The Hunger (The Lycans 3)

“I know. Bringing ye here and forcing ye tae stay with me… having ye find out all of this the way ye did… it wasn’t how I wanted any of this tae go. I regret how I handled everything.”

We were silent for long moments, and I was so fucking thankful she didn’t push me away.

“I believe you,” she whispered. “But I need you to trust me like I’m trying to trust you.”

I nodded and held her tighter. “I trust ye with my life.”

“You don’t even know me though.”

I closed my eyes and wished mated females felt the kind of unbreakable connection the males did when they found their Linked Mates. “I donna have tae know ye tae know ye’re my female, and I will no’ want anyone else but ye.”

She placed her hand on my pectoral muscle and ran her fingers over the talisman. “What is this?” she asked quietly.

“It’s a talisman, an object of mystical protection. This one was given tae me by a hybrid Lycan/witch. It’s tae keep my family from finding me… finding us.” I didn’t mention the blood promise.

She was still relaxed against me as I admitted that. “This whole world is not even what I could have ever imagined,” she breathed, and I kissed the crown of her head. “You were worried about someone taking me from you before you could tell me everything, and that’s why you got the necklace… this talisman.” She didn’t phrase it like a question.

“Yes,” I whispered and nodded at the same time. “It was wrong—”

“Yeah, it was wrong, but I get why you did it all. I may not know how all of this… Otherworld stuff works, or really understand fully about the other half of who I am, but from everything I’m gathering, fated mates are rare gifts and you’ll protect that at all costs.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and once again thanked the gods for giving Darragh to me. “Aye,” I stated simply, my throat thick, my voice tight.

“I don’t want any more lies. I can’t handle it anymore. I need the truth. Always.”

“I’ll never lie tae ye again. Never.” And I meant that.

“Good.” We were silent for a moment, and she kept running her finger along the necklace. “I need to call my friend. She’s like a sister to me. Evelyn is my only family, and she’s probably so worried because I haven’t called her.”

“I’ll take ye tae my family home. I will no’ stop ye from doing anything.” She pulled back, and I looked into her eyes. “We will speak with my father, Banner. He can help. We have a male who is the record keeper for all history of the Scottish Lycan Clan. If yer father is one of us, we’ll find out who he is and where he’s at. I promise I will no’ stop until we get the answers ye seek.”

“Really?”

I nodded, feeling this fierce protectiveness fill me as I looked into my mate’s dark eyes. I didn’t stop myself from cupping her cheek and smoothing my thumb along her soft skin. “I just want ye tae be happy,” I whispered.

She was silent for a moment, then softly asked, “And what happens if I’m happiest back in America?”

I kept my hand cupped gently to her face. “I’ll follow wherever ye go.”

Her eyes flared for a moment. “Really? Even if that meant leaving your family behind? Leaving your life here behind?”

I nodded. “Even if ye went tae hell… I’d be right by yer side.” She sucked in a breath at my words. They were the truth. Always the truth. “Ye’re what matters tae me now. The most important aspect of my life. Where ye go, I’ll follow.”

She darted her eyes away, her brows lowering as if in concentration. “This is all so… heavy.” She looked back at me. “This is all so permanent.” Darragh licked her lips, and I scented the uncertainty from her. “What if I didn’t want this, want the whole mate thing?”

It was unfathomable to me to think of her not wanting me. Although she’d never feel a fraction of how strongly I felt for her, my heart ached and broke at the very possibility Darragh may not want me.

“Then I’d try for the rest of my life to convince ye otherwise.” We stared into each other's eyes for long seconds, and then she gave me the sweetest smile. I didn't stop myself from leaning down and kissing her soundly, slowly. I pulled back by pure force of will, and she instantly rested her head on my chest and smoothed her hand over my flesh.

I rested my chin atop her head, staring out the darkened window, and moved my hand up and down her naked back.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep, and it had nothing to do with the massive hard-on still trying to burst from my jeans. I wouldn’t be able to rest, because the feeling of my mate pressed to me and the knowledge that she trusted me enough to share her body with me reminded me over and over again how lucky I was.