Page 14 of The Wolf Prince’s Mate (Marked Beneath the Moon #2)

fourteen

NOVA

Clay continued reluctantly wrapping his head around Hunter’s apology gifts as he helped me grab the last of my things and carry them out to my new car. I’d changed my clothes and cleaned up in the bathroom, but his release was still sliding down the insides of my thighs, soaking my panties and making my leggings stick.

We carried my stuff down after a stop for my new phone, and found my Jeep. It was black, which I didn’t love, but it would get me where I needed to go. That was what mattered.

“Fucking Hunter,” Clay snapped. “I’m getting you a different vehicle.”

“I don’t need any more apology presents.”

“Mine’s not an apology.”

Clay stole the keys from my hand and carried my shit over to his SUV instead. It must’ve been unlocked, because when he popped the trunk, it opened right up.

“You can’t just buy me a vehicle, Savage.”

“Sure I can.” He took the stuff from my arms and loaded it before I could. “I’m moving you to a different cabin, too. I’ll find a better one.”

“It’s perfect,” I argued.

“Mine will be more perfect.” He closed the trunk harder than he needed to.

“Clay…”

He turned to face me, leaning against the back of the car. “I can’t have you living in and driving gifts from my brother. You don’t belong to him.”

“I don’t belong to you, either.”

“Until our arrangement ends, you do. My gifts can be part of the benefits.”

I glared at him. “I am not having sex with you in exchange for a house and a vehicle, Savage. If you’re going to suggest that, I’m ending this now.”

He clenched his jaw.

His wolf flashed in his eyes again as he gritted out, “It’s not an exchange. It’s a way to claim you. If you accept Hunter’s gifts, you’re accepting his claim.”

“It’s an apology!”

“It sends a message to the pack, and you know it.”

“So I should send the message that I’m sleeping with you instead?” I demanded. “Let you claim me?”

“Yeah.”

I scoffed. “Go to hell, Savage.”

Turning away, I managed two steps back toward the Lodge before he grabbed my wrist and tugged me back to him. Turning me around, he pinned me to the back of his car, leaning down until his lips brushed my ear.

“I’m not going to let this go, Gorgeous. While we’re doing this, you’re mine. Whether you like it or not. I’ll take you to the dealership and let you pick your car. I’ll show you the empty cabins and let you choose your house. But you’re not living in and driving my brother’s apology gifts around. He had his chance, and he lost it.”

I wanted to be angry with him. To tell him no again.

But… he was right. In some ways, at least.

As long as I accepted Hunter’s gifts, I wouldn’t ever really be free of him. If Clay offered me a way to get the space I needed with a little less connection to him and Hunter, I had to agree.

“Alright,” I said.

He licked the shell of my ear. “We’ll pick your stuff up from the cabin and spend the night at my place. First thing in the morning, you can choose a house and a vehicle. We’ll leave for Stray afterward.”

“Cutting it close could lead to a repeat of last time.”

I was pretty damn sure he hadn’t forgotten the way we nearly had sex in his car.

The rumble of his chest proved my theory. “Maybe we should cut it closer, then.”

I snorted, pushing him away. He stepped back, letting me move him.

When he opened the passenger door and gestured for me to step inside, I reluctantly walked over and eyed it.

I was worried the memories would force their way through if I got in the vehicle.

My hand lifted to my throat of its own volition as I remembered what had happened in that car.

Clay gently removed my fingers and lifted them to his chest, so I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath my palm.

I let out a slow breath, and tried to force myself to inhale at the same pace.

My breathing picked up anyway, growing shallower by the moment.

Clay stepped closer, pulling me to his chest for the second time that day. This time, I was the one clinging to him as panicked breaths escaped me and memories flashed through my mind.

His hand on my throat.

His voice in my mind.

I hadn’t looked in a mirror yet—had he scarred me? Marked me permanently? Changed me, somehow?

My hand shook as I lifted my phone, turning the camera on and using it to look at my neck.

