O Bucată Din Inima Mea

The moment that their eyes met, molten heat settled into Bowen's belly. She knew that he wanted her. Or at least he had wanted her. Whether or not that desire was still within the black and blue brute, Bowen didn't know. What she did know was that she had been avoiding him so that she could try to sort out the fucked up mess that was her thoughts. It all came back to a few factors. One: Artorias would be leader of the Hallows. Briar would be his mate. Bowen would be a third wheel. Two: Haiku had definitely stolen a piece of her heart and she was trying to figure out how all four of them could fit into the same equation. Three: Art's girlfriend had been the one to tell Bowen and the girl had been thoroughly embarrassed by that.

Bowen stared at Arts big, strong paws. She remembered the feel of those pads against her cheek as he praised her for bringing back their mother's pelt. She remembered the feel of his shivering body pressed tightly against her own as she tried to keep him alive. Bowen's rate of breathing increased somewhat and viridian eyes widened as she stared downward. Bowen's mouth felt dry, yet she had so much to say. Anxiety slithered within her belly like a snake as she fought for the words that would make things right between them.

What she hadn't expected was for Artorias to step around her and hurry away. Bowen gasped as though she'd been punched in the gut. He could have screamed at her, berated her, told her that he was disappointed. Anything but this. Pretending that she didn't exist hurt more than she could have imagined. Very hypocritical of her, but she couldn't help the feeling. It couldn't end like this. It just couldn't!

"Artorias wait!" Bowen spun, quickly coming up behind the larger wolf as he eventually slowed to a stop. "I'm so sorry," she began, her voice soft and wavering with the unbridled emotion rearing up within her. "I didn't know how to face you." Especially with Briar in the castle. She made it much more difficult to express herself to Artorias just as she imagined that Haiku was making it difficult for Artorias to express himself to her. Or maybe he didn't want to talk to her. Even if he didn't, she needed him to hear her out.

"Briar told me what you asked of her. What you asked about me. It's terrifying, Art." She admitted aloud, taking yet another step towards her brother. "Terrifying because I would like nothing more than to lose myself with you. From the moment that I returned, I knew that things had changed. I've had to stifle my lust and desire for you from the very moment that you found me in the food stores." A shudder shot through the young fae as she remembered the hurricane of emotions that had battered her mind that day. "Hearing that you wanted me too... It changes everything. You and I, we'll never be the same. And that scares me, Artorias. It scares me like nothing else." Another step closer, then another. With each step, her voice became softer. "I don't want us to resent one another. I don't want to damage what you have with Briar." Bowen took a deep breath and ended with, "I don't want to hurt you, Torias." He could walk away from her now if he wished, but she had said what needed to be said. Bowen went silent, waiting, fearing what might come.

"Bowen"