Wolf Broken (Wolfish 2)

“That’s what I want,” I say, softly. “And without being able to do those things with you, I’m afraid I’ll never truly have any of it.”

“Sabrina …”

Just as I feel his breath grow short and his body rigid, his hands reaching for me to pull me closer, I climb back off of his lap and stand up straight.

The look on his face … it’s heartbreaking.

Because it’s all too familiar.

There, now he understands what I mean.

8

Kaleb

Sabrina’s words echo in my mind for days.

I want to be able to give in.

I know she thinks we don’t understand, that I don’t understand … but she couldn’t be more wrong. I understand that feeling more than she could ever know. I want more than just to be able to give in.

I want to be able to give her everything. I want … I want …

I just want.

Thanks to the bond that binds us, all I can do is want.

If Rory hadn’t told me about that little detail in the turning process, I would have given in to this want a long time ago. If caving to my desire for Sabrina didn’t jeopardize any chance at a future with her, I would have given into that want ages ago.

But as it is, the thing I want the most is the one thing I can’t have. And it’s a fact that I’m constantly reminded of.

“Hurry up,” I say, bouncing on the balls of my feet while I wait for Rory to finish tying his shoes. He glances up at me with a look of annoyance, but he says nothing.

Marlowe, meanwhile, can’t help but tease me.

“Anxious to get going today?” he asks, a subtle lilt to his voice that signals mischief is afoot. And it is.

Today, after many weeks of letting Sabrina stew in her own misplaced jealousy, we’ve finally decided to do something about it. Or more like Rory has. Everything always boils down to Rory.

It was my idea to take Sabrina away from here ages ago, months ago. But it wasn’t until now that Rory finally agreed it was a good idea … and only because of the alliance meeting Romulus has set up for this weekend.

Better to get her away from the house with us than to ask her to stay away. If we keep asking her to stay away, one of these days she might stay away for good.

If only I had Lydia’s gift. I wish I knew Sabrina’s mind as well as my mother knows mine. I wish I knew her every thought, her every whim, her every desire.

Maybe then I’d be able to find a way to satisfy her … even if I can’t do it in the traditional sense. In the feral sense.

At long last, Rory straightens up. Even though he’s trying to remain calm, I can tell he’s excited too. I can hear it in the quickening of his breath, the way his heart skips a beat. As much as we’ve been wrapped up in preparations for my swearing-into the alliance, we’ve missed Sabrina too. As much as she doubts it. As much as she accuses us of not wanting to be with her.

That’s all we want, to be with her. Unfortunately, duty and tradition have kept us away these last weeks, these last months … but we finally have the chance to be with her, alone. And just the thought of it makes my very blood feel like it’s on fire.

We’re two steps out the door when Romulus’ voice makes us pause.

“So you’ve decided to go ahead and do it, then?”

I stop in my tracks alongside my brothers, both Marlowe and I glancing at Rory with a look of confusion before looking back to our father.

“What do you …” Marlowe starts, trailing off when he sees the look on Rory’s face.