Liana stretched out her injured leg for Eddie. She sat close to her and pulled out the supplies she would need form her emergency kit bag.
“You do this often?” Liana asked.
Eddie carefully pushed up the pant leg and bit back a growl. Liana’s soft brown calf was perfectly shaped. It would look good wrapped around Eddie’s waist.
She froze and had to control her racing heart. Thoughts such as those should not existwhen Liana was injured and trusting her to help her. Eddie swallowed hard and braced Liana’s foot on her leg so she could start wrapping it.
“Life as a shifter means there are going to be plenty of injuries,” she murmured.
“But I thought shifters healed quickly?” Liana asked with wide eyes.
Eddie smirked at the cuteness of her expression. “We do, but it’s not instant. What may take a human weeks to a month to heal, may take us a few days.” She certainly had bandaged up enough rambunctious bear cubs who’d forgotten they were not invisible. Or even an enforcer or two who’d got hurt in the line of duty. It was the alpha’s job to ensure everyone was protected and safe.
“That’s amazing,” Liana breathed. Her leg jerked as Eddie was in the middle of wrapping her ankle.
“Hold still,” Eddie instructed.
“Sorry. Just a little ticklish.” Liana looked away and stared at the fireplace.
Eddie continued to work in silence. She wanted to ensure the wrap would secure Liana’s ankle to allow her to put some of her weight on it.
“You said that outside was dangerous. What did you mean by that?” Liana asked.
“It is. Something has been prowling in the woods near the roads, and I don’t think it was a normal wolf.”
“What would make it not normal?” Liana’s head snapped back to her.
Those big brown eyes of hers locked in on Eddie, taking her breath away.
“Desperation. Hunger,” Eddie said. She finished wrapping the bandage around Liana’s ankle. She reached for the wide tape that she was going to use to hold the bandage in place. This would also lend some support. “Besides, if I hadn’t found you when I did, you could have passed out from the cold.”
“And then…” Liana’s eyes were wide as saucers now.
Her bottom lip trembled, and Eddie could have kicked her own ass. The slight scent of fear reached her from Liana. She hadn’t meant to scare the woman.
“You probably wouldn’t have woken up.”
Liana blinked and looked away. Her chest rose and fell fast. The magnitude of her crashmust have sunk in for her. Eddie reached out and took her hand in hers.
“But you’re safe now.”
Liana’s gaze came back to her. The fire cracked, illuminating her smooth skin, warm complexion, and dark lashes. Her hair was wild and free with the ringlets shining bright with their gold tips. Eddie couldn’t stop staring at Liana. This woman captivated her. They had only been in each other’s presence for a short time, and already she knew she wanted her.
Needed her.
Wanted to put her mark on her.
Liana leaned forward slowly. Eddie’s nostrils flared as the sweet aroma of her human’s arousal greeted her. A deep, rumbling growl escaped her. It was barely audible, but Liana heard it. She froze in place and tilted her head to the side with a small smile on her lips.
“Are you hungry?” Liana asked.
Eddie blinked then let out a short laugh. She wasn’t going to admit what she was truly hungry for, so she lied.
“A bit. I don’t remember the last time I ate. I was reading when I heard the crash,” Eddie said. Well, she didn’t lie all the way. The little white liedidn’t sit well with her, but Liana wasn’t a shifter so she wouldn’t be able to detect the non-truth.
The wind chose that moment to howl. The strength of it rattled the cabin windows.
“Please tell me that was the wind and not a wolf or something looking to eat us,” Liana muttered.