Moon Bound

Chapter 33~ Scents of Commitment

Codrin stepped out into the hall and glared daggers at the captain of his guard.

"Don't look at me like that." Grigore said. "I knocked and I called out for you several times. I couldn't help it if you were so wrapped up in bond lust you didn't hear me. Trust me, it's way more awkward for me." He arched a brow, "Not that I haven't caught you in far more compromising positions, but I happen to like your mate and I would rather not have any unwelcome images of her burned into my mind."

"You better not have any images of her burned into your mind, I'd hate to lose my most capable guardian," Codrin ground out.

Grigore snorted.

They headed through the massive Sky Hunter pack den, to the oldest series of passageways, then down dank corridors that led deep underground. This part of the den hadn't been utilized much in the current century, but Codrin had been down this way before. As they descended deeper into mountain, the walls began to bleed moisture and the air became thick and stale. Their foot steps echoing along the narrow tunnel were the only reprieve from the eerie silence.

It was too quiet down here, it reminded Codrin of a crypt.

Fortunately, thoughts of piercing green eyes and long limbs had the Pricolici Prince distracted from the unpleasantness of the trek. He didn't even have to close his eyes to visualize the tiniest details, like the sexy smattering of freckles that dusted Willa's nose, or the way her fair skin blushed at his briefest glance. He could spend an entire night wrapped up in her incredible legs, just worshiping at her perky breasts and rosy nipples.

His cock twitched at the memory of her topless in his lap. Goddess, she was so beautiful, and she didn't even seem to realize it.

Codrin snarled. Fuck Grigore, Fuck Alaric, and Fuck Silas. Fuck the whole lot of them for that interruption!

Willa had nearly begged him to take her, and instead of being in bed savoring the warmth of his mate, he was taking a fucking evening stroll, in the equivalent of catacombs, with the world's most surly guardian.

He shouldn't have been so hesitant. Seriously, what the fuck had come over him. He'd wanted her to understand how important she was. That he—, Codrin swallowed at the uncomfortable awareness squeezing his chest, that he'd... come to feel strongly for her, but instead he
had made her feel rebuffed.

He never should have hesitated.

The goddess and the fates hadn't played fair, they hadn't played by the rules when they'd thrown them into this difficult situation.

Fuck! They didn't even have rules for how they played with lives. So why should he give a damn about rules when they clearly didn't.

The smell of moldy earth and decay permeated Codrin's sensitive nose to the point he could almost taste it, it took him from his thoughts of his earlier fuck-up with his mate, and planted him solidly in the present.

He grimaced at the assault on his senses.

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Grigore watching him.

Codrin sighed, "I can tell you want to say something Grigore, out with it."

"To be honest, My Prince, I'm worried about you."

"About me?"

"What are your plans if you cannot release her wolf, Codrin?"

"I've waited a long time to find her. I can wait as long as necessary to mark and claim her."

"I see the toll it's taking on you, already. If the shadow pack has grown to the size and power we suspect —and your father truly has somehow survived all these years, we will need you at full strength. You are the only one of us that has the might to match your father's. You may not have the luxury of time, Codrin. If you can't take sustenance from your mate, you will have to make a decision."