Page 73 of Out of Peril

They both squealed again and tackled him, then gave me a quick kiss on my forehead and scurried off at the sound of a horn outside.

“Have a good day at school,” Walker yelled after them.

“We will,” Dante yelled back.

I laid there wondering what had just happened.

“Uh-oh. What's that look for?”

“I don't know. They just ran in here and saw us in bed together but acted like it was no big deal.”

“Yeah, about that. The kids and I sort of had a talk. Are you aware of just how overly protective they are of you? Neither of them liked the idea of me laying in bed with you, so I had to tell them the truth.”

“What sort of truth? They're five and six.”

“The ‘Lindsey’s my true mate’ truth and I need to be by her to keep my wolf calm.”

“You told them I'm your mate?”

“Well yeah. Pretty much everyone in my life knows that by now. Hell, I even called my parents and let them know.”

“Walker, are you insane? People will never understand.”

He snorted. “We cherish true mates around here, babe. Everyone is happy for me, for us.”

“So you're just not telling them what I am then?”

“They know. I'm not embarrassed by what you are. I love you exactly the way you are.”

I froze and stared at him, blinking a few times as I struggled to reconcile what he just said.

“You love me?” I blurted out.

He smiled and kissed me. “Is that really so shocking?”

“Yes!”

Walker

Chapter 20

Lindsey still didn't get it. No matter how many times I told her I loved her, she still stared at me with the same shocked expression as if it were the first time. So over the next few days while she regained her strength, I made it a habit to say the words as often as possible. Maybe then she'd get it through that thick stubborn skull of hers.

She was completely healed now and almost back to full strength. I'd been keeping everyone away except for Grant, so he could do is daily visit to check on her progress, and Ben and Shelby, who refused to stay away.

A part of me just wanted alone time with my mate, but I'd quickly learned that there really isn't such a thing when you have kids. And make no mistake, after all we'd been through in such a short time, those kids were mine, and I'd kill anyone who tried to take them from me. Well, not Lindsey, but anyone else.

I had this unfounded fear that she would get bored with me and just fly off into the sunset and leave me behind. There was nothing logical about it, and it didn't stem from some deep-rooted abandonment issue or anything, though Lachlan would have had a field day with something like that.

It was Friday and the kids had just left for school. Lindsey was still asleep, and I was laying in bed next to her catching up on my emails.

She scooted closer and rested her head on my shoulder. I turned and kissed the top of her head then went back to scrolling.

This is what I wanted everyday in life. She still seemed to struggle to grasp that, but I could be patient and wear her down until she truly came to understand that this wasn't a joke to me. I didn't think I'd survive it if she and the kids left me now.

I shot a text off to Michael, letting him know I'd be returning to work on Monday.

Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at my door.

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