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WREN

The shock in Puck’s words had my gaze snapping to him for a moment. His green eyes showed genuine disbelief, and his jaw had slackened at the vision in front of him. But I couldn’t think about that right now. I needed to help Brix.

I moved, coming to stand in front of him, my hands going to his stubbled cheeks. “Look at me. I’m right here. I’m fine.”

I could still feel the sting of the slice in my stomach. But it wasn’t horribly deep, and I could already feel the tissue knitting back together. All Brix needed to hear right now was that I was all right.

“Wren, you need to back away,” King said, his voice low. “Brix can be unstable when?—”

Brix snarled, snapping his teeth at Kingston, even though he was in his human form.

Shit.

“All of you need to back up. Brix and I are fine, but we need some space,” I ordered .

“Wren,” Locke protested.

“Trust me,” I begged.

Instinct guided me more than anything. I knew that Brix’s animal side couldn’t handle anyone getting too close right now. Not when he’d just felt the bond for the first time and had seen me get hurt. He’d do whatever it took to keep his mate safe—to keep me safe.

Surprisingly, it was Ender who spoke. “Back up,” he commanded.

My gaze flicked to him in thanks, but he quickly averted his eyes. I tried not to let that sting. Instead, I focused on Brix. I dropped my hands from his face but wove our fingers together.

The first thing was getting the blood off him. It was only a reminder of what had happened. To get him calm and at peace, he needed to be clean.

“Come on,” I whispered, tugging Brix toward the house. He went easily, sticking close as he scanned the surrounding woods. I knew he was looking for any signs of an impending attack, but none came.

We slipped inside the house, and I led Brix straight to my room and into the bathroom. I didn’t let go of his hand as I started the water and waited for it to get warm. I met his gaze, holding it. “I’m going to let go for just a second to get undressed, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

Brix gnashed his teeth together but jerked his head in a nod.

I quickly stripped out of my clothes, the movement making the wound on my stomach sting and burn. I should’ve caught my wince, but I didn’t.

Brix was up in my space in a flash. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m okay. Really. I promise. I just?—”

“He. Cut. You,” Brix snarled, struggling to keep his breathing even. Fur rippled over his arms, and I knew if I wasn’t careful, I would have a fully shifted wolf in my bathroom .

“Breathe with me,” I told him, lifting my hands to cup his face again.

Brix’s fingers wrapped around one of my wrists, and he gently pulled my hand away, staring at it as if it were some sort of miracle. “How? You touch me, and it doesn’t make me want to die.”

My heart shattered for him. How long had it been since he’d simply been held? If I thought my wolf was on edge, I couldn’t imagine how his felt. The only touch they’d been able to endure was that of pain.

Brix studied my palm as if it held all the answers in the world, and then his head dipped. He pressed his lips to the skin there. The mating bond sang, zipping through my nerve endings and waking ones I hadn’t even known existed. I’d heard that touch felt different with your mate, that everything was more once you realized the bond—even if it hadn’t been cemented.

I felt it now. That more .

“We need to get you clean,” I croaked. I wanted to give Brix a little of what he was giving me. The knowledge that we were no longer alone in this world. We had each other, and we always would.

Brix moved then, tugging me into the shower, already filled with steam. He ducked under the spray, letting it run over him and wash the blood away. I knew I should avert my gaze but couldn’t. The longer strands of dark-brown hair looked black now as he tipped his head back. That knife tattoo by his eye danced as the water hit his face.

I followed the water’s path as it slid down his body, a form that was a finely tuned weapon. Big and broad but pure muscle. And those ridges and valleys were covered in ink, tattoos that told intricate stories of pain and triumph. My fingers itched to trail over every inch.

I reached for the bodywash, squirting some into my hand to create suds. I moved into Brix, my hands lifting to his chest. Those blue-green eyes locked with mine. The moment my palm connected with his pecs, the bond sang through me .

“You feel that,” Brix growled low.

It sounded more like a command than a question, but I answered anyway. “I feel it. It’s the bond.”

Wonder filled Brix’s eyes as he studied me. “You should’ve run when you had the chance, Little Warrior. Because now that I know what it’s like to have your touch? You’ll never be free.”