The second she was back in my arms, I was immediately able to breathe easier. I lowered my chin to rest at the top of her head and allowed myself to breathe in the scent of her, of us as she sat quietly in my lap where I had placed her.

With my hands resting on her hips, I watched as she examined her forearm and hand where her tattoo was. She twisted her arm this way and that looking at the beautiful whirls and swirls of black ink on her skin, looking intriguingly at the eye tattooed in the center of her palm.

I chuckled softly as without a word she took my left hand off her hip to lift it to her eye level so that she could examine my own tattoo, the twin to hers.

I shook my head incredulously as she once more pulled the blanket up to cover herself. The wolf in me wanted to tell her that she was mine and that I could look at her naked body as much as I damn well pleased. But I stuck him behind a wall and allowed her this small measure of comfort.

"I'm sorry my removing your clothes made you uncomfortable but I needed to assess your injuries and you were covered in dirt and blood."

She shook her head as she turned slightly to face me. "No, don't apologize. It's ok. You're my Mate, I know I shouldn't be like this. I'm just not used to anyone seeing me without clothes on."

I brought my hand off her hip to push her hair back behind her ear so that it wouldn't block my view of her beautiful face. "Mate or not. It's still your body and you have every right to feel that way." As I spoke I pulled my hoodie up and over my head handing it to her knowing that my scent on it would help calm her.

I was puzzled as her eyes widened in shock at my words. She studied my face for several long minutes before finally taking the hoodie and putting it on. Her body visibly relaxed as she breathed in my scent and her wolf relaxed. "Wow. We really are in a different pack." She said as she turned to look at me once more.