Chapter 275
Just then, the healer, still standing beside us, cleared her throat. “If I may…” We all turned to look at her, and she said, “If you’re planning to mark each other, you must know that marking a mate and then separating immediately is very dangerous for one’s wolf. You could both be severely weakened. Perhaps even permanently.”
My jaw clenched. Dammit. The healer was right–yet another fucking hurdle for us to overcome.
The light in Natalia’s eyes guttered as she came to the same realization I had, but she didn’t argue. Once again, always the strong and level–headed one, she nodded and took my hand. “Come on. Let’s go pack your things.”
We left the twins with David and one of the healers and went back to our room. Natalia sat on the bed while I threw clothes and weapons into my travel pack. Neither of us talked much. What was there to say?
“Take the curved sword,” Natalia said suddenly.
I looked up from where I was rolling up a spare shirt. “What?”
“The sword David’s been training me with. Take it.” She gestured toward where it was leaning against the wall. “It’s good for close combat. Better than what you usually carry.”
I picked up the sword and tested its weight. She was right–it was well–balanced, sharp. Good for the kind of fighting I’d probably be doing.
“Thank you.”
“Just… bring it back in one piece.”
“Are you talking about the sword, or me?” I asked, managing a small smirk.
Natalia’s eyes shimmered. “Both.”
I strapped the sword to my pack and kept packing. Natalia watched me the entire time without speaking, although I knew it was more because of her sore throat and the tears threatening to spill and not for lack of
words.
I was just finishing up when someone knocked on the door. “Alpha Andrei?” It was the same messenger from before. “Your escort is ready.”
“Five minutes,” I called back.
Natalia stood and walked over to me. “Five minutes isn’t enough.”
“It has to be.”
She reached up and kissed me. I dropped my pack and pulled her against me, trying to memorize the feel of her in my arms. The way she fit perfectly against my chest. The way her hair still smelled like the flowers from the festival.
When we finally broke apart, we were both out of breath and far less inclined to let go than before. But we had to.
“Come back to me,” she whispered, reluctantly releasing me.
“Always.”
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Chapter 275
+25 Bonus
I picked up my pack and slung it over my shoulder, Natalia followed me to the door, then down the corridors toward the compound entrance. We stopped to say goodbye to the twins–Jane cried again, and Maz mumbled something about missing me–then continued to where my escort was waiting,
“Send word when you can,” Natalia said. “Let me know you’re safe,”
“I will.”
“And don’t do anything stupid.”
I managed a small smile. “Define stupid.”
“You know what I mean.”
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