"I'm sorry, I won't do it again," she begged, her voice so soft that he might have missed it if he hadn't been paying attention.
"Please accept my apologies."
Her pleading made Traec's heart to clench. He willed his hands to relax and his wolf to calm down. He hung his head in shame at the possibility of losing control long enough for his mate to become even more afraid of him.
"No, that's fine. If you're hungry, just let me know. Let's get you home so I can make you a nice dinner before you go to bed, okay? "
His companion whimpered softly and began to breathe deeply, trying to squeeze her eyes shut. He tilted his head to the side and looked at her with intrigue. Everything in him begged him to wrap her in his arms and hold her until her fear settled down.
Traec fought off his wolf once more before he could lunge at her and curled her into him, realizing he needed to be much more cautious than he had previously thought. He noticed his mate's breathing was slowing, but she didn't open her eyes.
When he checked Lily, her body had sunk to the ground and then realized she had managed to pass out again. His steps were nearly silent as he tried to approach her, just in case she awoke and he startled her. He carefully wandered back to the front of the building to his vehicle, slowly lifting her weightless body into his arms.
When Lily opened her eyes, she felt a sharp pain shoot through her head. In her new surroundings, the light was both blinding and unwelcoming. She rolled onto her side, trying to split her eyes open to see where she was. Memories of covering her face with cotton balls flashed through her mind.
She was starving, and they looked like marshmallows to her.
As she shoved them down her throat, Lily didn't even taste them. She was already slouched over the toilet, forcing them from her body when she realized they weren't food. Then he started walking in on her. All she could do at first was keep staring at his body.
He was the tallest man she'd ever met, even taller than her previous Master. His stature was matched by the large, defined muscles that gripped his arms. His hair was light brown, and he had a perfect, straight nose. His jawline was sharp and defined, but he possessed a rugged beauty rather than a pretty boy face. She recognized his intense yellow eyes pinning her down. What surprised her the most was how pleasant he was with her and how little fear he instilled in her.
She could feel his rage rising as he actually realized what she had done, but no discipline had been meted out for her heinous crime.
In any case, not yet. Lily knew better than to eat anything without first obtaining permission. But she couldn't resist the urge to eat something. She remembered how this big dude had a calming effect on he as she felt as if she was betraying herself and everything she had managed to learn by feeling at ease in his presence.
For the very first time, she had to remind herself that she needed to be cautious around men. She had to purposefully recall everything she'd learned about how to avoid making him angry.
Lily blinked her drowsiness away, taking in her surroundings. She discovered herself on a couch, draped in a thick quilt. It started to smell like pine and the outdoor life, and it was surprisingly calming. Her fingertips quivered at the thought of trying to reach out to the warmth of the fire, which was illuminating the room in an orange hue.
She realized she was in a cabin in the woods of some kind; huge windows revealed a vast wilderness with no end in sight. Just beyond the huge glass, a light cast a soft glow, the snow glistening in its weak ray. The fading sunlight led her to believe it was evening.
"Good morning," a deep husky voice said, surprising her with how close it sounded.
Lily stood up straight on the couch, holding back a yelp. She noticed a couch parked in front of a doors leading to what she believed was the kitchen.
"Oh," she murmured to herself, having returned her gaze to the man at the far end of the chair.
He looked exactly like he did the first time she saw him, except he was dressed differently. His leather jacket clung to his broad shoulders, stretching against his muscle strength. While he sat, his dark jeans clung to his hips, and Lily saw the bright white shirt flashing out from under the jacket, loose at his skinny legs.
Lily's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of his eyes. He had golden eyes which seemed to see right into your soul. He just stopped and looked at her, his chiseled jaw clenched. She met his gaze before his power overtook her. When she got her sense back, she decided to lower her gaze, embarrassed at having met his gaze squarely.
"Hello, my name is Traec," the man said softly, his baritone voice barely audible.
She gestured lightly and knelt on the couch, trying to lower her head even further. It was the stance her previous owner preferred for her. Traec's eyes were piercing Lily's skin.
"What is your name?"
"Whatever else you want to call me, sir," Lily said quietly, remembering the right words to say to please him.
She didn't want to irritate him; he looked like he could take woman in half with two fingers.
"I'd rather address you by your given name."
Lily refrained from looking up to see if he seemed to be serious. Men don't let her tell them how to do it, so this had to have some kind of test. On the other hand, sat perfectly still.
With her previous Master, she simply had to remain motionless until he became bored. Then she was supposed to go get his belongings or do whatever he wanted her to do at the time. She was punished and led back to work if she disturbed him or managed to make an unprovoked sound.