The Imprinted Maiden (18+)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Justin gripped onto my hand tightly, never looking in my direction as we all but rushed to the brothers.

I kept looking up at him, but could never grab his gaze. The snow was coming down hard still, not giving me much of a view. I wouldn't have known where to go were it not for Justin.

Then, he spoke quietly. "It isn't safe for you to be near him. Chief or not. You shouldn't trust him either, am I understood?" All I could say was, "Okay." I had already made up my mind not to trust him, but fate kept literally putting me in his grasp.

He sighed loudly, gripping his cloak a little to keep it together. "I mean it, Lyra. You... mean a great deal to us. All of us. I don't want him trying anything."

Biting my lip, I looked up at him in surprise. Once again, he didn't look down at me, and instead kept his gaze ahead as it steadily got darker.

I quietly returned his firm grip, finally getting him to look at me. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face before he turned back to look at the snowy trail ahead of us.

I eventually saw two figures approaching us and instinctively leaned onto Justin.

I then relaxed when I saw Connor's silhouette. Justin let go of my hand, but didn't have to tell me anything.

My legs moved before my mind as I trudged through the snow. Tears developed in my eyes as my fingers made first contact, followed by the rest of my body.

"Lyra," he whispered in my ear, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

I didn't bother holding back tears, crumbling where I was held as I sobbed. I could sense his desperate need to help me in any way he could.

But he couldn't. And he could never know.

Another pair of arms joined the embrace and I could feel Xain's nose caressing the back of my neck.

"I'm so glad you're safe," Xain murmured, wrapping his arms around Connor and me and pulling the three of us close. "Let's go home where it's warm."

Connor nodded, casting a glance at Xain before the dark eyed wolf nodded.

Connor then picked me up, wrapping my legs around him and just holding me close. I whimpered and clung to him, unable to get enough of his scent. Tears continued to leak down my face as I cried.

"Thank you." I heard Connor say. "She needed me," was all Justin said. Connor grunted before hastily trudging his way through the snow. I simply clung and cried, trembling in his arms.

I was scared. What if he could read my mind? What if he knew? Would he abandon me like he did Charlie?

I was too scared to find out. I didn't want to.

I loved both him and Xain too much. My heart ached even more, causing me to think over and over, a mantra in their heads as I thought, 'I love you'. I couldn't stop thinking it, couldn't stop trembling in Connor's arms as he and Xain made their way through the snow to our home.

~*~

When I finally felt a rush of warmth, I knew we were home.

Connor didn't let me go and I didn't move. I was afraid to. I didn't want to look in his eyes in fear that he'd find out that way.

Of course, Connor did eventually pull away, setting me down gently on the large sort chair we had in the living room.

Xain shut and locked the door before immediately coming to my right side. Both men gripped my hands gently, looking up at me in concern and love.