Werewolf Compilations novel Chapter 78

"I'm going to hate myself for this," he murmurs, his hands dragging down my arms. "I don't deserve you, not after what I've done."

His hands come to my face, brushing back my hair and caressing my cheeks, one drops and the other hand runs down to my jaw. I grab his stray hand and hold it in between my own, covering it and bringing it to the center of my chest. "I'll forgive you, I just need time. I need to see that you're willing to open up to me. No more trying to push me away. No more trying to hurt me."

I feel different. I have never felt like this before. There is an anxious feeling growing inside of me, making my chest hurt. Looking at James now, looking at some unknown version of him I didn't know existed, I feel anxious—nervous in ways that I can't quite understand. He's hurt me, I know that. People hurt others. I've hurt people in my life, maybe not as harshly as he's hurt me, but I believe in forgiveness, I think.

I didn't see this coming—maybe that's what has me on edge, or maybe it's our closeness. Maybe it's our closeness and the fact that he could be willing to try.

My eyes study his face, enjoying themselves. I have never been so close to him besides times when he's tried to push me away, but I don't think he's pushing away anymore. It frightens me. I am in unknown territory. I was used to the fact that I would be alone for my life, but I never prepared myself for this.

He is capable of hurting me again, I can't forget that and I won't forget that. No matter how blind the bond makes me, I will not let it weaken me, not anymore, not when I am giving him a chance. I have to be alert for this. "What are you scared of?" I ask him, needing a break from my thoughts. "You make it seem like you're taking a risk."

His hand falls from my jaw but I keep the other close to my heart. "I should have never taken you from your home. I should have never trapped you here. I need to bring you home where you belong, where you can be happy."

When he says it, it brings a sour taste to my mouth. When he says that he needs to bring me home, I don't want to go home. "But you don't want to let me go," I tell him, wanting to remind him.