Bile rose in my throat at the sight of the healed marks on my skin. The phone clattered to the street just before I fell to my knees and heaved.

Nothing came out, but nausea churned my stomach.

Memories flashed through my mind.

The car, rolling.

His hands.

The ink on his arms, as he ? —

My entire body trembled.

The ink.

I recognized it. I knew it.

It was unique. Symbols whose meanings I hadn’t recognized, woven through a forest and sky. When an image search hadn’t pulled up a single hit, I figured the symbols didn’t have a creepy or gross meaning and agreed to ink them.

That was years ago, and he had been back.

Repeatedly.

My stomach churned again. Clay’s hands were around my waist, holding me up, but I barely noticed him through the nausea.

More memories crashed into me.

His scent.

His smirk.

The way he’d stared at my tits every time I inked him.

I emptied my stomach, and dry-retched again.

I’d touched him. Put my art on his skin. Talked with him over and over again.

He’d been right in front of me. My most loyal client. And I hadn’t even realized it.

I could hear his dark chuckle from that night. Feel his hands on my skin.

I wanted it gone.

I wanted to be free.

My hands yanked at the shirt I had on, tearing it away from my skin as I pressed my palm to the center of my chest. Sucking in deep, desperate breaths, I tried to push the feelings away, and failed.

“His name is Don,” I rasped. “He’s one of my clients. His ID will be on record with the studio.”

Clay’s body went still. “You know him?”

I took desperate gasps in as I tried to breathe through the fear, the panic, and the overwhelm.

Clay slowly eased my body to his chest.

I was soaked in a layer of sweat and sucking in deep breaths, but he didn’t care.

He pulled me closer, hugging me fiercely, without tightening his grip enough to hurt.

For once, he didn’t say anything.

Clay was usually so good with words—but I could tell that this time, he didn’t know which ones to use.

I didn’t either.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Finally, he said, “I wish I could kill that fucker all over again.”

A rough laugh escaped me. “I’d like to watch, the second time around.”

“Deal.”

“I don’t know what to do now,” I admitted, though it pained me to get the words out. “I don’t know how to go back to living the same way I was. I don’t know how to go back to work. Or how to focus on making myself a new home. Or… how to feel like me. I can barely breathe right now, Savage.”

“That’s okay, Gorgeous.” He pulled me closer. “Do you want my help, or do you just want me to hold you?”

I didn’t have to think about it long.

His presence was nice, but physical contact wasn’t enough to get me through what I was dealing with.

“Help. Please.”

“The way I see it, you have a few options right now. It’s going to take time to get past all this fucked-up shit, and there’s no way around that. At the moment, you can get in my car and push through the bad memories while I drive you to my cabin for heat. We can stay there as long as we want, afterward. Or I can take you to my house and either try to distract you, or hold you while you cry. I’ve got a few other insane ideas, but those are probably the best choices.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Letting him carry me to his place and distract me would be the easiest option. I could pretend none of the bad memories existed for the moment.

But when morning came, I was going to have to get in his car.

And I didn’t want to have this same experience in the morning.

So, there was really only one option.

“Let’s get in your car.”

He kissed my temple.

Then, he lifted me off the ground and carried me into the passenger seat, sitting down with me on his lap.

I inhaled deeply, and his scent eased my fear just a little.

“Do you like the way I smell, Gorgeous?”

“It would be impossible not to.”

He chuckled. “Good.”

I forced myself to look around the interior of his SUV. It was dark, but I could see fine thanks to my wolf.

“I should’ve seen him,” I said.

“You shouldn’t have needed to. And no one can be on their game all the time.” His eyes darkened. “I lost control. My wolf could’ve torn you apart.”

“Technically, he still could.”

The wolf flashed in his eyes, and Clay’s grip on my waist tightened. “That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”

“I know you won’t.” The words were simple, but honest.

I didn’t think the wolf actually wanted to hurt me, whether or not he was insane.

