The Werewolf Bodyguard (Moonbound Book 2) by Krystal Shannan, Camryn Rhys Page B

He wanted her.
    Aria took his hands and bent her body, kissing him, holding him. He panted into her mouth. He wanted her.
    “You weren’t kidding about the distraction,” he whispered, flicking his tongue inside her mouth. “Maybe I could be persuaded.”
    She smiled and gripped his hands tighter. In a low voice, she said, “ Chun tú Geallaim mo chroí agus anam go deo .”
    Something moved inside him and a burning sensation on his wrists made him try to pull his hands away, but she had hold of them so tightly. Aria’s ice-blue eyes bored into his.
    “I’m sorry, Marco.” She closed her eyes and repeated, “ Chun tú Geallaim mo chroí agus anam go deo .”
    The fire soon took his whole body and Aria released his hands, apologizing again, and running down the street in the direction of his mother’s house.

Chapter Eight
    T he second the spell took hold, she could feel Marco’s familial bond to his mother. Unlike an alpha or mate bond that could be homed in on from anywhere in the world, a familial bond could only be recognized from short distances—maybe a mile at most.
    She gritted her teeth and continued to jog down the sidewalk away from Marco. What she’d done was wrong, but the pack came first. Her alpha’s orders were to find Marco’s mother. Starting the mating bond was the only way. Aria prayed he wouldn’t hate her for what she’d done when he realized the significance.
    The bond was only half formed. Physical only. Marco’s racing heart. His out-of-breath shock from the power of the spell washing over them. She could feel all of it as if it were her own heart. Her own lungs burning for oxygen.
    Once she and Marco slept together—for real—the second band of tattoos would appear and the bond would solidify between them. Then and only then would they share an emotional connection as well as physical.
    Aria stopped in front of one house and took a deep breath. The magick was stronger. But still a little farther. This was definitely the right street.
    Her feet vibrated. Marco was pursuing her now. She could feel each step he took as if it were her own. The dual sensations—hers mixed with his—was confusing, but necessary. If she let go of the focus she had on him, she’d lose the connection to his mom.
    Aria leaped forward, she had to stay ahead of Marco. His feet pounded on the pavement behind her.
    “What did you do to me?” he growled, quickly closing the gap.
    She was only a few strides ahead now.
    A sudden wash of magick flowed over her and she pivoted, avoiding his long arms by a hairsbreadth and dashed up the driveway she’d just passed. It had to be his mother. The bond tugged at her the same way her bond to her mother used to.
    Aria knocked on the door and braced for impact.
    Marco’s hands closed around her upper arms. “What is wrong with me? I can feel…you…what you feel.” He let go of her and held up both arms. “And what the fuck is up with this insta-ink Celtic-looking shit?”
    “I’ll explain everything, I promise. But we had to find your mother.”
    His eyes widened and he looked at the front door they were standing next to. She could hear footsteps inside the house. “No. I said, no.” He grabbed her hand and yanked her of the front stoop.
    She wrenched her hand from his grasp and winced. “This isn’t a choice you get to make. My alpha ordered me to—”
    “I don’t know who you are, but get the fuck off my lawn or I’m calling the cops.”
    Aria turned. A small female stood in the doorway aiming a shotgun straight at them.
    A moment later the gun muzzle lowered. “Marco?”
    “Ma’am.” Aria took a step forward. “Please. We need to speak with you.”
    His mother’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared. “No. I told you never to come here. Ever. He’ll come. You can’t do this to me. To my family. I found peace.”
    Aria glared. “You don’t look like you found peace.” She pointed to the shotgun. “I need you to come with us. My alpha