18. Overwhelming Attraction

Paul - Sohodol Canyon

I go through the woods nude, holding Laura in my arms. She's still weeping, but more softly, and she's not shivering as much as she used to. I know just the place to help her feel better and get rid of the obnoxious stench of blood that has coated both of us from head to toe. All I can hope for now is that I don't happen to run across any hikers.

When I look down at her, she seems vulnerable as she puts her face into my chest. I always end up with her in my arms. As much as it pains me to see her like this, I don't want to let her go. But it's impossible to remain like this forever because this moment is fleeting like any other.

As we approach a clearing, I glance around for any danger. My sense of smell can be deceiving near the stream. Luckily, the only things I see are the trees and the river. It runs across the clearing, making its way through the mountains.

I seize Laura in my arms even more tightly as she trembles again beneath the wave of a shudder. Her respiration has slowed. She's mine to protect. I feel it deep within my soul.

Unwillingly, my fingers press harder against her soft skin. I’m mad at myself. She fought all by herself, and my wolf merely watched. I should have been the one killing the strigoi, but the perspective of reigniting a war I fought so hard to stop held me back. Someone had to do it, and I let her do the dreadful deed.

The Council’s wrath will fall upon Laura, and I don’t know if I can shield her. My heart squeezes at the thought of what they might do to her. All I can do is to remain in the Sohodol Canyon until Sunday, after the full moon nights, and hope their anger will subside in the meantime. They won’t dare come and challenge me inside a pack’s territory when I’m the strongest.

I sigh in relief when I hear the waterfall. Water droplets splutter around after the impact, the light making them sparkle like living silver. I wade inside the river up to my waist, keeping Laura above the surface.

I look at her as I place her on a rock under a tiny trickle from the waterfall. Hollowness takes over me as she stares blankly straight through me as if I were invisible. A world of death and pain engulfs her, and I'm powerless against it. Maybe I don't understand the depths of her anguish, but I'll be here for her if she needs me.

She won't mind if I rip the already shredded hem off. I wipe up the blood that has already crusted on her cheeks and neck with that cloth. As I wash her blood-soaked hair, I observe how tangled it is, stiffened by the hardened ichor. Her hands are painting the rock in red. Splinters come out of her knees. I do my best to get them out. She makes no sound, and she doesn't even respond on reflex.

She was fighting for her life. I should have been there. I should have killed the strigoi without hesitation, no matter who he was or how many others would come for me.

Laura is my responsibility. I owe her my life. I've never thought about the consequences of bringing her here. Now I wish I could take it back. What am I supposed to do? Take responsibility for the kill and risk a war with the Council?

I place my palm on her cheek, hoping to get her to really look at me. "Your wounds are not healing. Are you certain you don't need blood?"

"They will close eventually," she mutters, barely audible.

"We'll remain in Sohodol for two more nights. You need all your strength for when we meet with Ion Corvin."

Laura nods.

Her eyes gradually regain their lively twinkles as I clean her up. It doesn't take long for her hand to rest on mine, preventing me from completing my task.

“Give me that!” She lunges after the rag in my hand, her body tilting dangerously to the left.

Laura slips off the rock, but I hold her afloat by wrapping my arm around her waist. Her hypnotic eyes shimmer and her lips part slightly. I gulp as her hand goes for my face. But she instead puts a strand of hair behind my ear. Her index finger travels along the ear shell. It's a fantastic experience, and the pleasure grips me. My hold on her waist tightens, her skin velvety under the damp, thin fabric.

This overwhelming attraction won’t go away. Instead, it increases by the second. Why do the universe and the moon hate me so much? What wrongdoings have I done to deserve this ordeal?

My thumb pushes her chin up as I bend down with one hand on her neck, guiding her to me. Our lips brush against one another, and even this simple pleasure awakens my starving wolf. 'More,' he snarls. And I really want to comply. I want to forget everything and just be me and her, a man and a woman.

She is an irresistible trap that I can't resist. I press my palm against her back, squeezing her into my embrace, closing my fingers over her silky hair. I want to shower her with kisses, to wash away every wound, every pain, and every bad thing that ever happened to her.

But this will never happen. I steal one more whiff before letting her hair fall between my fingers.

I can't think clearly anymore. I need to get out of here as soon as possible. When I step back, she leans after me. The palms on my chest and the look in her eyes suggest she wants this as much as I. The eerie feel of her cold hands is delightful before I remember that I'm naked, and fortunately, the water covers my erection.

I take her hand by the wrist and stuff the cloth on her hand. “I need rest. You can clean up yourself.”