Letting out a long breath, I finally turned so I could see out the front windshield. I expected it to be triggering, but Clay’s car was totally different than mine. The interior was fancy and up to date, unlike my old vehicle. And his scent really did help put me at ease.

I shouldn’t have let it.

We were just friends with benefits. Even if said benefits included underwear laundering, and other questionable things.

But I breathed it in anyway.

My wolf stretched her haunches in my chest as I did, relaxing with his presence.

I decided against questioning that. Or overthinking it.

“Alright, let’s get this over with. Move over there.” I waved him toward the driver’s seat.

“I don’t know, I’m pretty comfortable right here.” He kissed the side of my throat. It was intimate, but surprised me by feeling good.

Until I remembered the mark that was now wrapped around my neck.

The scar.

My throat swelled, and I fought to keep my breathing even.

“How’s the arm?” Clay asked. Something in his voice told me he’d realized I was starting to panic again.

“I’m pretending it doesn’t hurt.”

“Don’t do that. If you need medication, we’ll get you some.”

“Painkillers will affect my mind, and I’m not ready to deal with that right now,” I said honestly.

He let out a slow breath.

Then kissed my shoulder.

“Alright, Gorgeous. You want to leave?”

“Yeah. Before I lose the nerve.”

“Alright.” He kissed my shoulder again, then sat me on the center console and slid out of the SUV. I eased myself down to the seat as he closed my door, and my gaze followed him as he strode around the front of the vehicle.

The man was stupidly attractive.

His white button-up was fitted in all the right places, showing off how thick his muscles were. His hair was done artfully, always a part of the put-together image he crafted for himself.

It worked.

Before he let me ink him, I hadn’t thought he was a man I could ever imagine myself with. He was too… pretty. Perfect. Upbeat.

I knew him better, now.

The perfection was just a front. A shield, to hide his darkness.

And I shouldn’t have wanted to pry that shield back to face his darkness, but I did.

He took the seat next to mine, and looked at me without lifting his finger to the button that would turn his car on. “Are you still sure about this?”

“Yep.”

“You know we’re going to drive by the crash site, right?”

“I don’t remember the crash, so I don’t think it’ll trigger me.”

Clay’s jaw tensed for a moment.

The wolf flashed in his eyes again.

I’d never seen him so controlled by the beast, and I was just a little bit fascinated.

Finally, Clay turned the vehicle on. “If you need to stop, tell me. I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

“Mmhm.” He backed out of the parking space, and I looked over my shoulder, checking the back seat.

Empty.

I was fine. Everything was fine.

Clay offered me a hand as he pulled out of the lot and onto the dirt road. I ignored it for a few moments, but as the vehicle accelerated, I finally grabbed it and held on tight. He maneuvered his fingers so they parted mine, and I gripped tighter.

“If you need your hand—” I started, and he squeezed my palm.

“I’ve been around a long time, Gorgeous. I can drive with one hand. If I can’t, I’ll let you know.”

Nodding, I forced myself to continue breathing normally. “When did I forget that you’re old as shit?”

“Probably when you rode my fingers in that seat a few weeks ago.”

I sputtered a laugh. “Don’t be an ass.”

“I happen to like asses. Particularly yours. By the way, I vaguely remember seeing part of one of your tattoos curl over your right cheek, and it’s been bothering me ever since. What is it? I was too overwhelmed by the rut to notice.”

“A rose.”

His chest rumbled. “I need a better look.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to come up with a way to convince me to strip.”

“I’m up for the challenge.”

I had no doubt that he was.

“Silas was the one who did all of your tattoos, right?” Clay asked.

“Yeah. Well, other than a tiny star I did above my ankle. Realized pretty quickly that I didn’t have it in me to tattoo myself. It made me feel like a wimp for a minute, but I got over it.”

“I want to see the star.”

“It looked terrible. Silas covered it ages ago.”

“I still want to see where it was.”

