Chapter 26
Laying in bed I hear steps in the hall then his scent is just on the other side of the door. I waited for him to knock or leave, but he was doing neither. He was just standing there breathing. I know we need to talk about everything but I’m not ready to face those demons yet. The longer he stands there the more nervous I get. Finally I had enough and went over to open the door. There he is all man smelling like heaven on earth. He shoves a glass of milk at me. Smiling “I haven't had a glass of fresh milk in forever. Down side of no longer living on a farm.” I cant believe he remembered how much I liked a glass of milk at bed time. Its been six years since I had this. Taking a sip of the think liquid I let a small moan leave my lips. None of the milk I have had in years has tasted this good. “I think we need to talk” his husky voice washing over me as he speaks. I just nod. Stepping back to let him in. Shutting the door I sit on the bed as he sits in a chair.
“you really cant smell?” he nods looking so sad. “how?” I asked him needing answers to the questions swimming in my head. My stomach turning the milk threatening to come back up when he told me Edith had done this to him. The things she told me back in school and a few years ago when she found me in my little town. She had stayed for a while but met an cattle rancher passing through on his way back to his ranch. She had falling for him so when he asked her to come back with him she jumped. Growling jumping up to pace. So lost in my own thoughts of things she told me. Then it all clicked in place. “when did she poison you? I demand. “the first time I couldn’t smell was after that rogue attack the week before my birthday. At first I thought it was just due to breaking my nose in the fight. After that Edith and her parents were trying to help me get my smell back. What I didn’t know at the time was that Edith was making sure I could never smell again unless she broke the curse. Telling me it was a herbal remedy to help break down any of the poison left in my system blocking my nose. After the last cup she gave me she tried once again to get me to say she was my mate. Still made I wouldn't give into her claims of being my mate.” giving me a sad smile.
“When I still told her that I know shes not my mate and that I would wait to find her. That was when she stormed off the last thing she said to me was that I would be sorry. I didn’t think anything of it I should have. I didn’t think of her as a threat. I should have. What I did do was ignore what she said and went on with day to day chores and life. Then the attack that took father from me. That was the worse day of my life. We kept one alive your father and tom questioned him for hours finding out Edith had sent them to kill me. And serve as a distraction for the rest of the pack so she could flee. Father protected me dyeing because of me. And it was Edith who sent them. I gathered men and we stormed to their hut only to find everyone but Edith. All dead and mutilated. She carved their eyes out and took several parts of them. It was a truly horrible scene to find. I sent wolves to track her down but they lost her trail a half a day from here.” sighing he runs his fingers through his long hair. My mouth watering as his scent fills the room. His green eyes land on my blue ones smiling at him. Its a sad smile and a smile of want. Patting the bed for him to come sit and talk like we use to. He smirks at me tilting his head. He just stares for a moment like he is reading my soul.
He nods and makes his way over. He asks the one question I had hoped he wouldn't ask “why?” he said more but really that was all he needed to say. So I take a deep breath open my mouth. Shut my mouth trying to find the words to start. Taking a deep breathe I started “you asked me to talk to Edith and I did, I told her we have mates out in the world and we what for them. Only sharing ourselves with them. They are our first and only.” he nods I am sure remembering asking me to explain it to Edith. “so for a while she didn’t talk about you or ask about you. Then she asked me about what it smells like when you find your mate. Then I explain its different for everyone. We all have our own scent. To us our mates scent is stronger pulls you to follow the scent to find your mate. If I had been paying attention I might have seen her anger at that but I didn’t. then the week before your birthday I had spent the day with Nancy at the school reading the letter inviting me to attend the extra schooling to be a teacher. I was so excited for the opportunity. I was excited to tell you. I was rushing home when I bumped into Edith leaving the farm. She seemed happy so when we stopped to greet one another I didn’t think nothing of it. That was until she told me that she had a vision of her being marked by you. Taking her as your mate helping the pack grown to beyond. My heart sunk. I know I should have asked you about it but she told me she had a vision of you being her mate. Then on your birthday when we met for breakfast I could smell you. My knees were weak and I waited for you to say something. You didn’t you smiled waved and walked out the house. All day I would see you you would smile and wave. But never came to talk to me. So at your party I put on my best dress. Had mother do my hair extra nice. Thinking you were gonna claim me at the party but again you smiled and waved then made your way to Edith and her family. My heart broke. So I left giving you what I thought you wanted. I ran for days weeks but I a month after I left I stopped running. I have not been happy a day since.” folding my hands in my lap fighting the tears that treated to spill as I remember that night.
Taking my hand in his. “can I tell you something?” I nod willing to hear anything. “I have been in love with you since we were twelve. The day we went swimming at the old pond and talked about the up coming fights and were just as excited as me for them. The sun was making the water in your flaming hair sparkle. In that second I realized you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. I prayed every night that you would be my mate. When you disappeared you broke my heart.” the whole time he is staring at our joined hands. The rest of the night we talked about how things would work between us. I knew I could never leave here again and I could never live without Jesse again. Jumping up from the bed looking around this room he gave me. Its big and I love the bathing pool of hot water inside my room. Looking at him I smile. “if I asked for this to be our room after marking would you move to this room?” he looked at me a moment then nodded his head. I smile. I start taking my clothes off dropping them where I stand. We all have seen each other naked at once time or another. This time I am feeling hot and a deep desire to have him touch me is taking over. When he looks up and sees me standing there naked and flushed his eyes get huge. I see his pupils dilate a growl leaves his throat. Smiling at him I turn walking into the bathing suite. I hear him follow behind me. Stepping in the water I look over my shoulder “care to join me?”
