Page 69 of Brutal Mate

Relief washed over Kane. Fated mates were so much more than mere soulmates, but if that was what it took to make Miley understand, so be it.

“Sort of. Fated mates are way more powerful than that, though,” he said, gripping hold of Miley’s hands. “When a wolf meets their fated mate there is no keeping them apart. They can feel each other, sense each other’s emotions, and practically become one. They know when the other is hurt, and if one of them should die, well, let's just say the other doesn't usually last for very long afterwards.”

Miley's face grew pale. “So if I had died in transition?”

Kane's insides twisted in an unbelievably painful manner. Just the thought of it cut him deep. He reached up and stroked Miley's cheek. “I couldn't have borne it.”

She placed her hand over his, looked him in the eye and smiled, “Then it's a good thing I made it.”

Kane nodded in agreement.

For a few moments, they merely sat, gazing into each other's eyes. Then Miley asked, “So what does that mean for us now? Where do we go from here?”

Kane's chest tightened, his heart skipping a beat. He had spent so long taking one day at a time, putting one foot in front of another, concentrating only on the task at hand, that he wasn't entirely sure how to answer that.

But it came to him quickly. He cleared his throat and said with a shrug, “Well, your parents wanted a wedding, and we are fated mates, so I guess that means the next logical step is to get married?”

Seeing her expression, he started to panic and added, “I mean, would you consider marrying me? The pack would take you in, and we'd keep the promises made to your parents. I would anyway, even if you didn’t want—”

Miley glowered at him. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Kane, is this some kind of lame ass excuse for a marriage proposal? Because if it is, it really does suck.”

Kane gritted his teeth. There was the fiery, stubborn, kickass Miley he had come to know and love. She was even more so now that she had her wolf to back her up. He could feel the beast just rearing beneath the surface of her skin and saw them both staring back at him from her eyes, offering a daring challenge.

One that he was all too willing to accept. Getting serious, he jumped off the bed and dropped down on one knee.

Before she could say a word or offer a protest, he grabbed her hand and asked, “Miley Peters, will you do me the grand honor of becoming my wife?”

His heart hammered so hard in his chest it felt like the repeated kickback of a gun, so much so that it was actually painful.

Miley scowled at him, her gaze thoughtful. And the longer he remained there, the longer he was certain she was going to reject him.

He couldn't blame her even if she did. What did he expect, after all she had been through? She had every right to deny him when she had been forced into so much already. Fate had a funny way of doing things if they had always been meant to be, anyway.

“No,” she said simply, and just as Kane's heart started to shatter into a million tiny pieces, she said, “But I will be your fated mate and your wife.”

“Miley Peters, you are a real bitch, do you know that?” he growled angrily yet with true and total affection.

Leaning over the bed until her breasts hung like enticing little pillows against the mattress, she gripped his face in her hands and smirked, “Yes, but it appears I am your bitch, Kane, so will you have me?”

She looked him deep in the eye then, her gaze so tenderly intense that he couldn't even speak. And so, he kissed her instead, urging her back onto the bed.

She welcomed him on top of her, just as she had before, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him to her.

It was only when the kiss broke and she whispered, “Will you?” that Kane was finally able to speak.

“Yes,” he breathed, “Always.”

Epilogue - Miley

Two Months Later

With the full moon high in the sky and the rest of the pack sharing in the usual bonfire celebrations, Miley and Kane ran through the woods, their wolves elated to stretch their legs.

It had been two months of pure unadulterated happiness on Miley’s part. And she suspected it had been for Kane, too, though his work protecting the pack often took him away for long hours at a time.

The full moon, however, was one night they were certain to share together, and Miley enjoyed every second of it, frolicking through the trees, playing and teasing, nipping at Kane's thick black tail before darting off in this direction or that.

It was a time of fun and laughter and love, one she wished would never end, even as they shifted at the base of an oak tree and settled down in each other's arms to catch their breath.

---