"I can't take you with," Grae argued. August was set on coming with him to free his sister and her mate.
According to Lucas, Greta and Sam were in prison, which was located under the council's chambers. Grae didn't know who would be there guarding it, but he did know it wouldn't be as easy as simply going in and opening the door for them. And if there was any danger, he couldn't fathom taking August along.
"How long have you been out here soaking wet like this? You're going to get sick. It is October in Maine."
"I thought maybe I wouldn't get sick since I have your lycan healing," August scrunched her face in confusion.
"Healing from physical injury is different. We still get sick, Little Red," he replied. "It's harder for us to get sick, but when we do, it knocks us down good."
"What? How is that different?" she asked skeptically.
"I will let my brilliant sister explain it to you soti. Anyway, I would rather not take any chances… I'm the one who had to sit helplessly by while you were in a coma for three weeks, rember?"
"I am coming with you," she insisted. "They are my family, too. And I am the reason why they are in this position," she swallowed back the guilt that rose in her throat at the thought. It was true. This was her fault. And Greta was pregnant sitting in a cell sowhere.
"No, you are not the reason." he replied. "That responsibility lies entirely with the elders. And apparently also with Violet."
August diverted her eyes from him, shaking her head slowly. "You didn't see what I did. It is my fault. I—I walked into this situation with mates who were fighting. I didn't know they were mates at first. I can't believe mates could be abusive like that. I thought it was different than humans…" she trailed off, rembering the impassioned hatred in the male's tone. "He sounded like he was going to kill her."
The muscles in Grae's jaw clenched as he imagined her walking into a situation like that. An abusive male lycan would be infuriated that soone tried to intervene. Abusive mates weren't uncommon. They weren't the norm, but they weren't unheard of.
"Hurting your mate is like hurting yourself," he said, "but sotis that just makes a person more… enraged. At the… weakness it brings," he answered.
August's eyebrows pinched together. "I am a weakness for you," she said softly, as if to herself.
"No. You are a strength for . You have no idea how much stronger you make . Do you realize that I haven't run through pack land in wolf form since I left, August?" he asked, as if that was explanation enough.
"Why haven't you?" she asked, finding his eyes again.
"The dominance in wolf form is everything here," he replied.
"You were amazing," she breathed, a crooked smile brightening her face. "I had no idea. You are not a cuddly wolf after all. I don't think I can even call you Bun-Bun anymore," she giggled for him to growl. But he didn't tickle her this ti, just pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head in that endearing way that made her stomach trill appreciatively.
She pushed him away gently so she could tilt her face up to find his eyes again, recalling how this conversation began.
"The mates. I hurt them. And a pup," her face crumpled. "That's why they ca after . I am dangerous, and now Greta and Sam… I an, who can bla the elders or Lucas or whoever it was for coming after ? Who wouldn't be terrified of the danger I pose? I'm this experintal thing with no control…"
"Don't say that about yourself," he growled. "You are magnificent. If you hurt them, it was because you were trying to protect yourself or soone else. That's what Lunas do."
"But they couldn't breathe… I-I don't know what happened. I can't control it," she sputtered on.
"You will learn how. You just need to understand more about your abilities and yourself. I promise to help you. I have so much to tell you about what I learned from Penelope, but I want to get you warm, and I need to get my sister. Please," he pulled her arms gently to bring her attention back to him.
"Right. We are wasting ti. Let's go get Greta and Sam," she nodded and stepped back. "Lead the way."
He tilted his head, glaring at her stubbornness. "I'm not taking you like that."
"Which ans you are taking ?" she asked, a small smirk growing on her lips. He grunted his disapproval.
"You are stubborn," he growled. "But if you agree to change into dry clothes, then yes. I will take you."
"Are you going like that?" she raised an eyebrow as her eyes raked down his naked form and alighted on his cock, which twitched its approval. Her cheeks imdiately pinked.
"Don't look at like that," he groaned, "or this is going to take a lot longer."
"Well I don't care if you are lycan or not, I'm not comfortable with you walking through the market like that. I might lose control of my freakish abilities again if any female so much as glances at you," she growled, her eyes flashing.
An amused grin spread over Grae's face. "Possessive, are we?"
"You are mine," she stalked back toward him in reply, and he felt his body respond of its own accord.
"Yes, I am," he t her advancent by claiming her mouth and running his fingers along the mate mark on her neck, causing her to tremble under him.
It was with great difficulty that he finally pulled back, squinting his eyes closed in restraint. "We have to go, my love. Hop on," he said. And without further explanation, he shook his human form free and gripped the earth with his four paws.
August stood looking back at the massive wolf with the sa deep brown eyes as her mate. Even like this, as terrifying as he should be, those eyes revealed the gentleness and care with which he regarded her.
He lowered the front half of his body close to the ground, waiting for her hop on.
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