Page 12 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 12

Atlas

T he storm raged around us as the night wore on. And Caden, without so much as a word, had drifted off to sleep, his sobs draining him of all his energy. But I didn’t mind. I was more than happy to sit there with my back against the tree, being his shield against the blizzard swirling around us. Thanks to my Alpha form, I was plenty warm enough. And with Caden in my arms, I felt more at home than I ever had in my life.

As the wind howled, I gazed down at Caden’s sleeping form. His blonde hair was dusted with snowflakes, and his freckled cheeks were flushed from the cold. Even in slumber, he looked troubled, his brow furrowed slightly. I longed to smooth away the worry lines, to protect him from whatever demons plagued him.

My fingers itched to trace the delicate curve of his jaw, but I held back. Caden was so fragile, so unsure of himself. The last thing I wanted was to startle him awake with an unwanted touch. Instead, I tightened my arms around him, shielding his lithe body from the biting wind.

As an Alpha, I was used to taking charge, to being the strong one. But with Caden, everything felt different. His quiet nature brought out a gentleness in me I didn’t know I possessed. I found myself wanting to coax him out of his shell, to see him smile and laugh freely.

A soft murmur escaped Caden’s lips, and he burrowed closer to my chest. My heart clenched at the unconscious display of trust. If only he knew the effect he had on me. How his mere presence set my blood on fire, made my wolf howl with longing.

I inhaled deeply, savoring Caden’s scent - a mix of forest and earth with an undercurrent of something uniquely him. My enhanced senses picked up the faint traces of magic that clung to him, reminding me of his hidden power. Though his abilities were minor, there was something special about Caden. Something that drew me to him like a moth to flame. After my outburst against Rowan, I now knew what it was. He was my mate. And that created some enormous problems, ones we’d both have to deal with at some point.

But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside. The immediate concern was getting Caden somewhere safe and warm. As the storm showed no signs of letting up, I knew we couldn’t stay here much longer.

With utmost care, I shifted Caden in my arms, cradling him against my chest as I slowly rose to my feet. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake, instead nuzzling closer to my warmth. The gesture sent a jolt of possessiveness through me, my wolf growling with satisfaction at having our mate so near.

I scanned our surroundings, my enhanced vision cutting through the swirling snow. There, about a quarter mile to the east down the mountain, I spotted what looked like an old cabin. It wasn’t ideal, but it would provide better shelter than this exposed clearing.

As I trudged through the deep snow, Caden’s slight weight barely registered. My mind wandered to earlier that evening, when Rowan and his thugs had him surrounded. I could smell their intent on the wind, the lust seeping from their pores. Caden’s clothes were ripped, and he was bruised by the time I arrived, but thanks to my keen sense of smell, I knew those witches hadn’t had their way with him. He was still untouched. And that was a good thing too. If Rowan had managed to do anything… untoward , I would’ve killed him on the spot. And that would’ve meant a life on the run. Still, I’d mauled him and that alone would probably secure my expulsion once we got back to the academy.

The cabin loomed before us, a dark silhouette against the swirling white. I approached cautiously, my senses on high alert for any signs of danger. But the only sounds were the howling wind and Caden’s soft breathing against my chest.

The door creaked open with a gentle push, revealing a musty interior. It was basic - just one room with a small fireplace, a rickety table, and a narrow bed. But it would do.

I laid Caden gently on the dust covered bed, my fingers lingering perhaps a moment too long on his cool skin. He stirred, blue eyes fluttering open in confusion.

“Shh,” I soothed, “We’re safe now. Rest.”

His gaze locked with mine, vulnerable and trusting. Something primal stirred within me, a possessive need to claim and protect. I swallowed hard, forcing those urges down. Caden needed comfort now, not my barely contained lust. Besides, an erection in this form was not something easily hidden. The last thing I wanted to do was make him think I was just as bad as those other witches.

I busied myself starting a fire, grateful for the distraction. It took me a solid ten minutes of wandering through the snow outside to gather enough wood. However, it was all in vain once I got back inside. With my clothes torn away and nothing left behind in the cabin, there was no way to light it.

“I… I can help,” a small voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Caden step up beside me, crouching down in front of the fireplace. The wood was already stacked and stuffed with some of the peeling wallpaper from the cabin to help it catch. He held out a hand, chanting lightly under his breath. A green glow slowly built around his fingers, deepening in color until it was a bright orange. He reached out, touching his finger to the paper, and it went up in an instant. In a matter of moments, a reassuring warmth began to fill the cabin, the fire crackling away pleasantly.

“Thank you,” he whispered after a minute, breaking the silence. “For saving me, I mean. For… well, everything.”

