A Howling Heart
Chapter twenty-six

A groan leaves his lips, and he bites my bottom lip. I taste the metallic tang of my blood. Instead of utter disgust, I feel pleasure explode throughout my body.

Oh, his kisses are divine. I don't want him to stop.

I don't know where that animal-like thought comes from, but as if he feels the same rough passion, he grabs hold of my hand and moves it to his pants, where my fingers hook in the waistband of his jeans, feeling the defined muscle of his lower abdomen.

"Fae."

He groans my name, and he's all I feel and hear. All I breathe. He's everywhere, and I'm so glad. When my fingers brush his bulge, his eyes flutter closed, and he growls. He is mine.

I am his.

My mother's voice is a rude awakening. "Fae! Stop it!"

Oh no, my mom!

She's been watching.

I push him away, fingers moving to my lips where I plan to wipe them, but instead, I end up caressing them like my fingers are imitating his tongue, sweeping along them. "S-sorry. I'm sorry."

"Fae, please." My mother stretches her hand out while she furrows her brows. "Let's go, honey. It's what's best."

I sigh, frowning as I slowly nod.

Matias lets out a deep breath. "Fae-"

I'm sorry.

He stares at me with pain in his eyes and reaches for my hand. "My soul. Don't leave me. You are everything."

I almost refuse to let go of his hand, but ultimately, I loosen my fingers around his and shake my head, moving past him before his words can convince me. I realize he's driven me here. Oh crap.

"Mom, I didn't drive."

Her jaw clenches as she peers at the road.

"We can walk."

She takes a step and sways slightly, and I realize that the blood's effects are wearing off.

Matias runs a hand down his face. "Take my jeep."

"What?" I look at him with wide eyes. "Are you sure?" He nods. "Take it."

I wave my hand dismissively. "But how will you -"

"Don't worry about it." He shoves his hand in his back pocket, pulls his keys out, and offers them to me.

I stare at his palm, glancing at my mother, surprised that she hasn't said anything.

I take his keys before nodding. "Thank you."

He reaches for my cheek, caressing my face gently while grazing his thumb against my skin.

"My gentle Fae."

I find my eyes fluttering closed as I lean into his touch, savoring the moment while I can, hoping that the feeling of his hold will linger.

"I'll stop at nothing."

His last words open my eyes, but he doesn't repeat them, and I don't ask. Instead, with a will I conjure out of nothing, I spin around, nod to the jeep, and climb into the driver's seat without daring a glance at him. Because if I look at him, it'll all be over. I'll cave, and my mother will be alone.

And I can't have that.

I drive away without a glance, but a part of me remains back there with him. The emptiness inside me begins to spread with its stinging promise of pain.

When I'm home, I contemplate where to leave the keys. If they're somewhere in the house, Matias will have to find his way to me. However, knowing my mother's stance on everything, I clutch the keys undecided for a moment. So if I leave them in the mailbox, I'll be done with him, but if I keep them inside, well... then I'll have a reason to see him.

No, I should respect my mom...

Having him come in right now will only be problematic.

I go to put them in the mailbox.

Someone could steal the car....

I firm my lips at the thought of someone daring to steal Matias's car before I curl my fingers around the keys and decide it's best to keep them close so that doesn't happen. And whatever happens, happens.

Finally, safely behind both doors, I follow my mother into the kitchen.

"I don't know how you kept that from me." She crosses her arms. Disappointment makes a home on her face.

Is she really one to pass judgment about keeping things from people?

I scoff and shake my head. "Did you keep it from you? I still don't know half of what you do... why did you not tell me about Esai and wolves and the whole damn thing?"

She scoffs and moves to get a drink from the fridge. "It was to protect you."

Oh, so I see how this is going to go. She is going to stand by her hypocrisy. I'm awful because I wasn't forthcoming, but she can hide and reveal information whenever she wants to, and she's my savior. "Wait a minute. To protect me? Look how well that worked out! I ended up finding out anyway."

"I wanted more for you."

"More?" I widen my arms angrily, glancing around. "What more? A curse that decays my damn body when I refuse my destiny?" "Stop calling it that."

"Well, it is. I am supposed to be with Matias. I can feel it. The pull. The need. It's crawling around inside of me, and if I refuse, it'll bite, and I'll writhe in pain. And that pain will go on and on forever until I am nothing but fucking screams and ash!" She flinches at my words.

"Enough of the bullshit!" Shock lines my mother's mouth as I yell at her. We are not the ones to yell, but this town has brought about many crazy things from us lately.

"I want the truth... everything. Or else-"

My mind reels with what I can attach to the end of that sentence, and the longer I stare at my mother's alarmed eyes, it finally dawns on me.

"I will go. I leave here. I will leave you, and you will never see me again."

I know that scares her, but will it be enough for her to reveal the truth to me?

I hope so; otherwise, I am sticking to what I said, no matter how hard it will be on me, her, and Matias...