His Estranged Mate

Chapter 48: Brother's Mate?

CATRINA

"Are you ready?" asks Connor, caressing my cheek with his fingertips and then holding a thumb over my lips. I shake my head a little but close my eyes, taking a deep breath, gathering all the courage and then open my eyes to look at him, now nodding in confirmation.

It's morning now, the sunlight creeping in through the window of my room. It's serene yet inside my mind there's a chaos. I am all showered and dressed up in a soft cotton dress. I'm hot, even when it's snowing outside. The drugs have caused a blunder in my body.

"You don't have to talk now," he whispers, brushing my lips with the tip of his thumb. Bending down, he replaces his thumbs with his lips and then licks at mine, wetting them.

"That's better," he whispers, more to himself than me. I smile at him, grateful that he's distracting me from the thought of facing everyone and answering their questions especially when I know that they'll be scenting my arousal. It would be damn embarrassing.

"I feel awkward and a little scared," I admit, holding on to Connor's hand firmly. He twists his hand, intertwining our fingers and covering them with his other hand.

"I'll be by your side all the time. If you don't want to continue talking to them just pull at my arm and I'll take you out of there, okay?" he asks, looking at me in the eyes, reassuring me.

"Okay," I say, somehow feeling as if it's going to be a long day, today.

"No one would make you feel embarrassed, Solnyshko. Your heat's not at it's peak yet but it'll be in a few hours. I want us to meet your twin, reassure him that you are fine and have a quick conversation with Fenris if possible. No pressure. Your health is my paramount priority."

"I just want to meet Cayden," I whisper, dreading to have a talk with Fenris. The things that I heard in that prison were terrifying and recalling them is even more so. I don't know how I am going to relay them for Fenris.

"He's in the school infirmary. Let's go?" he asks and I nod, letting him pull me up. The moment I get up, I feel my panties getting damp. Connor takes a deep sniff at the same time making me blush and feel a little embarrassed. This is really awkward for me with everyone able to scent me.

"I don't want to be called a horny female," I whisper lowly, not wanting him to hear. He hears nonetheless and I hear him sigh loudly.

"Catrina, you being in heat means that your wolf's close to the surface. That she's so close, it's helping to heal your body. You are not barren anymore and that's a cause of celebration not mourning. You shouldn't at all feel embarrassed," he whispers.

I gasp, listening in shock, processing his words and then remembering what the doctor had said after my miscarriage. Recalling those heart-breaking words, I shake my head, letting go of Connor's hands and start fidgeting, ignoring the throbbing that's begun in my body.

"No! It's just the drugs..."

"No." Connor's growl catches me off-guard and I let out a strangled cry, overwhelmed with emotions. My eyes well up with tears of frustration when I look at him and see that he's barely able to restrain himself.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, not knowing why I'm saying sorry but I feel as if he's ashamed of me for being barren. I recall my mom's words when she said that werewolves are never barren. Maybe there's really something wrong with me. Maybe he's in denial of me being barren.

I look down at my hands, not knowing what to say but feeling very hopeless all of a sudden, when Connor's arms enclose me in their safety. His woodsy scent instantly calm my haywire nerves and I melt in his arms, my own moving around his waist and holding him to me. Connor's lips move over my head, brushing loving kisses in my hair, trying to calm me.