He clearly feels protective over Ilsa and Ruby, but in the way Liam always is, wanting the best for everyone.
“You changed the subject,” I say. “Tell me why you want to be a nurse.”
“Well, you’re one bossy wolf, aren’t you?”
I laugh. It’s such a good feeling, a release. Ruby laughs along with me. My hand is on her arm again, supporting her.
I can’t help it.
“I guess I am,” I smirk. “Are you going to answer me?”
“It was thatlife,” she says, reaching out to touch my arm. She claws onto my forearm as I help her over a log.
Her touch pulses up and down my arm, right to my center. It’s teasing the beast, her delicious juicy scent and touch driving me wild. When she lets me go, I blow out a long breath, shuddering.
“The cult,” she goes on quietly. “They were against medicine. When I was little, my dad got really sick...he refused to go to the hospital. He wanted to make Master Pete happy.”
There’s that name again.
Master Pete.
It makes me want to find him, to throttle his puny neck for ever daring to make my woman and her family feel this way.
I feel her pain in the air, the scent of it, and I ache. My eyes flare.
Ruby stares. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” I growl. “What was it? If you don’t mind me asking. What killed your father?”
Ruby laughs bitterly. “That’s the thing. We think it was some sort of flu. They could’ve helped him. He was a weak man anyway. No, that’s awful – I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her firmly. “I know what you mean, his health.”
“Yes, that’s all. He was a lovely person. I think. I don’t remember much about him, mostly at the end, when he looked, well, he didn’t even look human. And Mom told me later that Master Pete said it was probably the flu.”
I move my hand over her shoulder, squeezing it gently. The more primal parts of me flare beneath the surface, but I push the wolf away, focusing on her sadness.
There’s so much pain in her voice.
“I’m so sorry, Ruby.”
She shakes her head, pawing at her cheeks, though there aren’t any tears there. She’s so strong, so ready to face the world, to take what it throws at her.
And that’s where I come in. Because I’ll make sure it only throws good things at her. I’ll make sure she never has to face anything alone.
“I’d like to help you with your studies.”
It just comes out before I think about it. But once I hear my own words, I know how true they are.
“There’s nothing I’d want more,” I say.
Iliebecause there are always a few things I’d like to do right now, especially when my woman stares at me.
Wide-eyed, ready.
I’m burning up again.
“Are you serious?”