I turned to face Caden, taking in his vulnerable expression. The firelight danced across his features, highlighting the curve of his cheekbones and the fullness of his lips. My breath caught in my throat.

“You don’t need to thank me,” I said softly. “I’ll always protect you, Caden.”

His blue eyes widened slightly at my words, a faint blush creeping across his freckled cheeks. He ducked his head, blonde hair falling forward to obscure his face.

“Why?” he whispered, barely audible over the crackling fire. “Why would you risk everything for me?”

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The truth burned inside me, begging to be spoken. But I didn’t want to overwhelm him, not when he was already so fragile.

“Because you’re special,” I finally said, reaching out to gently tilt his chin up. Our eyes met, and I felt that familiar spark of connection. “You’re worth protecting, Caden. Worth everything.”

He trembled under my touch, his pulse quickening. I could smell the mix of fear and arousal emanating from him, intoxicating and confusing. His gaze darted away, then back to me, uncertainty clear in those blue depths.

“I-I don’t understand,” he stammered. “No one’s ever... I mean, I’m not...”

I cupped his face gently, my thumb tracing the curve of his cheekbone. “You are,” I insisted softly. “You’re more than you know, Caden.”

A shiver ran through him at my touch, his lips parting slightly. The scent of his arousal intensified, mingling with the wood smoke and the crisp winter air seeping through the cabin’s cracks. My control was slipping, the urge to claim him growing stronger by the second.

“This is how he tricked me,” Caden said, his voice cracking. “He made me think you wanted me. He even cast a glamor around himself so he looked like you… and I fell for it.” He shook his head, the memories clearly eating at him. “I gave in… I let him kiss me…”

A low growl reverberated through my chest before I could help myself. But I stopped the moment those blue eyes caught my gaze again.

“If I give in again… how will I know it’s real?”

I took a deep breath, struggling to reign in my anger at what Rowan had done. The thought of him tricking Caden, touching him while wearing my face, made my blood boil. But Caden didn’t need my rage right now. He needed reassurance, gentleness.

“Caden,” I said softly, my hands still cradling his face. “I promise you, this is real. I’m real.”

I guided one of his hands to my chest, pressing his palm against my heart. “Feel that? It’s beating for you. Only you.”

His fingers curled slightly against my dark fur, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes - hope, maybe. Or desire.

“But how can I be sure?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

I leaned in slowly, giving him plenty of time to pull away. But he didn’t. Instead, his eyes fluttered closed as I pressed my forehead to his.

“Because Rowan could never truly replicate this,” I murmured. “The way you make me feel. The way my wolf responds to you.”

To emphasize my point, I let a low, rumbling growl escape my lips. Caden shivered as it vibrated through his body, assuring him that I was the real thing, not just some paltry illusion.

“And I would never take from you, Caden,” I added, my eyes still closed. “I won’t ask you to kiss me or be with me or anything else. What happens between us is on your terms. I am your willing servant, your protector, and your mate. It’s my job to give you what you need, not take from you what I desire.”

Caden’s breath hitched at my words, his fingers tightening in my fur. I could feel the rapid beat of his heart, smell the intoxicating mix of arousal and nervousness emanating from him. For a long moment, we stayed like that, foreheads pressed together, breathing each other in.

Then, with a soft whimper, Caden closed the distance between us. His lips met mine hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. The kiss was gentle, exploratory, nothing like the forceful ones Rowan had stolen. I let Caden set the pace, my hands remaining carefully on his face as he leaned into me.

When we finally broke apart, Caden’s cheeks were flushed, his pupils dilated. He looked up at me with wonder, as if seeing me for the first time.

“That was...” he trailed off, searching for words.

“Real,” I finished for him, my voice rough with emotion. “That was real, Caden.”

He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen from him without holding back, and it made my heart soar.

“I believe you,” he whispered. “I know it’s really you, Atlas.”

“Come here,” I said, pulling him into my lap so his back was against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around him as we sat there on the floor in front of the fireplace, both of us basking in the heat. We were quiet as we stared at the crackling flames. The blizzard outside continued to rage, slowly covering the windowpanes with snow until they were impossible to see out of. All the world had fallen away, like time itself stood still for us. It was a beautiful feeling and one I knew wouldn’t last forever.

But that feeling was interrupted by the wolf inside of me. Being so close to Caden had made me lose track of my energy levels. Between all the running, the fighting, and the shifting, I was running out of time in my Alpha form.

“Caden,” I said softly. “I’m going to shift back soon. I can’t hold this form much longer.”

He glanced up at me. “That’s fine.”

I hesitated for a moment. “And I’ll uh… be naked. My clothes got destroyed in the shift.”

His cheeks turned bright red in an instant, his eyes darting down my body.

“Oh.”