Forged in Fire (Forgotten Series, #2)

Chapter Thirty

I grabbed the claim wound tightly, it throbbed painfully under my hand. There was a silence in the air that had followed the loud boom of Shey slamming the front door. I hadn't expected open arms or even niceties but I hadn't expected her to claim the bond. My head felt overly full, like a part of me had been taken away but the space it left behind was filled with something else.

"Well... That was painfully justified." Azrael looked almost smug and I flipped him off. He was right, it was justified. I had done it to her and she was just returning the favor. I just didn't want him to be so smug about it.

"Want to punch you." Michael's voice was strained but slightly amused. "But know better. Shey needs to talk." He moved over and held out a small baggie of cinnamon hearts. "Give her only few. Heartburn otherwise." He shook the baggie and I took it with a frown. "Bad day today but talk to her. You need communication. Fix problems." He nodded at me and I looked at the baggie of cinnamon candies. They didn't look like they would be able to help me with anything, let alone a pissed off mate.

I slipped them into my pocket anyway. "And these are going to help how? She just made it pretty clear she doesn't want me here." If her telling me to got to hell before she slammed the door was anything to go by she wanted nothing to do with me.

"Does not feel good, does it?" He raised an eyebrow and I bared my teeth in warning. My wolf and I didn't like his tone. "Show dominance all you want. I take care of her since you leave. She hurt but hurt will fade and the caring will come through again. You need be there for her. Talk to her, let her know." He was more eloquent than I remembered and I felt a bit ashamed as I shifted my hand over the still bleeding bite. It was hard to even imagine a world where Shey could care for me, where she wasn't angry or upset with me but through the bond her feeling leaked into me. Hurt, sadness, betrayal, anger, relief and many other emotions swirled around her, as if she wasn't sure exactly what she was feeling.

"Just talk to her?" I studied Michael's expression carefully and he nodded, honesty radiated out of him.

"She will be in den. Go talk to her." He gestured to the house and the wording confused me slightly.

"Den?" I was fairly certain we didn't have a den in the house. We had the study on the main floor but not a den.

"Just go." He waved me off and I frowned slighty. "Before she starts thinking about anger more. Her wolf is back. You be careful." I jolted slightly at the words, that would explain the savage amounts of power that had radiated off of her. I swallowed. I didn't want to deal with a pissed off wolf but Michael was right, we needed to talk.

"I'm sure she won't chew you up too badly." Azrael chuckled before he turned towards Michael. "Lets go have a whiskey." He smiled brightly and Michael stared at me, his brown eyes letting me know he would fight to protect his Alpha Female. I was grateful that he had been there for her, to help her through the separation. With the claim in place I didn't feel jealous of it or possessive of her. Yes, I wanted to be the one there for her but I was grateful that the ones I trusted most had been there instead.

"You be careful. Words hurt and she is... sensitive, Luka. Do right by her." The warning was clear and I respected it, my wolf and I now understanding it was born out of a need to protect his future. I nodded at him as I took my hand away from my neck and pulled off my jacket. I pressed it to the slowly bleeding wound as I moved up the front steps and opened the door.

There was a faint cry and I was drew into a tight but warm hug. "Luka! You foolish, foolish băieţaş!" Gamgam sounded almost teary as she squeezed me. "You were gone for so long! And you didn't tell anyone where you were going." She shoved me away before grabbing my face. She looked both angry and relieved as she looked me over with frantic blue eyes. "Stupid băieţaş! I was worried sick! The pack was more than concerned and what the hell happened to your neck?" She yanked the jacket away from my neck, throwing into the floor as she prodded at the wound with her fingers. I hissed at the flaring pain and she shushed me.