All Chapters of Shattered Bonds: Chapter 371 - Chapter 380

I’m not even sure what to think about what happened last night. I’d finally seen the man behind the armor, and wow, what a man. Under that passive exterior, there is one very passionate man, and I was thrilled, truly thrilled to find out that my mate is so ardent. All the way up until he ran from me, apologizing as if he hadn’t just given me everything I’ve been hoping for. Well, not everything, I had a serious ache between my thighs when he raced out of the room. And he’d left me wanting more, much, much more.Of course, then I’d felt embarrassed, humiliated that I’d done something wrong or worse, that I was right and he just doesn’t want me that way. He only wants me as his Guardian.I’d gone back to my room and showered off Emerson’s release. I’m not sure how he’ll feel about my scent being coated with his. If his hasty retreat is any indication, he won’t be happy about it, but I can’t do anything about that.I’m not sure how long I’d been asleep when I was awakened by scratching at

I come awake slowly, feeling the pain in my side.‘Minka?’‘I’m healing us. Now that the bullet is out, I’m healing, but the bones will take some time.’‘How many bones broken?’ I ask her.‘Two ribs, multiple fractures in them. They cracked every time we took a hit, but we’re okay. I just struggled to heal us around the bullet and try to keep our ribs from puncturing our lungs.’‘You’re amazing, Minka!’‘You’re pretty amazing too, Quinn.’I open my eyes and I’m disappointed to see Aunt Grace and Riley, but not Emerson.“Hey! There she is!” Riley says, coming over.“How do you feel?” Aunt Grace asks me.“Sore, but Minka says she’s healing us. She said they got the bullet out?”“Yep. The doc said Minka was healing their incisions faster than they could stitch you up,” Riley says.“It’s good to be a Guardian,” I say, sitting up gingerly as pain shoots up my side. “What happened at Shadow Falls? Is everyone ok?” I ask, suddenly remembering my family.“Yes. Emlyn apparently did some incredi

“Lady Luna Quinn!”“Lady Luna Quinn!”“Lady Luna Quinn!”Three distinct voices call out to me.“Yes, Little Lady Sprites,” I say without thinking. I haven’t even looked up when I hear them gasp.I quickly look over to see their eyes are wide and their mouths are open looking like big ‘O’s. I’m on the verge of apologizing when they start speaking again.“Did you hear what she called us?”“It’s like she knows us.”“Like she SEES us.”“She called us little, and we are little.”“She called us lady and we are ladies,”“She called us sprites and we are sprites.”“It’s perfect!”“More than perfect.”“It’s incredible!”The begin to flit away as I sigh in relief that I didn’t hurt their feelings with such an unconscious response to them asking for me.“Wait. Did you want to talk to me?” I ask them.“Oh no!”“Not now!’“Now we have to go tell everyone.”“They’ll be so jealous.”“They’ll want to be seen.”“And heard,” they say, flitting away.I chuckle and turn, seeing Emerson watching the sprite

Damn my mate is sexy. And strong. It’s smart to never forget just how strong a Guardian is, and to never underestimate one. I don’t usually go at Quinn with my full strength, unwilling to hurt her in any way, but she couldn’t focus this morning, and she needed a challenge. Joke’s on me, she’s been holding out on me too.Landing on your back hard, getting the wind knocked out you, and having that moment of being unable to breathe while your mate pins you to the ground and claims her victory over you in front of your entire pack is equal parts thrilling and humbling. I’m going to have to start pushing Quinn harder in our sparring sessions so she can push me harder. I need to up my game if I’m going to be worthy of having Quinn as a mate.I do feel better when Uncle Liam lets me know that not only he, but all of Quinn’s brothers, have fallen to her with that move. Now I know to watch out for it. But it makes me wonder, if she’s never used that move on me, what else is she holding back on.

It’s been over a week since my parents were here. I’ve been trying to get the courage to do what my mother said, to demand what I want from Emerson when we’re alone, and I think I’ve done it a bit. I’ve noticed that he touches me more often, especially when we’re alone. He’ll stroke my hand, sometimes my cheek and lately he’s started kissing me goodnight. Each time, the kiss seems to get deeper and I can feel him responding to me, but he’s still not willing to go any further.I’m in my office one morning when my twin calls to invite me to Cohen’s birthday party. It’s so good to hear from her and as usual, she realizes immediately that something is wrong. I had told her of my epic fail on trying to seduce Emerson.“I wouldn’t call it a failure. For Emerson, those were huge strides, but perhaps he needs to go slower. Going from total control to no control couldn’t have been easy for your stuffy Alpha.”From anyone else, I would have probably growled or put them in their place, but this i