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Chapter Twenty-Three
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After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Four
“Shh, baby. Everything is going to be okay. We’re leaving as soon as the rain breaks.” Silas soothed, correctly assuming I’d overheard them talking as he pulled me into his arms, rubbing his face against my brilliant, red hair seemingly without thought. Although, he didn’t seem to realize I’d eavesdropped on more than just the last part of their argument. I chose to disregard the confusing dialogue for now as other more pressing matters took the forefront, not wanting to examine that line of discussion for the time being. My bare skin brushed against his still naked chest as I realized someone had stripped my outerwear off, and goosebumps popped up everywhere our flesh made contact, sparks detonating all over my body with his touch. I knew I probably shouldn’t be letting him hold me the way he was with how conflicted I was on the inside, but I couldn’t bring myself to push him away, needing every piece of relief his presence gave me. Something about being in his embrace felt right
After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Five
Silas carried me a few feet into the darkness, letting the others lead the way as he clutched me securely against him, and I felt myself relax as his personal fragrance washed over me. He continued strolling forward with a sure step until I couldn’t see anything, let alone the two males who I knew were ahead of us. Even so, I wasn’t afraid, Silas’s touch grounding me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t wondering where the hell he was taking me. Initially, I’d heard the echoing footsteps coming from in front of us, but they’d tapered off until I could only detect Silas’s tread. I was about to ask him where the others had gone, but he came to an abrupt halt as I opened my mouth. “Do you think you’ll be able to cling to my back, Bell? Be honest. If you don’t feel up to it, I will find another way to get you down, but Saint and Slade are waiting at the bottom in case anything happens.” I didn’t particularly relish the idea of freefalling through the air, so I made sure I was positive in my
After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Six
Silas had left me perched on the closed toilet seat before he’d departed, but the pain had recommenced almost the second he’d shut the door behind him. I knew it would have crippled me to the ground had I been standing. Katya went about preparing a bath for me, and I almost squealed in joy when she added the vanilla scented bubbles into the steamy water, the warm, soapy liquid already almost tangible under my fingertips as I imagined sinking into it in just a few minutes. I didn’t give a damn if it made me childish; I hadn’t taken a bath since before the downfall of society, water being too precious a commodity, and I was going to appreciate it in spite of my throbbing body. Just the same, Katya used the time we were waiting wisely, thoroughly sterilizing the major wound on my leg and wrapping it in a waterproof bandage for now. Wriggling in anticipation, I attempted to distract myself from the array of emotions barraging my brain, circling back to the discussion we’d begun a fe
After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Seven
Damp moss and the woodsy scent of oak saturated every part of my being, right down to my very soul, and it even invaded my dreams as I slept deeply. I wasn’t surprised when I groggily opened my eyes, ascertaining that the sheets encasing the downy bed I was laying on were bathed in the smell. Something told me I was resting in Silas’s bed, that this spacious bedroom belonged to him. Rolling over, I went to push up with my right arm to get a better look at my surroundings, glimpsing the soft glow of a crackling fire against the far wall, but my arm buckled with the stress, a twinge spiraling out as I fell face first into the pillow, as a result. A massive midnight-black head popped up from beside me on the ground, next to the king-sized bed, a look of worry evident in his wolf-like features. “I’m fine, Silas. I just forgot about my arm.” I explained, wincing at the lingering ache, but he was already shifting shapes, standing naked in front of me before I could finish my sentence. “
After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Eight
Silas groaned, easing back to put some space between us as he said, “You’re vulnerable right now, baby. We should wait until you’re healed, and until your one hundred percent certain, Bell. Wolves mate for life, and I’m never letting you go after you accept my mark.” His words were like a subarctic gale crashing into me full force, smothering the flames that’d burst into being between us, even if I didn’t quite comprehend his meaning. A tiny part of me felt the sting of rejection, but I knew he was right beyond the shadow of a doubt. Something about him drew me in, made me go a little crazy in his presence, but that didn’t matter with my state of mind. I was aware I needed to concentrate on getting through another loved one’s untimely demise, and I didn’t think I had room in my heart for another, even if the imprudent organ seemed to argue otherwise. Not wanting to dwell in an awkward silence, I deliberately moved off his lap as I took charge, redirecting, “So, the other wolves? Wh
After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Hey, perfect timing it seems.” She said, entering as she immediately shot an exasperated glance at Silas, continuing in the next breath, “Slade all but demanded I ‘ask’ you to go see him.” Her tone was tight, and I could tell something was off. Silas must have picked up on her strain, or maybe someone was communicating with him through the mind link, which he’d begun to tell me about. Either way, he left us alone after ensuring I was settled, giving me a brief squeeze that lingered a tad too long, but Katya didn’t say anything about my reddened cheeks after he’d strode out in a hurry. Be that as it may, he’d had plenty of time to share my most recent muscle spasms with Katya to my chagrin. I hadn’t been planning on telling her everything, knowing it would likely extend the amount of time she ordered for me to be on bedrest, so I wasn’t in the best of moods after Silas’s tattling. The pressure to rescue those girls who were still trapped in the abandoned silver mine with Robbie and
After the Downfall Chapter Thirty
When I came to, woodsy oak and damp moss suffused my awareness, the incredible aroma gently tugging me from my sleep. I took in the dimly lit room from my horizontal position, comprehending that I was still in Silas’s bed as the hush reached my ears. Silas was the first thing I saw, the easily distinguishable ink on his pectoral instantly informing me whose chest I was laying against, not that I really expected it to be someone else holding me so familiarly, and I swiftly ascertained that we were alone after lifting my head up slightly. There was no way Katya hadn’t told Silas what we’d been conversing about, but I was grateful he hadn’t brought it up, all the same. Neither one of us spoke, him encouraging me to relax against him once more with his soft but firm grip on my right shoulder. I didn’t resist, already missing the warmth exuding from him. It wasn’t nearly as cold as it was above ground in this covert forest that I was lucky enough to experience, but I enjoyed his embrace
After the Downfall Chapter Thirty-One
The others said a swift sayonara, hightailing it out of the room with Silas’s arrival, but I hardly noticed their departure. Clearly, they didn’t want to be present for this conversation, but I didn’t let the thought deter me. Silas greeted me warmly, disregarding everyone else in the process and not stopping until he’d yanked me against the chiseled lines of his bare chest. These shifters didn’t seem too fond of clothing, I’d noticed, but I supposed I wouldn’t bother with the cumbersome garments either if I was also shredding through them every five minutes. “Bell.” He growled, right before his lips came crashing down on mine, me having unconsciously risen on my tiptoes to meet his hungry mouth halfway as I caught a glimpse of Katya’s lengthy tresses flitting around the edge of the doorframe. I was overwhelmed by his greeting, the room around me wholly disappearing with his intoxicating presence, and any resolve I’d had to finally get my answers petered out when he speared his ton
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