The Burning Claw: Book 10, The Grey Wolves Series (42 page)

“You’re sorry?” she asked, cutting off his words and pulling back to look up at him. His breath caught in his lungs at the perfection before him. Her hair was no longer blonde with purple streaks, it was back to it’s beautiful, chocolate brown. “I’m in awe of you,” he whispered. He could feel her disbelief and growled at her. “Feel me, Sally. I’m telling the truth. You, incredible female,
are
mine and I am humbled.” He felt like he was going to come undone at the seams. The fear that she didn’t want him was threatening to suffocate him. His wolf was pacing now, no longer at peace because their mate wouldn’t tell them what she was feeling.

“I love you,” she whispered. It was so soft that he barely heard it. Costin pulled her tighter against him. But then she turned and straddled his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She buried his face in his neck and held on as though something was going to try and pull her away.

“It’s just so much,” she began. “I…” Her shoulders shook and she held him tighter. “Why did this have to happen to me? I love you more than I ever thought I was capable and I would never, ever betray our love, but that’s exactly what happened.”

A huge part of Costin—mainly his wolf part—didn’t want to think about or discuss any part of her relationship with the other male while her memory had been cloaked. But he knew she would need to and he was going to have to reassure her that it didn’t matter. Nothing could ever change the way he felt about her.

“Do you still want to be with me?” Costin asked.

S
ally’s heart broke again as she heard the fear in her mate’s voice. He thought, because she didn’t want him to touch her, that she was rejecting him. She just didn’t know how to explain what was going on inside of her.

She brushed her lips across his neck and the memory of their Blood Rites filled her mind. Costin had just bitten her again because he needed to reestablish his claim. Maybe if she did this too, he would realize just how desperately she wanted to be with him.

She opened her mouth and bit—hard—on the spot she’d bitten once before. Costin’s arms tightened around her and he moaned as she pulled the blood from his body. She didn’t want to stop. She wanted to keep the connection between them so that he wouldn’t doubt her, no matter what her feelings seemed to be saying.

“Beautiful, that’s enough. I hear you,” Costin whispered to her as he ran his fingers through her long hair. She was so thankful that her hair had returned to normal. She hadn’t expected this to happen, but she was glad to be rid of anything that would remind her of her time in Oceanside. She released his neck and licked the wound and then pressed a kiss to it.
Hers
, she thought. He was hers.

“Always,” he told her as he pulled back to look at her. The need burning in his eyes scared and excited her. She needed him, holy hell how she needed him. But she didn’t feel like she deserved him. She felt as though her body was tainted, contaminated, no longer fit for him to touch.

He growled as her thoughts filtered through the bond. “Your body is mine. No matter what happens to it, it will always be mine and I will always want to touch you.”

Tears formed in her eyes again as Costin ran a finger across her jaw, down her neck, and across the tops of her breasts. He let his other hand roam up her thigh and across her backside and then up her back until he was grasping her neck. It was as if he needed to show her that he wanted to touch her and that he would touch her.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked her as his eyes dropped to her lips.

Sally hated that he felt like he needed to ask.

He shook his head at her. “I don’t feel like I need to ask. But you’ve been through something terrible. Someone touched you against your will. I want you to feel in control of your own body. I will respect whatever you need or want. If you want me to strip you out of your clothes and kiss and touch and love every inch of you, I will. If you want me only to touch your hand, I will. All I beg of you is that you let me touch you in some way. Even just your ankle, I need your flesh against mine.”

She was speechless. She stared at him, watching his hazel eyes shift back and forth from wolf to man. She’d missed him. Even though she hadn’t remembered him, her soul had remembered him, and she had missed him so very much.

When he leaned forward, she did as well and before she knew it, his lips were devouring hers. He nipped, kissed, sucked, licked, and repeated on her lips. It was as if he were reclaiming them. They sat there kissing for a long time. And Sally drank him in like a desert drinks the rain.

Finally, he pulled back. He was breathless, as was she. “I would love to continue this and if you allow it, we will. But now I think showers are in order.”

