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CAMbrY

A ngell jumped into the bed, signing rapidly. “This is so comfy. What do you think?”

I loved the house. I loved getting away from the farm, finally. But the change had happened so fast. I wanted it, yes, but I was still processing.

I got into bed beside him, holding up the tube of healing cream. “Let me put this on you.”

“I feel fine,” he signed.

“I know, but it will help the bruise go away faster.”

He nodded.

I opened the tube and spread some cream on my fingers, then gently pressed the coolness to his face, rubbing it in. “Feel okay?”

He gave me a thumbs up. When I was done, he lifted his white shirt. I gasped. There were more bruises around his ribs to the side.

“Angell! That looks awful.” I squirted out more cream and rubbed it into his soft skin. He was the most incredible person I’d ever known. This was an adventure, and I was happy we were on it together.

As I rubbed my fingers over his chest and one nipple, Angell slowly lifted his hands. “I love him.”

“Love?”

He nodded. “Can’t you feel it?” He pointed to his head. “In here.”

“Somewhat. Yeah.”

He gave me a quizzical look. “Why are you holding back?”

“Am I?”

He stared at me but didn’t respond.

I shrugged, putting the cap back on the tube of cream. “It’s just weird, that’s all.”

“What’s weird?”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

Angell caught my hand in his own, squeezing.

The room was cool. His head lay on a soft pillow, blond waves of hair haloing him.

The cover was lightweight, just right for a nap.

The air smelled of rain and a fresh breeze, and also slightly smoky like the Alpha who lived here who was probably the handsomest, brightest man I’d ever met aside from Angell. And yet.

“I still have this memory inside of me. From that day.”

“The day of his Burn?”

“Yeah. When the bond was wide open between us, he’d gotten up.

He was staring out the window. I was spinning, not quite anchored.

Things had happened fast. I could feel him all around me, in me, in my mind.

It was like the softest light beckoning, a candleflame warm and enticing.

Something wonderful like cookies baking.

More than wonderful. I can’t even describe it.

I remember feeling you, too, right there beside me.

It was like I was under a spell, falling into the light, into that candle.

And then someone took a hatchet to it and the flame was snuffed. It—he—didn’t want me.”

Angell sat up and hugged me tight. Together, we fell back onto the pillows. He lifted his hands from his chest. “The bond is open again. He wants you now.” He snickered through his nose. “I want you, too.”

“I know.” I turned and put my head on his chest, crossing my leg with his and feeling his arousal against my thigh.

We fell asleep like that, the distant hum of the air conditioner following me into good dreams.