I needed to tell him.

I should have told him days ago, even before we’d come here to his home. Because he needed to know why we could never go down this path. And he was right. It was cruel for me to push him away while never giving a reason.

My hands curled around his.

He gazed down at me imploringly as I said, “Because it’s not real. That’s why I run from you.” My words were so quiet, so broken sounding.

His head angled, his brow furrowing. “How is this not real?”

“Because it’s your wolf that wants me. Not you. How can you not see that?”

His frown deepened. “My wolf?” The energy pulsed off him so intensely that it took my breath away.

“Yes, don’t you remember back in Portland when I dropped my cloaking spell around you for the first time? You caught a hint of my true scent, and I saw something change in you, and the way you acted toward me changed completely after that. Remember the alleyway in New York?”

“I remember.”

“But you didn’t want me before then. You didn’t desire me. It wasn’t until you caught my true scent that you began to crave me. And it’s all because your wolf has chosen me as his mate. That’s why you want me so much. But before your wolf caught my real scent, you—the man—didn’t want me at all. And so, this craziness needs to stop.”

He stared at me. Hard. Those burning embers in his eyes flamed hotter. “You think the only reason I want you is because you’re my mate?” His question was said with such venom and such disbelief.

“Yes!” I snarled. “I saw how you were before you caught my scent. You didn’t want me. You—the demon hunter, the rogue sorcerer—you never wanted me before your wolf did. That’s why this isn’t real. Now let go of me. I’m going to shower. It’s probably going to be another long day.”

I didn’t wait for him to reply, and instead ripped his hands off of me before stalking to the bathroom. Slamming the door behind me, I locked it and then sank against the frame.

I didn’t hear any movement from him. I had no idea if the hunter was still in the bedroom or had prowled to the hallway and stood right on the other side of the thin door, waiting on silent feet.

But I did know that I’d finally been honest with him. Totally, brutally honest, and I told myself again that it was something I should have done a long time ago.

Sighing, I turned the shower on and stepped under the spray, hoping the streaming water would not only drown my body but also my heart.

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Chapter 24

I didn’t hear Kaillen when I emerged from the shower. All was quiet and still. After toweling off, I padded hesitantly to the bedroom, peering inside warily since I was convinced that I’d see the hunter standing by the window, waiting to finish our conversation.

But he wasn’t there.

A bolt of relief ran through me that was quickly followed by a pang of sorrow. Okay . . . whatever that response meant.

As I shuffled toward the dresser, a flash of white on the bed’s dark sheets caught my attention.

I turned to see the letter from Carlos open and lying on the bed. My lips parted. Lurching forward, I grabbed the letter. It was wrinkled, as if whoever had last read it crumpled it before throwing it on the bed.

Anger rose in me, swift and hard, at the thought that Kaillen had read a private letter, but just as quickly as that anger came, it left. No wonder the hunter wasn’t here. He probably thought I’d decided to be with Carlos again.

“What a freakin’ mess.” I sank onto the edge of the bed, the letter in my hands. It was ironic in a way. The letter was from a past love who I was no longer in love with, but I did love someone else.

An image of Kaillen’s amber eyes flashed through my mind. His dark hair. His sharp wit. His sexy smile. Gods. I loved him. Totally and completely loved him. Despite doing everything in my power to push him away in order to avoid a situation just like this, it hadn’t mattered in the end, because I’d still fallen in love with him.

I sat like that for I didn’t know how long, and since the cabin stayed quiet and the scent of coffee didn’t waft through the air, I knew that Kaillen was long gone, and I had no idea when he was coming back. If he was coming back.

A part of me felt relieved about that, but the other part felt dread. I had no idea where we stood now. It was possible that since I’d now explained to him why I’d been fighting our attraction that he’d come to see that I was right. Perhaps, he’d even been able to make his wolf submit, and he no longer felt any desire for me.

It was possible. Since he wasn’t a pure-blooded wolf, and since his demon side and sorcerer magic were so strong, I knew the mate bond could be fickle. Carlos could be right in that aspect, which meant that the hunter could have broken the bond since I’d told him I wasn’t interested, which would essentially put us back to how we’d been when we’d first met.

Me wanting him. Him finding amusement in me.

Ugh. But at least I could hold my chin up high, knowing that I hadn’t made an utter fool of myself by throwing myself at him and professing my undying love.

Still, it didn’t make me any happier.

I finally dressed and went downstairs. As I’d suspected, all was quiet. No roaring fire. No uneaten breakfast. No discarded books. Kaillen had truly up and left. The only sign that he’d ever been here at all was the empty whiskey bottle from last night.

Shoulders drooping, I padded to the kitchen to make coffee. The pot gurgled and steamed, and once I had a much-needed hot mug in hand, I went outside.

The morning was cool, devoid of a breeze. A blue jay’s trill came from the distance. I sipped the hot brew, my mind still feeling sluggish as I wondered where the hunter had gone off to.

A creaking sound came from the porch steps. My heart leaped, and I whirled around, expecting to see Kaillen.

But Cameron stood at the bottom of the steps.

My eyes narrowed.

“I’m here to see my dear brother,” he said tersely.

“He’s not here.” I bristled and set my coffee cup on the flat railing.

“Where is he?”

“No idea. Should I let him know that you stopped by?” I asked sarcastically. “I’m sure he’ll be disappointed to hear that he missed seeing you.”

Cameron prowled up the stairs, a smirk lifting his lips. “I see that you’re just as rude as he is.” He scoffed. “Figures. He would choose a woman as deplorable as his character.”

“You mean as admirable as his character?”

He laughed humorlessly. “I see you’re as cocky as that bastard demon too.”

I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Cameron?”

He just snickered.

I rolled my eyes. This was the last thing I was in the mood for. “You can see yourself right down those porch steps and back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

His smug smile vanished. “Are you trying to tell me what to do on my pack lands?”

“Pretty sure they’re not your pack lands, but rather Paxton’s, and congratulations on mastering the English language. You’re correct. I’m telling you what to do. Please leave.” I gave him my back, intent on finishing my coffee inside, but then a low snarl erupted from him.

“I’m going to enjoy seeing what they do to you.”

Before I could process that bizarre statement, his arms were around my chest, and he had a hand clamped over my mouth.

It all happened so fast. He must have used werewolf speed, but the second my shock wore off, instinct kicked into action. I called upon my magic. It swirled upward, but then I was suddenly whizzing through the air.