Sally looked down for the first time at his clothes. He was covered in blood. She looked back up at him and saw no remorse for those he’d killed.

“How?” she asked. He understood that she was asking how he killed Jericho.

“Are you sure you want to know?” he asked as his eyes began to glow again.

She nodded.

“Tell me first, what was Peri talking about before she left?”

Sally’s heart plummeted. “Costin, it has to do with last night.”

He looked shocked, but then recovered quickly. “So it happened last night?” he asked. His voice was gravelly from his wolf.

She nodded.

“Is that the only time?”

“That’s the only time it went that far.” Her memories of the different encounters with Jericho rushed forward, no matter how she tried to keep them at bay. “I didn’t desire him. I only thought of him as a friend.”

“Why did you continue to see him?” His question wasn’t accusatory; he just wanted to know what happened.

“You’re going to think I’m stupid.” She tried to hide her face but he wouldn’t let her.

“I could never think you’re stupid, Sally mine.”

“I didn’t want to hurt his feelings,” she said quickly.

Costin nodded slowly as if he were considering her words. “Did he ever push himself on you? Other than when he used the bracelet?”

“No, not really. He was intense. Bloody hell, Costin, how are we going to do this? I can’t talk about him with you.”

Costin growled. “I’m your mate. I’m the one you
should
talk to about this. Sally, trust me. Trust my commitment to you.”

He picked her up as he smoothly rose from the ground and walked toward their bedroom.

“Where are we going?” she asked him.

“To take a bath. We can continue our discussion there. We need to talk about this and I think the sooner you get it all out the sooner you can start healing. But I won’t lie, it is hard to hear. It will help if we have more skin touching. It reassures my wolf that you are his—no one else’s. I want you here with me, present in mind and body.” He set her down in their bathroom and it felt as though it had been years instead of months that she’d been here. In fact, the last time she’d used their bathroom she’d been taking a shower with Costin. Sally felt her skin blush.

“Are you comfortable with taking a bath with me?”

She nodded.

“Do you want me to turn around so you can undress?”

“Do you want to turn around?” she countered.

He gave her a dry look. “You’re asking me if I want to look away as you get naked? No amount of turmoil or pain will stop me from wanting to see you naked.” He winked at her and her heart skipped a beat. He was so freaking handsome and sexy and funny and, holy smokes, she’d missed him.

She wasn’t surprised when he stripped off all of his bloody clothes without any hesitation. Costin had never, ever been bashful about being naked in front of her. He could even have a fight with her while he was butt naked. She had to have clothes on to argue with him. She felt too vulnerable to be naked and fighting. And he wouldn’t keep his eyes on her face while she growled at him.

He was grinning at her, obviously listening to her train of thought. “Come here,” he told her.

She obeyed, walking over to him. Costin began to undress her, his movements confident. As her skin began to be revealed, he would groan and would stop and kiss her wherever his mouth happened to be. By the time he’d filled the tub and added bubbles, he’d run his hands over every inch of her flesh.

He sat down in the tub first and she climbed in, sitting down in between his legs and leaning back against his chest. She felt his chest rumble in satisfaction and felt his contentment through their bond.

“Now, start at the beginning and share your story with me.” His hands began to slide up and down her skin, touching any part he could reach.

Sally realized that he was right. It wasn’t going to get any easier to talk about. In fact, it would probably get harder. But, for whatever reason, being completely surrounded by his body against hers, she felt safe to talk to him about her ordeal.

Sally started with the moment she’d arrived in Oceanside. “Oh,” she said before she got too far in. “Are my parents…alive?”

“I haven’t heard otherwise,” he said just before pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.

“Can we go see them soon?”

“Of course.”

Then she continued her account of the time she’d been gone. The entire time she spoke, Costin listened patiently. There were times his touch got more insistent. During those times, he’d stop her to kiss her and then let her continue.

Touch, it was so vital to his wolf and she realized it was vital to the man as well. It settled both of them and gave her the security she needed in order to talk to him.

That night, after they’d talked and bathed, Costin helped her dress for bed and then tucked her in next to him. “Costin?”

“Yes, beautiful?”

