She glanced back, biting her lip. “Sorry.”
I shook my head and walked over, picking up the knife on the floor and setting it on the counter. “You dropped this.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled as she threw the ingredients into the cauldron with trembling hands.
“Why do you use one of those to cook anyway? I thought they were meant for potions?”
“Stereotypical.” She pushed her hair out of her face with a huff. “I use it for both. Potions only call for herbs, so it’s not like I’m throwing goat hearts in there or anything.”
“I see.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at her. She was still shaking, and more than anything I wanted to be buried deep inside her while she shook with pleasure.
“Xav, please.” She clenched her dress with her hands as I caught the whiff of arousal again. “I’m not ready yet, but you’re making me want to throw caution to the wind with your desires being projected onto me.”
I took a deep breath before cupping her face and pushing my lips against hers softly. “Okay. I’m sorry. I just want you.”
“I know.” She let out a shaky breath. “I want you too, but there is still so much I don’t know. Like… I know I wasn’t your first kiss.”
I scowled. The fuck did that matter? “You were my best kiss.”
She nodded, turning around and busying herself with the stew. “I hope so. I wouldn’t know how anything could beat that kind of kiss.”
I reached out and ran a hand down the back of her hair, fingers parting the silky strands as I made my way through. “Harlow, I’m not just spewing nonsense. I’m experienced, so-fucking-what? You’re a fucking goddess, exactly what I’d imagine Aphrodite to be like. Everyone pales in comparison to you.”
She bit back a grin. “You’re just saying that because I’m your mate.”
“Exactly. You’re my fucking soulmate. Get used to it—and leave the insecurity at the door, little witch. You don’t need it with me.”
The smile that lingered on her lips the rest of the night melted me. Harlow was a precious gem to be protected at all fucking costs.
ELEVEN
Harlow
My fingers brushed against my lips as I remembered the rough feel of Xav’s lips on mine. I needed him like I needed oxygen to breathe, and it was terrifying. It hadn’t even been a full month since I’d met him.
I wasn’t sure if I bought the love at first sight spiel he gave me about soulmates, but with the way I was falling for him, it didn’t seem far-fetched.
I’d warmed up to him being a werewolf. Xavier wasn’t evil, he was just capable of evil things. And against all common sense, I trusted him.
What I couldn’t cope with was that he’d been deep in love with someone before me. How could he have two soulmates? It didn’t make sense. Either I was the other half of his soul or she was, not both of us.
And one thing was haunting me like a spirit with unfinished business; if his first mate hadn’t died, would he still want me?
My chest tightened. The thought robbed me of my senses and replaced it with something that made my muscles contract and dread settle in my stomach.
I stopped, planting my bare feet on a mossy rock beside the river, and breathed in. The forest healed me in ways nothing else could, almost equivalent to the comfort Xav provided me. I couldn’t let fear control my relationship with him. There was no need in damaging my heart with what happened in the past or what-ifs.
What worries you?
I glanced back toward the mother bear I’d healed earlier with her three cubs. She was a model of patience with her cubs as they played, tumbling over her as if she were their playground.
I’d sought her out this morning to place a protection ward around her home, which was how I ended up in front of the cave that worked its way into the mountain next to the river with her and her cubs.
“Nothing too important, Mama Bear.” I hopped off the rock, plopping down in the grass next to her.
Call me Nita.
“Nita, that’s a beautiful name. You can call me Harlow.”
She gave me a satisfied look, almost like a smile. If you need to talk, I can listen.
I let out a small sigh. “You know the wolf that attacked you?”
She nodded, and guilt clouded over me as I remembered he’d tried to kill her and her sweet cubs.
“Well, he’s a werewolf.” I dug my index finger into the dirt and carved out a line. “And apparently my soulmate. We’re bonded together by magic, a matebond.”
I am ignorant to the ways of magic. However, I understand soulmates are important to humans. I assume it is the same for you from the burden you carry on your shoulders. When you healed me, you were more carefree than you are now. Her words were full of wisdom as one of her cubs snuck over and snuggled on my lap.
“You are observant.” I moved my hand through the cub's fluffy fur. “I had long accepted that I would be alone. I never had feelings for anyone past a crush when I lived with my coven. But with Xavier, it’s like my heart beats for him. I’m hyper-aware of every little thing he does when he’s around me.”
That sounds lovely. So, what is the problem?
“He had a mate before me, but she died.”
He had a soulmate before you?
“So he says.” My eyes began to burn as I blinked the tears back. “But I don’t understand how that’s possible. The way I feel about him is so raw, and I can’t think about him feeling like that for someone other than me. It breaks my heart.”
A low growl carried over from across the river, and my head snapped up as I wrapped my arms around the cub in my lap. I gasped as I saw Xavier standing
