Healing Spring

SYN

My mate drove me crazy.

His teasing touches, suggestive words, innocent face, and sweet actions were making it impossible for me to stay mad at him.

I had been tempted to give in a hundred times a day, but I had always managed to remain resilient by reminding myself that Terrin would eventually tire of this and give up, that this was better for both of us.

Lune, how many times had I said that?

Several hundred at least. But even I was struggling to believe it now, never mind trying to convince Terrin. If anything, I was starting to agree with him.

We should just put it behind us and move on.

We should stop making ourselves suffer and just be happy.

Be happy.

As much as I hated admitting it, Terrin’s antics made me happy. Every light touch sent a thrill through me.

Every one of his cheesy lines that were full of crap made me feel warm. So I let him brush against me, let him spout romantic nonsense.

When he saw that I had stopped fighting against him, he grew bolder.

Terrin was relentless. Whenever I ignored him or rejected him, he just came back ten times stronger. His fingers were replaced by his lips, and casual brushes were replaced by quick pecks.

My personal space became virtually nonexistent.

Worst of all, he stopped hiding his arousal. In fact, he started making it apparent. The scent of his pheromones attacked me as he looked at me with dark, hooded eyes, nearly making me explode.

It simply wasn’t fair.

How was I ever supposed to resist that? He was acting as though nothing was wrong, as if we had always been such attentive and sweet lovers.

How could I prevail when he jumped on my back as I made us sandwiches—he obviously wasn’t going anywhere, and I wasn’t going to let him starve—and clung to me, completely plastering himself against me?

As if that wasn’t difficult enough, he’d then nip my ear and whisper something like “You’re my favorite snack.” I was supposed to stand a chance against that?

Then he would cuddle into me, wrapping his limbs around me like a snake, hugging me from behind while complaining about the cold draft in the cave.

I’d try to wrestle him off, but he’d only constrict around me, squeezing tighter and tighter until I eventually gave in. He would then kiss my shoulder, nuzzle my skin, whisper in my ear. Yeah, sleep wasn’t a thing for me anymore.

Why?

Why was he doing this to me? He had made me so weak that it was almost impossible for me to say no to him.

~What about Heidi?~ I kept asking myself. He had marked her too.

Yes, but he was here with me, right? That made the argument null.

I simply couldn’t win. So I stopped resisting altogether, knowing it was futile.

I let him have his way.

None of us said anything when I began initiating touches, casually grabbing his waist with one hand while I filled my canteen as he washed the dishes. Or pecking the top of his head when I walked past him.

Knowing I was caving in, Terrin switched from being the big spoon to the little spoon. He’d lie down in front of me, take hold of my arms, and band them across his chest. He’d then hold them there so I couldn’t draw away.

I cuddled him back, wrapping my arms around him and drawing him closer, both of us more satisfied with the better fit of this position.

Everything just became natural between us as we adjusted to our new life in the cave.

Terrin would sometimes come hunting with me, his competitive nature always shining through as we chased down our prey.

The little cheater would spook my prey before I could pounce and would be so satisfied to have caught more than me.

He would then gloat, prancing around me, claiming to be the better hunter in both skins. I had tried my hand at trapping as well, only to find that my mischievous mate had tampered with my traps.

Of course, I’d been annoyed at first, but as I watched him laugh his ass off at my muttered curses every time I failed, I couldn’t find it in myself to care that he had spoiled my hunt.

To just see him smile so broadly and brightly—the fact that he could even look at me that way after what I had done to him—made it worth it.

The scars on the side of his head would always serve as a reminder.

I was grateful that he often had a shirt on as it kept me from having to look at the mangled mess on his back. He would carry those scars forever, but so would I.

Perhaps the visual reminder would keep us from making such a mistake again.

So I let him have his fun at my expense, just so I could hear his laugh and watch his lips pull up to reveal his teeth.

And as his eyes turned to gaze at me, as if I were his whole world, and as his laughter died into a deep, soft smile, I would glance over his shoulder to look at the twin wolves that watched us from a distance.

