Sinclair

“This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done!” Ella exclaims, shifting restlessly beside me. We’re just arrived at the festival, and though she’s only wearing a silk robe, she looks stunning. She’s also nearly beside herself with anxiety, and getting increasingly feisty the closer we get to the big event.

“Poor darling, you’re shaking.” I croon, pulling Ella into my arms and rubbing her back. She’s all sharp edges, stiff and grumbling unhappily into my chest, but snuggling into my warmth despite her grumpy mood.

“Of course I’m shaking, it’s freezing. I’m wearing next to nothing and it’s winter!” She exclaims, gesturing to the snow falling around us. “How are we even supposed to do this ridiculous ritual without getting hypothermia!”

“First because wolves run much hotter than humans.” I answer, catching her hands and tucking them between our bodies so they’l get warm too. “Second, because the stone circle is surrounded by thermal pools and the base is heated from below by hot springs. I promise you’ll be plenty warm. And if you’re not then there’s always body heat.”

I’m waggling my eyebrows suggestively, but Ella doesn’t laugh. She pouts, peeking up at me, “I thought you were going to respect my wishes.”

“I’m doing my best.” I share, “but it isn’t easy. Especially when you’re so beautifully responsive.”

This much is true, I might have an easier time respecting Ella’s boundaries if she didn’t react so openly and passionately to my advances. But the reality is that she’s obviously affected by me, and it’s hard not to feel encouraged when she melts into my arms like hot honey.

“That’s just my h0rmones.” Ella insists. “You have to listen to what I say, not what I do.”

“Ah, so ‘actions speak louder than words’ doesn’t count in your book.” I tease.

“That’s right.” Ella answers stiffly, “My body isn’t my own right now, it’s the baby’s. That means you have to take my word over my reactions.”

“Alright.” I agree. “But I hope you’ll give me a little slack when I slip up.”

was about always being in

“But my wolf is in charge when it comes to mating, and

words are barely audible even to my own ears, but I still glance around to

It seems if I’m not thinking about romancing Ella, I’m thinking about how vulnerable she is living

is in comparison, surrounded on all sides by vicious predators. The poor thing is still shivering and I’m worried she might have been right, without a wolf’s resilience to the elements, it might be too

these events that throw her So far out of her comfort zone and into a world she doesn’t yet understand, or

very hard to forgive myself for forcing her into this situation. In hindsight I can clearly see that’s what I did- it might have been her idea, but she’d felt like she had no other choice, fore

will keep her and the baby a secret so that they’ll never be in danger from my enemies, and never have to adopt this facade. I want to call off our arrangement so

Ella presses me sullenly, “Why are you

is done we can go home and curl up in front of a warm fire, and then I’ll rub your feet and

the cameras! We should just say I’m ill and make our apologies.” Her tone goes from exasperated and sharp, to sounding so small I might believe it belonged

tucking her head to my chest and stroking her long, silky hair. “I promise we’ll leave

Ella is raising her voice now, and trying to pull away from me.

hormones aren’t helping, but it’s clear she needs me to help ground her, to calm her down

her, beginning to purr even as I rumble. “This is an important ritual.”I explain, in a tone that makes her visibly squim. “I know you’re cold and afraid Ella. Honestly, I would spare you this if I could – but missing this isn’t like missing the feast. It would be seen as disrespect to the

struggling internally, her body responding to my purrs and my dominance, but her mind no doubt consumed with battling thoughts of duty

much as a single tear, even for silly reasons like eating all of her snack. I increase my purrs, and Ella glares at me. “That isn’t fair,

want it, but you need it.” I answer sternly, and Ella takes up a mutinous

be over before you know it. I won’t make us stay a minute longer than we have

voice thick with emotion. “But for

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