A Howling Heart
Chapter fourteen

I'm interrupted by my mother. Her concerned tone snaps me back into reality, where Matias's lips no longer reign, and I rip my hand away from my mouth. My fingers twitch and tighten into a fist. A betraying blush creeps over my cheeks. "Mom?" "Where have you been? I've been so worried about you. I couldn't find you in your room." Her words roll together as she begins rambling and descends the steps. Her arms extend toward me. "Where have you been?"

In the woods... with a man who defies all logical reasoning.

A man that turns into a damn animal during a full moon.

I blink a few times.

That would either kill her or make her lock me up in a mental hospital.

"I'm here now. I'm sorry for startling you. I've just been trying to learn the neighborhood and look for jobs and stuff. I have to keep my options open. But the last thing I wanted was for you to worry." She grabs my shoulders and arches her brow questioningly. "You were out exploring the neighborhood all night?"

She's never been one to be naive. I keep forgetting she always knows when I'm lying or being vague.

Like Matias.

See, I can't get him out of my head!

I contemplate whether Matias would be a good excuse or whether it would just worry her more.

"I'm seeing someone," I blurt it out quickly, watching as she releases my arms and steps back, alarm on her face. She furrows her brows, crossing her arms over her chest.

I frown when she sways unsteadily, but her determination trumps her illness, and she still manages to scrutinize me while her line of questioning begins. "You're seeing someone? As in dating?" Dating... or mating in this instance?

The thought makes me snort with laughter, which I quickly swallow by biting my top lip.

"I just met someone. It's not really official dating."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Honestly, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure I'd be pursuing it."

She places a hand against her stomach, and I step forward, reaching for her as worry lines my brows.

"Mom, you're unsteady... we should get you back to bed."

"Who are you seeing?"

"Just some guy."

"Who? Fae? Tell me!" Her urgency startles me. Rarely is she ever like that, but in the moment's she is, I feel panic rising. "His name is Matias."

"Matias, what?"

I blush when I realize I don't even know his last name.

"I don't know his last name." It's embarrassing to admit this. I should know the last name of the man I'm seeing. She's not pleased. "Fae..." Her admonishing tone fills me with shame as if I'm still a child and can't take care of myself.

"Don't worry about him, Ma. Honestly, I don't know if I will continue seeing him. I want to focus on some other things."

My mom's gaze softens before she tilts her head with curiosity. "Other things?"

"Your health." I gently rub her arms reassuringly.

"Just be careful, Fae."

Everyone keeps telling me that.

I should probably try to listen to the advice.

I can't seem to heed the warning signs except when Matias is near.

"I will be."

"And get some rest yourself. You're always so worried about me. You never take care of yourself."

Sardonic laughter leaves my lips. I pat her arm. "Well, you're the one we should be worried about. Have you taken your meds?"

She waves a dismissive hand and twists towards the kitchen. I clamp my mouth shut, stifling the yawn building, when I finally notice my exhaustion.

My broken sleep is finally catching up with me.

I sigh, resigned from arguing with her about her medications, knowing it won't do any good. Some days, she takes them; other days, she doesn't, and she's even more stubborn than me.

"Please take them," I quickly call over my shoulder before climbing up the steps, the alluring call of my bed too enticing to resist.

He's in my dreams, but this time, instead of just a manifestation of something driving my body crazy, he's truly in my head. I feel the solidity of his presence the same way I did yesterday when his voice dominated my thoughts. "Matias," I call out to him.

He moves to me, a man emerging from the depths of the shadows within my room toward my bed. I know the room around me isn't real and that I'm peacefully sleeping just from the heaviness that I feel on my body, but that doesn't stop him from sauntering toward me until he's standing beside my bed.

"I couldn't stay away. Out of your head."

An array of emotions swarm inside me, and I'm confused about what I want. On one hand, excitement blossoms in my gut, but fear accompanies it.

"You should've. You're not good for me. You're dangerous."

He shakes his head. "No, because I'm yours." His biceps are tensing, showing just how muscular he truly is. His lips set in a firm line, and my fingers ache with the urge to run through his dark brown locks.

"I will never be a threat to you."

"How can I be sure of that?"

Especially when so many people continue to warn me of him?

His brows furrow, the area between them wrinkling as he gives me a look of distaste. "Who's been warning you?"

Oh boy.

"It's just a feeling. I don't want to get hurt.... I don't know if I'm strong enough -"

"Anima mea, you are stronger than you know."

"You seem more sure of that than me."

He snickers with amusement, his eyes glancing over my body. He hisses when I shift, and my blanket falls away from my hip, revealing a delicious glimpse of smooth skin from my thigh and an edge of the panties I'm wearing. He always looks at me like he wants me.

An appreciative grunt escapes his lips, and I find myself unwittingly trailing my gaze down his powerful body until I get to his jeans, where I notice he's aroused.

"For you. My queen. My body desires yours.... Like it does air."

"That's intense."

"It is true."

"Even know you're moving your hips because you desire me equally. My closeness."

His gaze roams my body greedily. A low growl rumbles from his chest. His hand grips the waistband of his jeans fiercely, unbuttoning them to give me a peek at his sculpted body.

"See. Even your body submits to my presence. The scent of your arousal is strong. Consuming me."

He curses beneath his breath.

Does he desire me this much?

"Yes. Always for you. Anima mea. My soul. My mate."

I open my mouth and breathe his name into the air, the word dancing off my tongue as a passionate, tortured moan, and with one more possessive growl, he pounces.