The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

59. Hope

Sethan

I yanked Kaitlin down while mildly annoyed at her for leaving me, and pinned her on the bed. Her legs were between mine, ankles locked and wrists in mine.

Kaitlin strained under my hold.

"Do not test me woman." I hissed.

She seemed startled but her shock rapidly gave way to disobedience as she wiggled against my hold. "You stupid meathead."

"You're staying back."

"I know." she glared upwards, "I heard you. I've got ears."

I growled as I tried to read her. She'd grown still but it was likely a facade. Her heart hadn't slowed. Most women ran from danger. Why is this an argument?

"Actually no I'm a bit confused." she frowned, humour coating her voice. My gums itched as I wrestled with my wolf.This infuriating woman. "Am I setting the barrier first, or playing fetch with Quinn?"

My wolf was confused on whether or not to laugh. A part of him enjoyed fetch. I mentally shoved him to the depths of the very back of my mind. I was not amused by such a game.

When this was over, I'd have to tell Quinn she said that, "Set barrier then go with Quinn."

"Got it." she nodded a bit too enthusiastically.

"Repeat it back to me."

Her glaze didn't drop, "I'm setting the barrier then going with Quinn."

I released Kaitlin very slowly and resumed a lying position, carefully examining her as she lowered her arms. I hadn't hurt her but she rubbed her wrists in thought.

I so wasn't going to sleep today either. I rubbed my face.

Kaitlin turned towards me, "I won't die." she said, suddenly aggrieved.

I tried to bite back my response when her leg swung over me. I hesitated but there was zero sense in humouring the possibility that she would go magically untouched by the prophecy. My world didn't work like that.

"You can't say that for certain."

"If I do", she leaned forward, hands on my lower chest, "I'll come back."

"What if you don't?" I pointed out, "What if that creature," I tried to choose my words more carefully as it claimed to be their mother, but came up short, "Whatever is talking to your brother, what if it is actually what is keeping him alive?"

She didn't seem angry as she genuinely seemed to consider it. Her regard barely lasted a second, and her hands slid on my chest, grazing my nipples. My wolf growled, threatening to submerge, his sound escaping from my lips, but it was low enough that it didn't scare her. The touch was nice, and intrigued him, but it was a reminder that she wasn't ours yet.

He couldn't care less that she wanted in on the mission. He'd already decided that she was sitting out, and that was that. I was the only one with a working brain that knew we needed to plan better than that. Tomorrow was— I shut my eyes a second too late. I'd already spotted her tongue darting along her lip.

I held utterly and completely still.

A short moment of silence followed and I itched to move. But the smart move, I realized, was to let her play this how she wanted. Tomorrow I'll make it so she has to stand back.

"If we're really going to do this, there's someone you need to meet."

I opened my eyes and took her in. So not the direction I was expecting her to go. Her gaze was stuck on the back of her hands. "Someone?" I asked.