Kyle leaned forward and enfolded Hollie’s clammy hands in both of his. “The Black Blade pack will pay for what they did to you,” he said grimly. “They’re all guilty. They were all complicit in the bullying and the abuse.”
“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” Hollie said. “You and your friends...”
“You’re Kyle’s mate. You’re our sister. We protect our own,” Shane said simply.
“I’m not Kyle’s mate,” Hollie repeated.
Shane quirked a brow at her and shrugged.
The lady doth protest too much.
Hollie frowned at that snide voice in her head. But she couldn’t help thinking that the voice was right.
She kept saying that she wasn’t Kyle’s mate, yet a part of her was really happy and proud to be wearing Kyle’s mark. She wanted it to be a true mate mark, not just an excuse to get away from her pack. Kyle had told her that if they weren’t truly mated by the next full moon, the mate mark would just fade away.
She didn’t want it to fade. She wanted it to stay.
She wanted to stay. With Kyle.
Stealing glances at Kyle, she admired his handsome profile and strong, powerful physique. Kyle was kind, brave and caring, and she felt so safe and comfortable with him. In fact, she felt truly and completely at ease and at home here.
For the first time in her life, she felt a sense of home and belonging.
Is this what it feels like to be loved?
Love. The word was foreign and achingly familiar. She had given up on the idea of love, and she had resigned herself to never having a real family.
She was an orphan. A half-breed, an outcast.
The pack had made her feel unworthy and unwanted. Hollie didn’t mind being alone. She had planned to leave the pack when she had saved up enough and just live a quiet, peaceful life by herself.
But along came Kyle and her world exploded with color and hope.
She never realized what a drab, gloomy existence she had been leading. But now that Kyle had saved her and carried her lovingly into his world, she felt her heart fill with hope and strength. The world and her future suddenly looked so much brighter.
All of a sudden, she had people who were willing to stand up and fight for her. These were good people, and they were full of good cheer, courage and honor.
These were people she wanted to be around, people she wanted in her life.
Hollie pressed her hand to her mouth to stopper a sudden, uncontrollable sob.
Shane, Ian and Kyle stopped talking at once.
Kyle was by her side in a heartbeat.
“Hey,” he said gently. “What’s wrong, Hollie?”
“Nothing,” she said, swiping at her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just...tired I guess. And a little emotional right now.”
Shane and Ian patted her on the shoulder and said, “It’s late. We should be leaving anyway. You have a good rest, Hollie. We’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded and gave them a warm, watery smile.
After Shane and Ian left, Kyle went to put clean sheets on the bed in the guest room and handed Hollie a towel, a new toothbrush and one of his freshly laundered t-shirts.
“You know where everything is, so...make yourself comfortable,” he said. “This is your home.”
She thanked him and went to the bathroom to wash up. The warm water and soap felt so good on her skin. After brushing her teeth, she took a long look at herself in the mirror.
She was wearing Kyle’s large t-shirt like a dress, but she thought she looked rather sexy in it. Hollie smiled at her reflection, and realized with surprise and sadness that she hadn’t smiled in such a long time.
When she padded out into the living room, Kyle was waiting for her with a mug of hot chocolate.
“A little nightcap?” he asked, handing her the mug.
“Thank you, Kyle,” Hollie said sincerely. “I can’t say it enough. You saved me...”
Kyle stopped her and said firmly, “You survived for so long in the Black Blade pack on your own. Give yourself some credit. You didn’t become mean and vicious like the rest of your pack mates. You remained brave, truthful and compassionate. That is no mean feat. The truth is, you saved yourself, Hollie.”