Page 141 of A Wolfe in the Woods

“Yes,” I replied. I knew what went unspoken, what he was really asking.

I could think whatever I wanted about Erik Skoll. But I didn’t think he would’ve physically hurt me. He was a lot of things—and hewascruel—but he had his own boundaries, lines he wouldn’t cross.

Fang, on the other hand…I still shuddered remembering the coldness in his dark gaze.

Jonathan’s shoulders were beginning to bunch again, his muscles rippling beneath my fingertips, and I leaned forward to press my lips against his, purposefully keeping the kiss soft and gentle.

“I’m here,” I whispered. “I’m safe.”

A sharp huff released from his nostrils. Then he said, softly, “When I called you several times and you didn’t answer, I felt something was off. Then when I called Megan and she told me you never showed up to meet her for drinks…Iknewsomething was wrong.”

“Oh, gods, I had completely forgotten about Megan,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I talked to Bernie last night, after…”

Our argument,I thought silently. The way Jonathan had turned his back on me, hurt, not sure what he could believe. I couldn’t even blame him. I just wished he’d believedmeand not Erik.

“Bernie told me all about what they were doing at Skoll. About why he’d really been fired. I waited until after work to go look where Bernie told me to, but Erik found me there. Like he’d been waiting. And then I woke up in Juniper Woods.”

“That bastard had the nerve to call me from your phone,” Jonathan growled, and I smoothed my hand over the ball of his tense shoulder.

“What did he say?” I whispered.

“The land…for you,” Jonathan said, his eyes gleaming. I froze in his lap. I was shocked, but I realized I shouldn’t be. “I would’ve given him anything to get you back.”

After what May had told me, about Jonathan’s connection to this land, I knew what a loss that would’ve been. Like a lost limb. This forest had been protected by Jonathan’s family for centuries. I neverwantedhim to give it up. Not for me. Not for anything.

But he’d been ready to?

For me?

The realization stunned me.

“I…I thought,” I said, nibbling at my bottom lip as thoughts swarmed my mind. “I thought you didn’t want this anymore. That you?—”

“I was being stubborn and foolish,” he growled out, his hands tightening around my waist. “I’m sorry. It’s just…”

His hands moved to my face, smoothing back my wet hair.

“It’s that place,” he rasped. “Those people. I can’t breathe in Graymore. And Erik reminded me of everything I tried to leave behind. I’m ashamed to admit it, but he got in my head. Said you were spying for the company, and for a moment…it made sense. Because why else would someone like you be hanging around someone like me? People don’t usually look at me the way you do.”

“Ineverspied for Skoll,” I said, keeping my voice even, meeting his eyes. “Ineverwould.”

“I know,” Jonathan said, and hearing those words unraveled the tight knot I’d carried with me since our fight. “When I had time to think about it, I knew you wouldn’t have done that. And it makes me feel even worse, for what I said to you in the plaza.”

A small semblance of relief filled me, at least knowing that.

“You don’t trust people easily,” I said softly. “I know that. And I understand why. But if we’re going tochoosethis, choose each other, you’re going to have to try to trust me, Jonathan. I wanted to prove to you that I wouldn’t betray you like that. If youcouldn’t take me for my word, then I would show you proof…and that’s why I went to Bernie.”

He made a sound in the back of his throat. “And it put you right into the crosshairs. Because ofme.”

“It was only a matter of time,” I assured him. “Don’t blame yourself for that. It’snotyour fault. This was Erik’s choice. It was Fang’s. They would’ve gotten to me one way or another because Erik knew I was the weak point in your armor. And he exploited it. That’s what he does. That’s who he is. He scented blood, and he went hunting.”

I encircled my arms around his neck, letting the cloth drop into the water. “But you found me,” I said, brushing my lips across his warm cheek. “You came for me. You protected me. And that speaks louder than anything else.”

“Even an apology?” he murmured, a dry tone to the words.

My lips quirked. “Well, I would like one of those.”

Jonathan dragged in a deep breath. His forehead dropped to mine, and I could see the strands of dark blue through his irises. “I really am sorry. I should have had more faith in you. I should’ve stayed in Graymore to talk to you. I knew it even then. But I blocked it out because I didn’t want to feel what I was feeling, just like I blocked out Graymore from my past. I won’t do that ever again…numb myself. Especially from you.” He paused. “Life is about choices, right? You choose to walk away from things or embrace them. You’re too good to let slip away…and I won’t make that mistake twice.”