The Wolf Lord's Mate

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"And what of the time of the seamstress?" I watched closely as he swung the axe with ease, his forearms flexing with every movement, "It takes many days to a make a dress, you know?"

"Then how generous of us to be able to pay them to continue their craft? Business is difficult these days, is it not? I am sure they will be glad for the work, as you once were." Nathaniel tossed the split logs onto the pile that had been stacked against the side of the house, "And I assure you, my darling, I pay my employees handsomely, as you well know."

I couldn't argue with that, considering the absurd amount he had offered for my own salary. After he had revealed the mate bond to me, I had wondered if the sum had merely been a way to convince me to work at the Manor so that he might keep me near, but now I wondered if that had not been a unique generosity on his part.

The rest of the staff were all more than content to work for his Lordship, their fondness and devotion to him unceasing, and unusual for servants—especially human servants.

It was not only kindness that he offered them, then, but a much greater wage than they would find anywhere else. A paltry sum to a Lord, but life changing to someone like me—like them, and that was a fact that most wealthy Wolves did not ever choose to consider, too greedy to spare even a few extra coins to those below them.

But Nathaniel was not like that, and the only greed I had ever glimpsed in him was when he was looking at me. Of every fault I could choose to assign him when it came to the handling of our bond, I could not fault his kind nature. He was a good male, that much I knew to be true.

"Shall we head to the hot spring?" Nathaniel asked, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow as he set the axe down.

"The hot spring?" I said, snapping out my thoughts.

Nathaniel cocked his brow at me, "To bathe."
Yes, I had agreed to bathe with him in the hot spring, an avoidant promise made in the exhaustion of the previous night. I had forgotten about that. I almost asked if he would be willing to let me bathe alone before remembering the stern warning I had only just been given upstairs.

If you choose to go for a walk, then I will escort you.

I very much doubted that he would leave me alone while I was still unmarked and unmated, but perhaps if I did not argue with everything that he said, then he might allow me a bit more leeway. I would have to earn his trust that I would not run, his Wolfish nature making him too clingy and paranoid to be away from me right now.

"Very well," I said, "Lead the way, My Lord." I could not help but add his signifier, but Nathaniel seemed so pleased that I had not argued with him that he did not even acknowledge it.

He smiled warmly, and gestured a hand towards the path leading around the back of the cabin. It hovered in the air between us for a moment too long, an offering for me to take it, but I did not. Nathaniel's smile wavered almost imperceptibly before his hand lowered, and I followed him around the side of the cabin.

Nathaniel stayed close to my side as we walked, always sneaking glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking, as if he were afraid that I might disappear at any moment.

He was itching to touch me again, I could see his need hiding in the way he looked at me, but I didn't feel too terribly about it, considering our sleeping arrangement. I was certain that he would insist on us sharing a bed together again tonight, which meant My Lord would be getting his quota of physical touch filled later on.

I suppose I could always fight him on it again; I was not nearly as tired as the previous night—although, begrudgingly I had to admit that my peaceful sleep had been a result of our close proximity.

It would be more amusing to push back at him if I didn't know how much my rejection affected him. Nathaniel was like a sad, little puppy whenever I rebuffed his advances, and the bond forced me to feel guilt for not wanting something that I had never even asked for.

And yet, I had it. I had him. Now I just needed to figure out what I was going to do with him.

As we walked down the path to the hot spring, Nathaniel pointed out different sorts of trees and plants, spotting birds too hidden in the brush for my human eyes to see.

"I have rabbit traps set around this area," Nathaniel mused, gesturing towards the forest west of the cabin, "But if there are tracks, I could catch a deer for you."

"Rabbit's just fine," I said, somehow unsure if the image of him ripping into a deer was disgusting or erotic, "It's just the two of us, after all."

"You underestimate my appetite, little mate." Nathaniel chuckled, his sharpened canines peaking through his open lips. My face went hot, the air suddenly far too heavy and my dress too tight.

No, I thought, I most certainly do not.

I knew what Nathaniel was hungry for, and he had already caught it.

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