“How is Titus? Is he still unaware of what we are? I know I haven’t asked about him. I just don’t feel ready yet to face him. I’d like to see him tomorrow, but tonight—” She paused.

“Tonight was about beginning the slow process of healing and about reuniting with your mate,” he finished for her. “We will talk about Titus, and other things, like the fact that he doesn’t about what we are,
tomorrow
, after we’ve both rested.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her tightly against him. “You aren’t the only one feeling shame. You poured yourself out to me and trusted me with your heart, mind, and body. Tomorrow, I will pour myself out to you.”

Sally’s stomach clenched and she felt tears fill her eyes. Without her, without their bond, Costin would have been fighting the growing darkness. He’d gone through that all alone, without her.

“Shhh,” Costin said gently. “Rest. If you can’t, I can occupy you until your body is worn out and then you can sleep.”

She smiled and it felt good to smile. “You still want me?”

Costin growled. “If you won’t believe my words, then believe my actions,” he told her as he pulled her shirt, which happened to be one of his, over her head.

Sally closed her eyes and nearly cried out at the
rightness
of her mate loving her. The completeness she felt when he touched her was overwhelming. How anyone could let someone other than their mate touch them baffled her because nothing compared to her mate’s touch. Oh, how much it soothed her, reassured her, and strengthened the bond between them.

She knew that the aftermath of her ordeal wasn’t over. She wasn’t magically healed. The insecurities, guilt, shame, and sickness over it would return, but at least she knew that Costin wouldn’t leave her. He would be with her through it all. She wouldn’t be alone ever again.

Costin whispered in her ear as his body moved over hers. “I adore you, I desire you, and I love you, Sally Miklos.”

Chapter 23

“So there wasn’t a big battle scene this time. Just Costin ripping a man apart with his bare hands. That was pretty freaking awesome. Though Sally and Costin are safe and sound, their fight isn’t over. The Order of the Burning Claw is still out there. And they’re begging for an ass kicking. Lucky them, I pass out ass kickings for free.” ~Jen

V
asile looked around at the carnage Costin had left behind. It was bad—not unjustified, but messy.

“You okay?” Decebel asked him.

He must have looked pretty shaken. And truth be told, he was shaken. The entire situation was obscene. Who does this to a young woman? They knew she had a mate. Didn’t they care about what it would do to her if and when she found out? He shouldn’t be surprised, but sometimes the depths of evil inherent in some still shocked even him.

“I’ll be better when this place is burned to the ground.”

“I’ll take care of it as soon as we are done searching the office in the back,” Peri told him.

“What caused Costin to kill the others? Why didn’t he even give them time to explain themselves?” Vasile ask the other two. The pinched look on Decebel’s face made it clear that the reason sickened him.

“He saw in Sally’s thoughts that Jericho used a seduction spell on her last night.” Decebel paused; he didn’t want to say the rest.

“He mated with her?” Vasile asked, sparing him.

Decebel nodded.

“No wonder he lost it,” Vasile said softly. “Would you mind having Jen check on them later? Costin isn’t going to want any males near her, of course, at least for a little while.”

“I can do that,” Decebel agreed.

P
eri stood with the rest of the pack, watching from across the street as
The Doghouse
burned to the ground. She made sure the fire didn’t touch anything around the building. She thought she would have some satisfaction seeing it fall, but the memories of Sally’s broken face and Costin’s burning rage had torn a hole in her heart. Everything just felt wrong.

“Come to me, beloved. Let me make it right,”
Lucian said gently as he pushed his feelings of love and adoration to her.

“Let me debrief and then I’m all yours,”
she told him, feeling a little better just because she could feel her mate through their bond.

Peri wordlessly held out her arms for everyone to touch her somewhere so that she could flash them away from the fire and the heartbreak and death that happened there.

Once they were all in Vasile’s office, the Alpha turned to everyone in the room. He looked tired as if the fate of their pack and of the rest of the world balanced precariously on his shoulders.

