t like seeing these marks on your body.” I’m surprised by the absolute truth in that statement. I never thought I’d want her marks to go away but then again, these weren’t given to her in the way my wolf demands. She shakes her head violently at my command. My brows knit together in anger at her insolence and Dom’s hand comes down on my shoulder in an attempt to placate me.

“Calm the fuck down.”

Dom crawls on the bed, making it dip and groan, and straddles her tiny frame while he talks. “I want to talk to you. Are you going to be good so I can take your gag away?” Her eyes travel over his body and I scent the air; there’s nothing but fear and anger. My wolf snarls in my chest. I want her arousal. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, I rub soothing circles on her calf. She flinches at first, but soon resigns herself to my touch. It’s not like she’s in any position to stop me. Dom looks back at me and his eyes light up as he watches me caress her tender skin.

“Maybe we should keep your gag in until you’re more relaxed.” He stares into her piercing blue eyes and she stares defiantly right back.

“Baby girl, we have something important to tell you.” I trail my fingers teasingly up and down her calf before taking her knee in my hand. I want to kiss her leg, but she’ll probably just knee me in the face and break my nose. The motion would take all the slack these ropes have for her to do it, but there’s not a doubt in my mind she would, so I hold back.

I share a glance with Dom before continuing to talk to Liz and he nods his head in agreement. Now that she can’t ignore us and can’t run from us, it’s the perfect time to tell her we’re her mates. Even if she is spitting mad. Beggars can’t be choosers. “Baby, when you were with your pack, did you learn about mates?” I’m reaching here. She may have wolf in her, but I don’t have a clue whether or not she was ever in a pack. Her body tenses at my question. I press my lips in a hard line. Damn it. I want her to relax.

“You shouldn’t have brought up her pack.” Dom silently scolds me.

“Then you fucking do it.” I answer him in my head so that she doesn’t hear my irritation.

“Lizzie, we’re your mates.” Dom makes the matter-of-fact statement while he bends down to pick up more rope. I scrunch up my face and hang my head at his nonchalance.

“What the fuck, Dom?”

“What?” He looks at me like he’s confused as to why I would be aggravated.

“Women want romance, you dumb fuck.” I hiss the words in my head.

“Does she look like she wants romance right now?” I take a look at my doe-eyed mate. She’s still scared to death and furious, looking at Dom like he just smacked her across her pretty little face. “She’s not even listening. Look at her.”

“Do you know what that means, Liz? That we’re your mates?” I ask her evenly, making my voice as soft as I possibly can even though the words choke me. I expect her to shake or nod her head, but she does nothing. I school my expression to keep my anger under wraps.

“She really likes being difficult, doesn’t she?”

“It’ll take time, but we’ll break her habit of ignoring us.”

Dom’s words ring clear in my head. I don’t respond because truthfully I want her to be difficult so we can let our beasts out to play. But not right now. Not when I’m telling her that she’s my one and only for as long as I live. That she is my everything and every choice I make will involve her and prioritize her. My heart clenches and my hand stills on her calf. Fuck. Maybe fate knew how fucked up I’d end up being so they gave me a mate who can’t love me back. I have to clear my throat and stop those thoughts. I’ll make her love me.