They would always leave silently after I spotted them, no doubt bringing back their findings to their alpha—our alpha. It would soon be time to return home.

But not yet. Terrin and I weren’t ready.

As the days pressed on, Terrin and I healed together, used each other to heal as mates should.

I loved my werewolf, and I knew he loved me as well, but true to his word, he never said those words again. He wouldn’t as long as I kept them locked inside my own mouth.

He would tease me though, listing all of the things he loved about me but never specifically saying he loved me. I knew I was so close to snapping.

And when that day came, I was ready.

Today would be our last day at the cave, but I would make it memorable. I took us to the hot springs, inviting my mate into the water with me. Of course, the little devil made a show of removing his clothes.

You would never have been able to tell that at one point the thought of being naked before me had mortified him.

My beautiful mate proudly flaunted his body as he stepped into the water, not self-conscious of his scars in the least.

They made me more nervous than him.

I swallowed thickly as my eyes followed him through the water. He came right over to me, only to turn at the last second and then begin to swim leisurely through the small spring.

Of course, he took every opportunity to tease me, knowing that he had my full, undivided attention.

When I’d had enough, I grabbed his foot and pulled him to me.

Startled, he gasped and sputtered as his head went under the water. Pushing himself back up, he cursed at me, but I just chuckled and pulled him into my lap.

I grazed my fingers delicately against the gashes across his skull, the lines aligning perfectly with my fingers.

My breath shuddered and my hand started shaking before I had fully traced the scars.

I had nearly killed him.

I could have killed my mate.

Terrin grabbed my wrist, gazing at my stricken face with knowing eyes. He slowly pulled my hand down, turning my palm out and placing a lingering kiss there.

“It’s all right, Syn. We have both left scars on each other,” he said gently, caressing a hand down my face. “Mine just happen to be more visible.”

A croaked sob left my throat, but the werewolf only shushed me, pulling my face into his chest as he cooed and rocked us gently.

“I’m sorry,” I said for the first time, apologizing for my actions.

“Me too,” Terrin replied.

“I love you,” I cried.

My mate leaned back, lifting my chin with a finger. He made a show of examining me, looking me up and down before his fingers traced my lips and pulled at its corners.

“I love your smile,” he said, laughing as my brows furrowed. That wasn’t the response I wanted. Terrin’s fingers smoothed across my brows. “Especially when you try your hardest not to.”

His thumbs brushed over my brow. “I love how these furrow when you try to look intimidating and serious.”

His hands continued their exploration, tracing the contours of my face. “I love your stubbornness, even if it makes you a pain in the ass.”

I growled and nipped at the finger he pushed against my lips. He laughed breathily and moved his hands down, pressing against my clavicle.

“I love the sound of your silky voice.” My mate looked at me with a spark of mischief. “Particularly the low, husky tone when you’re turned on.”

I barked out a laugh, earning a grin from him in return.

He hummed. “Mmm, yes, your laugh is ear candy. So delicious.”

I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, unable to help myself. Terrin’s hands lifted to my head, brushing through the shaved hair on either side.

“I love your cute little man bun,” he admitted. “Even though sometimes I’m tempted to give you a respectable haircut.”

I moved my hands from their place on his waist, tracing the planes of his stomach.

My mate’s eyes fluttered shut, his breath hitching. “I love the way your hands move across my body.”

My hands came up to cup his face, and only then did his eyes peel open. With all the seriousness he possessed, Terrin finished his speech, “I love all the little things you do. Even if you don’t think I notice them, I do.

“I love your snuggles and kisses. I love how you try your best to provide for me while making sure I don’t feel emasculated—just loved.

“I love even your faults—how you hide behind your stoic face when you’re upset, how you try to distract me when I notice you’re sad. I love everything about you, Syn, because I love you.”

“I love you,” I repeated.

“I love you,” he parroted before closing the distance between us.

And in that hot spring, on our last day at the cave, we completed our bond, finishing our healing and becoming one whole soul.