Page 19 of The Wolf Prince’s Mate (Marked Beneath the Moon #2)

nineteen

NOVA

As I suspected, Clay’s wolf was a total sweetheart. To me, at least. I did believe him and his brothers that he tried to kill them every time they were together, but he clearly saw me as an exception to his wrath.

I itched to know the full story behind his insanity , but that would require asking, because I couldn’t see Clay volunteering the information.

I didn’t want to screw anything up by asking, so I wasn’t going to do that.

Instead, I was waiting.

Patience wasn’t generally one of my best qualities, but I was trying.

And for the moment, there was a much bigger problem to deal with.

Olive’s sickness.

I sat down on the stone path with Clay’s wolf. He sprawled out next to me, rolling to his back and showing me his belly.

Total sweetheart.

I scratched and rubbed his fur.

Though I needed to get inside to Olive, her death didn’t seem so imminent that I couldn’t spend ten minutes talking to Clay to prevent his wolf from killing everyone who let me suffer when I went inside.

“So,” I said, and he eyed me.

Lolling his tongue out, he played dead.

I snorted.

His wolf was just as much of a goofball as he was. He just hadn’t found anyone he was comfortable with before.

Considering my wolf was as far from a threat as possible, it would be hard for him to consider me dangerous.

“You can pretend you’re not listening all you want, but I’m going to talk anyway. My sister is up there, dying.” I pointed to the middle of the Lodge, around where the hospital room was. “We’re not friends. We’re barely family. But she’s still my sister, and I’m going to be the one who turns her. It won’t fix the problems in our past, and it won’t guarantee us a relationship. It will suck for me for at least a week while I recover, too. But I still have to do it. I doubt it will make a difference, having me turn her, but it feels like the right thing to do.”

His wolf snarled at me, but he didn’t roll over. His belly was still up, which was a massive sign. He was letting me call the shots and make the decision. He was letting me play Alpha, for the moment. With his belly exposed, I had access to his most vulnerable parts.

He snapped his teeth, then shuddered. I knew Clay was probably fighting, trying to retake control. He wasn’t going to suddenly believe that the wolf wouldn’t hurt me. It was going to take time—and he could still reject me.

But we were progressing.

Even if it wasn’t technically part of my plan. My friends had made it clear that my plan was terrible anyway.

I continued petting his head until he finally jerked his head in a nod. He snapped his teeth again—then licked my hand. And my arm. And my face.

The monster was totally in love with me.

Now, the question was whether or not the man would ever be willing to give it a real shot.

“I need to go in there, and they’re going to drug you if you try to follow me in this form. You’re kind of a loose cannon, bud.”

He grumbled, but I was pretty sure he knew it was true.

“Can you please shift back?” I asked.

He huffed out a sigh.

Then licked my neck, where he’d bitten me.

And then he shifted back.

A gorgeous, ruffled, naked Clay replaced the wolf a moment later. He was on his back, with the back of his head against my chest, and his eyes were closed.

His jaw was clenched, and I knew he was locking the wolf back down.

I’d seen the beast break out, and was fairly confident that he could do so again if he decided he really wanted to. Clay had mentioned him ramming the cage he kept him in, but that could always be more of a warning to the man than an actual threat to break out.

Or maybe he really did want to kill everyone except me.

Whatever the case, I was safe from the wolf’s wrath, and I knew he wasn’t going to try to break out in the very near future. He had agreed to play nice.

Finally, Clay opened his eyes.

His gaze was stricken.

The rejection was coming.

“If my wolf ever takes over again, you need to get away from him immediately,” he said in a low voice.

“Your wolf loves me, Savage,” I said matter-of-factly.

“He’s claimed you, but we obviously can’t act on it. You would never be safe with him.”

“A wolf can’t hurt his mate.”

“Theoretically,” Clay growled.

“Okay, well, I trust the theory. He clearly has no desire to hurt me. He showed me his belly.”

“He bit you.”

“To claim me.”

“You can’t possibly trust that fucker, Nova.” Clay sat up, shoving a hand through his already-wild hair. “He’s a monster. He?—”

“What happened to make him that way?” I interrupted.

Clay’s eyes went dark.

Haunted, too.

I picked the wrong time to ask the question, but what was the alternative? He was about to break things off with me for good.

He stood up. “I have to go.”

“Fine.” I stood too, ignoring the hand he reached out to try to help me to my feet.

“Don’t turn Olive,” he urged. “Let Aspen do it. It won’t change anything, and?—”

“I’m doing it. It matters to me.” I turned and strode toward the Lodge. Some part of me hoped and waited for him to call out and convince me to turn around, but he didn’t.

The ball was in his court, so I didn’t and wouldn’t try to force him to do anything.

My eyes stung as I reached the elevator, and I wiped them with the back of my hand.

It was fine.

He had to do what he felt was right, the same way I did.

I stepped inside, turning around and waiting.

The doors started to close.

Just before they shut all the way, Clay appeared in the hallway. His expression was dark, but he stopped the doors and slipped inside with me.

Neither of us said anything as the elevator started to rise.

Finally, Clay spoke in a low voice. “I have to leave afterward, but I can’t let you go through this alone.”

I didn’t say anything.

I wasn’t sure what to say, honestly.

The elevator reached the right floor, and I started to go. Before I made it out, Clay hit the button to lock the doors in place, and grabbed my face. He kissed me hard, with no fangs, this time. Just desperation.

“I’m sorry,” he said against my lips, when he finally pulled away. “I wish things were different. I wish I was different.”

“I don’t,” I said honestly.

His chest rumbled unhappily, and his wolf flashed in his eyes.

He really had no idea how often the beast was at the surface when he was with me. None at all. If he did, he would’ve ditched me long ago.

I slipped down the hallway, headed for the Lodge’s hospital room. Clay followed me silently.

Olive was already sprawled out on the bed with her eyes closed when we got there. Aspen and Enzo occupied chairs nearby, and Aspen stood when we stepped in.

“Are you sure?” she asked me.

“Would you let someone else turn Fletcher for you?” I asked.

Her eyes darkened. “Of course not.”

“Exactly. I’m sure.”

“I’m not getting any healthier over here,” Olive mumbled. “Let’s get this over with.”

Clay growled behind me, but everyone ignored him. Except Olive, who peeked at him with one eye before she closed it again.

“We’re not concerned about that, right?” she asked.

“No. He’s leaving me as soon as I’ve recovered anyway.” I smoothed Olive’s hair away from her face.

Clay snarled, and I heard Aspen make a noise of surprise.

“What does she mean?” Aspen whispered to Clay.

“My wolf claimed her. I’m not leaving her . I just can’t stay,” he gritted out. “He could kill her.”

“A wolf can’t kill his mate,” Enzo growled back. “Where are you going? And for how long?”

Olive started coughing again, and I knew it was time to get going.

“Don’t worry, I’m determined to succeed,” I whispered to her, quoting Wicked again.

She choked on a laugh, knowing that was as close as we ever really got to I love you .

And, without further ado, I lifted her frail arm to my lips and bit down. My wolf surged to the surface, and my fangs cut through her skin.

She groaned, but I barely heard the sound before the sudden pull on my energy knocked me out completely.