Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(102)
Katherine blanched. “Everyone knows what happened?”
“No one knows the exact details of the attack except for the pack, but everyone else has been informed that Cain injured you and Sophie in an effort to hurt me and that he played a large part in my parents’ deaths.” Bastian nervously ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I admit that some have been calling for me to take over position of head alpha after Cain’s treachery was revealed, but I’ve just been so preoccupied with you, Katherine – so worried that I’ve barely been able to function – and I haven’t given them a response yet.”
Katherine looked down, suddenly finding her fingernails very interesting. “But I’m awake now – clearly on the mend. Won’t you need to give them an answer?” She paused. “What are you going to tell them?”
Bastian frowned, refusing to answer for a long moment. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “I really don’t.”
Forcing herself to meet his azure gaze, Katherine immediately saw the fear and apprehension in the man’s blue eyes. But she could see longing there too.
She knew what she had to do and chose her words carefully. “Bastian, I know I never knew them, but your mom and dad… they’d have to have been crazy not to be proud of the man you’ve become. They loved you with all their hearts – you and Sophie – and I have no doubt that they’re loving you still from wherever it is people go when they die. No matter what it is you decide to do, that won’t change.” She took a deep breath. “But,” she added hesitantly, “I think that your father would have wanted this for you. He would’ve deemed no one but you worthy enough of being his true predecessor.”
Katherine watched Bastian’s reaction to her declaration very closely, knowing there was a chance that what she’d said would offend him. She knew nothing of Bastian’s relationship with his parents when they were alive after all. As her words soaked in, however, Katherine could literally see the tension leave Bastian’s shoulders and she knew she’d said what he’d needed to hear.
“You really think that?” he asked.
Katherine grinned. “Yeah.”
Bastian allowed a hint of a smile to creep onto his face. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I’m right,” Katherine assured, but her grin drooped a little at the edges as she allowed anxiety to worm its way into her heart. Becoming head alpha was a huge commitment. She knew that mountains of responsibilities and duties came with the job. It would be a huge draw on his time. “But will I ever see you?” The question flew past Katherine’s lips without permission. She could feel heat flood her cheeks as she realized what she’d asked. “I mean you’ll have so much to do,” she quickly explained. “Becoming head alpha… it’s a big deal.”
Bastian’s eyes softened. “Are you kidding? Whether I become head alpha or not, I’m never letting you out of my sight again. Nothing good ever comes of it.”
Katherine wasn’t sure whether she should have been relieved by the assurance that Bastian planned on spending plenty of time with her or insulted by the insinuation that she couldn’t take care of herself. She hadn’t quite decided when Bastian completely caught her off guard by tenderly trailing a finger down her left cheek. “You’re so pretty when you blush.”
Katherine’s already red face burned fiercely at Bastian’s words, but the unexpected compliment didn’t fluster her enough to allow the raised skin she could feel beneath Bastia’s lone finger to go unnoticed.
“What is that?”
Bastian jerked his hand back like he’d been burnt. “It’s just a small scar. Don’t worry, it’s faint,” he attempted to assure her, “and will fade even more with time.”
Katherine wasn’t exactly comforted by that. “Can I see?” she asked.
It was obvious that Bastian wanted to deny her request, but he sighed and reluctantly stood. “Hold on.” He disappeared into the room’s adjoined bathroom before swiftly emerging with a handheld mirror clutched in his fingers. He reclaimed his spot on the floor by Katherine’s bed and held the small, oval mirror up for her.
Paying no mind to the horrid state of her hair or the feverish look to her cheeks, Katherine stared at the so called small scar. Cain’s claw had certainly got her good. The raised line of skin was faint, like Bastian had said, but it was extensive and stretched all the way from the outside corner of her left eyebrow to her chin.
Katherine knew it was stupid to cry over something as silly as a scar, but could feel the moisture begin to build in her eyes anyway. Bastian snatched the mirror away when he saw it, grabbing the small brunette’s chin and forcing her to look at him.
“You’re beautiful – the prettiest girl in the entire village. The scar only adds to your allure. It’s the mark of a fighter – a warrior.”
Katherine managed to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay, but couldn’t subdue the surge of emotion that the man’s words caused to rise within her. “Bastian?”
“Yes?”
Katherine took a deep breath before asking the question she’d been dying to know the answer to since she’d met the man. “What do I smell like to you?”
A long nerve-wracking minute passed before he finally responded, but as he spoke, she could hear nothing but sincerity in his voice. “You smell warm and sweet – like flowers blooming in early spring. Like rose petals as they open and welcome the nurturing rays of the sun. You smell like joy and happiness and home and… just everything. Like everything anyone could ever want.”