“Everyone needs to get some sleep and process what we witnessed today. Lean on your mate for comfort. The Great Luna gave us our true mates for such a time as this. We’ve had to watch one of our own be violated mentally and physically. We’ve had to see her mate deteriorate as the darkness and grief consumed him. We’ve watched that same male get his justice in a most violent manner. We’ve also watched the reunion of those mates and the incredible pain that they are both feeling. They have a very long road ahead of them. They are going to need the support of their pack, or maybe I should say
packs
.” He glanced at Decebel who bent his head slightly forward.

“We will meet back here tomorrow evening at seven,” Vasile said with finality.

The room began to disperse and Peri watched as Decebel pulled Jen close, tears already streaming down her face. Jacque was in a similar position with Fane and he was whispering to her, his own face one of torment. Even Cypher, the king, looked subdued. He was no doubt going to find his own mate, who was somewhere in the mansion babysitting Slate. Peri was just about to flash when she saw Alina rush into the room. The female Alpha stopped the minute she saw her mate. The only way to describe the look in her eyes was utter, complete, intense, love. She pulled herself together and walked to her mate as the controlled and regal Alpha female that she was.

As soon as she was before him, Vasile was on his knees. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his forehead into her stomach. Alina folded herself over him. Peri’s breath caught at the incredible devotion she could feel pouring off of each of them.

Sally’s ordeal had really shaken Vasile up. She knew every male was imaging what they would have done had it been their mate. Being so close to tragedy often causes people to realize what they have and how precious it is.

She flashed, leaving the Alphas to their private moment. She reappeared in the suite she shared with Lucian. Peri hadn’t been standing there for longer than ten seconds when a massive form swooped in lifting her off her feet. She was lying on her back in a matter of moments with her mate over her.

Lucian looked down at her with a hunger that took her breath away. She understood exactly how he felt.

“You know that I try to be understanding and give you your space, but female I cannot go a week without seeing you. The turmoil I was feeling inside of you today was driving me mad. You were in so much pain and you still are.”

“Lucian, it was awful. I’ve never seen such pain in two people’s eyes. I honestly don’t know if Sally can handle this. I’m scared it’s going to eat her alive until there is nothing left but a shell.” Peri closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks.

“I can’t fix this,” Lucian growled. “And that is unbelievably frustrating. I can’t fix it, but I can make you forget for just a little while,” he finished his words in a whisper next to her ear.

She shivered at his warm breath and confident touch.

“Let me take care of you, beloved mate. Let me bathe you, feed you, and then love you.” He said all of that while pressing kisses to the mark he had put upon her.

“I’m all yours, wolf. Do your worst,” Peri told him. She thanked the Great Luna as her mate took care of her that night. Peri had never wanted a mate or a significant other. She’d have been a fool if she had not accepted Lucian as hers.

“I would have followed you around until you gave in,” Lucian teased, having heard her thoughts.

“I don’t doubt you for a minute.”

“
S
hhh, baby. You’re scaring me,” Decebel whispered against his mate’s hair. She was curled up in his lap, weeping, and had been for a half hour. She was killing him. He understood what she was feeling, he could feel it pulsing through their bond. And he also felt nearly the same way. “Though I hurt for Sally and Costin, all my wolf and I can think is
what if that had been our mate
?” He pulled her closer and moved her hair over her shoulder so that he could press his lips to her neck. He sighed. Her skin against his was what he and his wolf craved.

“Dec, you didn’t feel her as we held her in that bar. She shook so violently that I thought she might be having a seizure. Something broke in her when she realized that Costin was going to know about what she and Jericho did. I know Sally. She will want to take full responsibility for everything that happened.” She shuddered in his arms as her eyes become unfocused. She was remembering. “Nobody can handle that kind of guilt. Why?” she yelled suddenly.

Jennifer pulled out of his arms and began pacing as she ranted. “WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HER? Out of all of us it should have been ME!” she roared.

Decebel was on his feet towering over her in a heartbeat. “Never say that again. Costin is young. Sixty years without your mate is hard but two centuries without you, I would have lost it, Jennifer. There would have been a hell of a lot more deaths I can promise you that. I know you’re hurting for your friend, but never wish something like that on yourself. Think about me.” He slammed his hand against his chest. “Think about our daughter.”

