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And worse, up until the very end, he'd convinced himself that it was his responsibility to feed her No wonder he'd been so fucked up

That cottage still stood today in the Woods of Murk, a constant reminder of his weakness

"Ruelle took much from me," he said, the understatement obvious

"But now you've a future to look forward to," Munro said "Everyone likes yourjust anyfeels different now that she's in my life Munro, I think I can bed Chloe" He'd kept his beast on the leash, hadn't wanted to asm

He'd been there, mindful He'd won the day If Will could take Chloe like a normal man, Ruelle would finally lose

"You think you can bed her?" Munro looked uncomfortable "You'd best be sure If your beast roseit would be a horrific way for a azed around-"intie With her, I can"

"But the risk!"

He exhaled a gust of breath "Aye, I know You're right Wishful thinking onof his beer "Hey, dinna Garreth get a talisman from the witches to curb his beast?"

Munro nodded "Doona know all the details Just knoould no' recommend the HOW in matters of the beast"

"I canna believe I'odda it into the ocean

Though hated, that collar had taught him much about himself He'd realized how much he depended on his beast, how much it defined him

"You'd wear it once more?"

"For her? Oh, aye" After the day he'd had with Chloe, Will was shamed to have confused what he'd felt for Ruelle with aa soul-deep need for Chloe, stronger than he'd ever iined Chest bowed out, he said, "She's bluidy perfect forabout her"

Again Munro looked less than co verra fast Even by matehood standards"

Chloe had yanked Will back fro backward, falling for her Will shrugged "When you know, you know"

The more he learned about her, the more fascinated he became She'd never had a nip of alcohol, because she'd been so serious about training She was a sirly clothes the clan had brought her She was constantly fiddling with her skirt, and when she'd caught hi down her billowy blouse, she'd been startled, as if she'd forgotten she was showing skin Will figured his lass was most accustomed to a jersey and cleats

At his earliest opportunity, he would take her past the wall and buy her a neardrobe of whatever she fancied He didn't give a da as she came naked to their bed

These discoveries cah innocent, his ry way she'd stared at his cockHe scrubbed his hand over his face, stifling a groan His Chloe had wanted to suck it

He couldn't remember the last blow job he'd received They'd been short-lived, because his beast would rise without fail And the beast had no patience for them, would always turn the fe

If Will could seize control from his beast, he could look forward to a thousand new experiences with Chloe

A fresh start with her-in all ways

"So tellabout her" Munro drank his whiskey "Is this no' the way of it? The attraction to aI always thought you were cos about your female because she was yourabout her"

Munro looked a shade skeptical

Will couldn't tell hi how badly he'd needed a woman to look into his eyes and trust that he would take her where she needed to go So he said, "She's fierce as a wee Lykae And nothing like Webb Was outraged over the things I told her about her father She actually wanted to knoas doing after findingthe piss"

"Nay! And she likes ive us a shot"

"Even though you plan to kill her father?"

Will was conflicted on this, knowing he probably oughtn't to kill his mate's sire, no matter the circuet to hi to do about her ot to find a way to turn her" All day, the nized how perfect she was for him, the more he'd dreaded her mortality

Theoretically, Chloe could be turned into a Lorean, but the catalyst for the transformation was death

If Will tried to turn her into his kind, he would have to bite her-then kill her If shethat she wouldn't be able to control it for years If ever Va hu her into the type of creature who'd killed their riazed over at her coged at her wee skirt

"What about the Olyain, Will felt a flare of pride for hisPride was not an emotion he was accustomed to these days "I wouldn't turn her until after the Gaure out soet her there" The only way to take the heat off her would be to find Webb, feed him to the Pravus Which he hadn't been able to do before-and there was scant ti fro her sooner rather than later Mortalsthey perish so readily," Munro said as a flash of sorrow crossed his expression He had his own past tragedies as well "What species were you considering? Va of whiskey "Nix would know"

Will had already put in a call to the soothsayer "I've contacted her"

Munro nodded "In the ht days We can do as we did with Garreth"

Knowing that no cage or chains could keep him from his mate when the s repeatedly-so he couldn't reach his spooked fe to keep her safe" Had Chloe just rubbed her forehead? Will stalked off without another word, hurrying toward her She probably had a headache Judging by co ti?" he asked when he stood before her "Is Ronan pestering you? Do you have a headache?"

"No, not at all" Her words were slurring "Feel great"

His gaze flickered over her face, and his lips curled "Aye, 'cause you're drunk"

She blinked up at him "I am?"

"You've had a dram too much I should no' have let you drink this soon after your injury But you look so healthy, your color so good, I forgot" He swung her up in his arhed Ach, the sound of it! "My azed up at hi'sadorable and sexy at the same time?

As he carried her inside, she said, "So about your first name"

"It's a sore subject," he answered in a dry tone

She grinned "It's Gaelic for William?"