“All done, Evan.” She smiled.
John held out a hand to pull Evan to his feet. “I heard Cassady was in here earlier?”
“She’s been sent home on bed rest. Her mother’s making sure she obeys.”
John laughed. “Poor Cass. She’ll hate every minute of it.”
“Oh, I know. She’s already cursed me for getting her pregnant when there’s a war she’s missing out on.” Evan chuckled, running a hand through his sandy-colored hair. “Truth is, I’m pleased she’s missing out.”
“Don’t blame you, pal.” His gaze found Eva washing her hands in the sink. “It’s easier to breathe when they’re safe.”
“See you later, John.” Evan patted him on the shoulder as he left.
But John’s attention was already off Evan and onto the woman who was walking toward him, a dusting of pink coloring her cheeks.
“Oliver,” John called, not taking his eyes of Eva. “Can I steal my girl?”
“She’s all yours,” Oliver replied. “Thank you for the help today, Eva.”
Eva smiled. “You’re welcome. It was nice to be useful.”
John’s wolf rose its head. Eva had found her place in his world. All that was left was to make sure she didn’t leave it.
“Your eyes are wolf, John,” Eva whispered, tipping her head back to gaze up at him.
John grinned. “That’s ’cause I’m a wolf, baby.” He took her hand. “Come on.”
Eva followed after a slight pull on her hand, caution on her face. “Why do I get the feeling you’d like to lock me in your room and never let me go?” Eva murmured when they’d exited the infirmary.
John shrugged, his wolf still in control. “Dominant wolves tend to be a tad possessive.”
Her steps faltered as he led her into the trees, but John tugged her along.
“I-I’m not sure I’m ready to give you what you want, John,” she stammered.
He didn’t like the tremor of fear in her tone. “Do I scare you?” She wouldn’t be the first woman to be afraid of him; John knew he was more wolf than most. It was a part of him now, something he’d long ago stopped fighting and accepted.
She frowned. “I’m not afraid of you. I guess a part of me thinks I should be, but I’m not. It’s the look in your eyes I fear.”
Pausing at the small stream which snaked backward and forward across the Dark Shadow-River Run border, John released Eva’s hand and faced her.
“What do you see?” he whispered. Doubt clouded her eyes. “There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”
“I see a future I’m not sure I want.”
His heart clenched painfully. “What do you want, Eva?”
“That’s the thing. I’ve no idea.” Her words were coated in sadness. “I know your world, my brother’s world scares me. I know I have a life waiting for me I don’t know how to fit into anymore, and I know the longer I walk down this path with you, the more I’m going to hurt you, and I don’t want to do that.”
“I can take it,” John answered when he knew damn well he couldn’t. If she left, it would kill him. She was his. He wasn’t supposed to live out his life without his mate.
She smiled. “Liar.” Stepping toward him, Eva reached up on her toes and pressed her mouth gently to his.
Instincts taking over, John wrapped her into his arms as he growled into her mouth, all reason leaving his mind. He’d spent the entire day worrying about her, and now she was in his arms, kissing him, and whether he got hurt or not, John couldn’t stop himself from wanting to kiss her until he was branded deep within her skin.
Eva moaned as his hands traveled over the curve of her hip and cupped her ass. Lifting her into his arms, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, John spoke all the words he was afraid to say aloud with the caress of his lips and grip of his arms.
They were both breathing heavily when they gasped apart, Eva still in his arms, her heated gaze meeting his. “I take it back,” she whispered between breaths. “I want it. I’m just not sure how to get it without losing who I am.”
“I don’t want to change you, Eva.”
A tear slipped down her cheek as her eyes turned glassy, and she struggled to her feet. “John, the Eva you’ve known was a shell of who she was. Losing my mother… it took something from me, and then there was my brother.” She shook her head sadly. “I’ve been holding my breath since she fell sick, and you make me want to breathe again. You do.”
“Then breathe,” John murmured, taking her face into his hands and brushing the tears trailing down her face away. “Breathe with me.”
She studied him, all her emotions on display for him to see. Her fear, her uncertainty, and her hope. “But what happens when I have to leave? What shall I do for air when you’re not there?”
“Who says you have to leave?” he asked, making every effort to keep his tone calm, even though just the thought of her leaving made him want to snarl.
“I do, John. I have plans, plans I put on hold because of my mother, and if I put them on hold indefinitely, I’ll regret it.” She turned away from him and walked to the stream, gazing at the water as it gently rippled past. “My mom made me promise to go to vet school before she died. She didn’t want any of us putting our lives on hold because of her. Three months, she said. Three months is all you’re allowed to be sad, and then