Her shoulders fell as the fight left her. “It’s just… it’s—” She stumbled over her words. “It’s Sally. Sweet, forgiving, gentle Sally. It sucks. It sucks so freaking much.”

“Vasile asked me if I would have you check on her. Would that help?” he asked her tentatively.

Jennifer’s forehead scrunched together as she bit her bottom lip. Finally, she nodded.

J
en made a stop at Jacque’s room and had to pull rank on Fane in order to let Jacque leave with her. It just didn’t feel right going without the third part of the trio.

“You holding it together?” she asked Jacque.

“I’m sick. I’m sick and no I’m not. It’s Sally, Jen. The look on her face when she realized she had a mate and that mate was not Jericho…I never want to see such anguish, guilt, and despair on her face ever again.”

When they reached the door to the Miklos suite, Jen held up her hand to knock but stopped when she heard Costin’s voice. She motioned Jacque to come closer.

“I want you, I adore you, I love you. You’re mine and I’m yours.” Costin’s voice was tender and genuine.

“Again,” Sally said, her voice rough. From crying no doubt.

“You’re beautiful, I need you, I want you, you’re mine.”

There was a pause and then a choked sound as Sally spoke again. “Again, please.”

“Sally mine, I’m lost without you. I crave you, the sound of your voice, the scent of your body, the touch of your hands. Please, Brown Eyes,”

“No, no, no, NO!” Sally screamed, sobbing at the same time. “Don’t call me that. Don’t ever call me that.”

“Okay, okay, beautiful. I won’t ever call you that again. Will you please come back and sit down?” Costin sounded so patient and loving.

Jen felt Jacque take her hand and looked at her friend to see she was crying just as much as Jen was.

“If you won’t let me touch you, at least tell me what changed? Earlier you let me touch you all over. What happened to make you not want my touch?”

“The dream,” Sally said so softly that they had to press their ears against the door.

“Everyone was telling me that I didn’t deserve you. Jen and Jacque were asking me how I could have betrayed you in the worst possible way. They stood there shouting at me that you should never have to touch me again, not after I’d given that privilege to another male. They’re right,” she muttered.

“Love, it was a dream. You know none of us, especially your best friends, think those things. You know I don’t think those things. You can feel it. You can see it in my mind. If you’d let me touch you, you’d know the truth of what I think. I’m on my knees begging you to let me touch you. Please, Sally. You aren’t the only one hurting here, beautiful.”

Sally sucked in a breath. “Why are you hurting, Costin? Because your mate SLEPT WITH ANOTHER MAN? BECAUSE SHE’S NO LONGER INNOCENT?” Sally screamed at him.

Jen slid down to her knees, her legs unable to hold her as she realized the depth of suffering her friend was experiencing. Something crashed against the door causing it to shutter, and Jen’s legs decided to work again as she jumped up, intending to storm in there and check on Sally. But a short, redhead got between her and the door. Jacque shook her head and mouthed, “He won’t hurt her.”

Jen knew that, but she didn’t like Costin throwing things. Not that her own mate didn’t throw things now and then.

They pressed their ears back to the door, not that it was necessary with the roar coming out of Costin.

“I’M HURTING BECAUSE YOU ARE HURTING. THE ONLY REASON THAT I CARE THAT HE TOUCHED YOU IS BECAUSE IT’S DESTROYING YOU. YOU, Sally, you are all I care about. This has nothing to do with how I feel about what happened. It only matters because you are hurting as a result of what he did. Don’t you get it?” Costin’s voice had deflated as he tried to reason with this mate.

“Get what?” Sally hiccupped.

“Get that you will always be more important to me than anything else. You, your safety, your health, your pain, your joy—all of that is more important than him. He is dead now. He doesn’t matter. I dealt with my own feelings when I tore him apart. Now it’s about you.” He was breathing hard by the time he was done pouring himself out to her.

“Costin,” Sally said.

“Yes, beautiful?”

“I want your touch.”

“Bloody hell, thank you.”

Jen made a motion for them to step away and Jacque nodded and followed.