Page 44 of Unforgivable Fate

“Not just someone. Mine. You’re mine.”

“Yes.” She assured him with a smile, “I’m yours and that makes you mine.”

“Don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.”

“It’s a little strange though, right?” Nova raised an eyebrow and he scoffed.

“What? No? What do you mean?”

“Just… I’ve seen a lot of matings in my visions. I thought I knew how they went. I guess I thought I knew how they felt but it’s different with me and you. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Maybe it just feels different because you’re the one actually experiencing the emotions, going through the changes the bond makes inside of us instead of only watching from the sidelines?”

“Maybe.” She bit her lip to hide a smile, “You want to hear something funny?”

“Sure.”

“I’ve always been the little sister. The youngest in my family. The one they all treated like a kid because to them, I was one. They all grew up and found their mates and started families and I was still here, alone, playing babysitter for their date nights like I was a teenager with nothing better to do.” Nova met his gaze and her eyes sparkled, “Being your mate, being bonded to you, it makes me feel weirdly more grown up than I was just a few hours ago.” She giggled. “They can’t call me a kid anymore. Is it strange how happy that makes me?”

He chuckled, “Not at all if that’s how you feel.”

She sighed, “You’re so understanding. I like that about you.”

“I like lots of things about you.” He replied seriously but she only giggled and rolled her eyes again.

“I bet you do.”

“You know what I’d really like right now, if you’re ready?”

She bit her lip teasingly, “I have an idea of what that might be.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” He laughed. “We have all the time in the world for that. I meant I want you to show me your other half. I’d like to meet your wolf.”

“You’re going to stay human while I shift?”

“Just for a minute so I can really take you in. I’m sure that’s about as long as I’ll be able to hold my wolf back.” He watched her carefully, “If that’s not too much for you for one night. We can wait if you want. I know some wolves like to wait to seal the wolf bond on the full moon.”

Nova wiggled, forcing him to release his hold on her as she rolled out of her arms, “Nah, I figure I made you wait long enough. If you’re ready for this, so am I.”

“Are you sure?” He watched as she climbed to her feet and stood before him completely naked and without a single bit of embarrassment.

“Griffin, I’ve told you. I don’t say things I don’t mean. I said I’m ready and god knows my wolf is itching to break free and meet you so yeah, let’s do this.” She nodded and Griffin agreed, taking her at her word.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Just sit there and give me a second to shift. It should be quick. She’s just beneath my skin now.”

“Okay.”

Griffin watched, fascinated with the ease that Nova shook off her human skin and let her wolf emerge. One second he was looking at his beautiful, naked mate. He blinked a couple of times and suddenly, in her place, there stood a small black wolf with an almost perfectly white crescent moon on its forehead. His mouth gaped open as the black wolf shook itself and then looked directly at him, head held high as though she wanted to make sure he looked his fill before she moved towards him.

“Wow.” Griffin rolled up onto his knees and opened his arms, “You’re just as beautiful in this form.”

Just as Nova always did when he gave her a compliment, the wolf snorted. He grinned. She moved forward and knocked her head into his hands, letting him smooth his palms over her fur. Griffin couldn’t stop smiling as he felt Nova through the bond. She was the one just beneath the animal’s skin now and he could practically hear her telling him to shift so she could see his wolf too.

“Did you know you have a crescent moon marking in your fur?” He spoke to her softly and touched the spot, petting her forehead, “Right here?”

Nova’s wolf pulled her head away and shook again. He didn’t hear anything new through the link. He made a mental note to ask her about when she was human again. For now, his own wolf was about to revolt if he didn’t get free and he knew there was no holding him back any longer.

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