“Alright.” I looked out my window. It was dark, and seeing the forest as we flew past made my chest tighten.

“When I was looking for an artist, I heard that Silas never tattoos anyone else’s work. Your ink is your own.”

“He made an exception for me, thanks to the female wolf scent.”

“You haven’t gotten any new work since you joined the pack.”

“Hunter made it clear that if any man put his hands on me, he was going to kill the guy. After the beating Silas got from Enzo last year, he wasn’t about to risk his neck for me. Not that I would’ve asked him to.”

Clay grunted. “Do you want any more tattoos?”

“I’ve been thinking about covering the rest of my ass cheek with more flowers.”

It was only vaguely true. I’d considered it, but enough of my body was covered that I wasn’t really itching for more. Then again, I’d been preoccupied with trying to survive over the past year.

Clay’s grip on my hand tightened. “You’re going to have to teach me how to use a tattoo machine, then.”

I scoffed. “I’m not letting you practice on my skin, and you’re not allowed to be that possessive of me. You and I are only friends with benefits, remember?”

“ Exclusive friends with benefits.”

“This is starting to sound suspiciously like dating, and I don’t remember agreeing to be your girlfriend. Or telling you that you could dictate whether or not I get any more tattoos.”

“I’m not trying to dictate the tattoo quantity, or content. Just the location. Because it would require Silas to put his hands on your ass.”

“It’s not like he’d be feeling up my ass, Savage. I wouldn’t even be naked. He would just…” Pull down my pants. Well, I would pull them down for him, actually.

That particular description wouldn’t exactly change Clay’s opinions about the situation, though.

“If you go through with it, I get to be there,” he gritted out.

"Fine."

"I'm trying not to be possessive,” he said. “It’s just not my nature. Between the wolf ramming against his cage and the way I was raised, I don’t really spend time with people. Emotional attachment is new.”

“Emotional attachment definitely doesn’t fit in a situation where we’re just friends who screw.”

“Friends are emotionally attached to each other.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure.”

My gaze went back to the forest, and lingered.

My hand lifted to my throat as I watched the forest around us. “I’m going to have him ink my neck to cover the scars. I don’t want to hear any complaints about it.”

“Do I get to be there?”

“Only if you can do it without growling at anyone.”

“I’m a professional not-growler.”

“Not when it applies to me.”

There was a moment of silence.

We both knew I was right.

“Where did Enzo mark me when he brought me back into your pack?” I could feel the slight electricity of my connection to the Alpha again, so I knew Enzo’s wolf had scratched me to bring me back.

“Same spot as last time.”

On the back of my left arm, then.

I didn’t bother trying to check it out. Enzo was always careful to leave as little scarring as possible.

Clay pulled his hand from mine just long enough to signal for a turn, then take it.

My throat clenched as more memories rose to the surface.

He reached for my hand again, and when I didn’t take it, he set it on my thigh and squeezed. “What are you going to put on your neck?”

“I haven’t thought about it. It would need to be long, and horizontal. I can’t do another forest, though. Maybe a river or something. Or more flowers. I can never get too many flowers.”

He squeezed my thigh. “Neck tattoos will look hot on you.”

My lips curved upward.

It was different, hearing him compliment me. Confidence had never really been an issue for me before Hunter, but the whole messed up situation had been one blow to my pride after another.

“I’m glad the Hunter shit is over,” I admitted. “I guess that’s the one good thing to come of the… you know.” I couldn’t make myself mention the crash specifically.

“It should’ve been over a long time ago. I should’ve done something about it.”

“You were my friend. That was something.”

“That was pure selfishness. I just liked being around you.”

The words made me warm.

I heard the first few notes of a song I liked, and turned the music up. Though I couldn’t get lost in it the way I wanted to, given the way I kept looking over my shoulder, it was still nice to have it playing in the background.

My tension never faded entirely, but with Clay’s music playing, his hand on my thigh, and his scent in the air, I felt okay. And considering everything that was going on, that seemed like a miracle.