Page 40 of Their UnBearable Destiny

“Teach me, Uberto,” she murmured softly into the phone. “Teach me to be as fearless as you are.”

He wanted to laugh out loud, but he knew Allegra was too fragile for that. He wanted to laugh, because he realized how little his brother’s mate understood him. “I’m not fearless.”

Now it was Allegra’s turn to laugh, her chuckles were rough with the remnants of her runny nose. “Yes, you are!” A moment passed, and she continued. “You are so brave. I don’t think you’re afraid of anything.”

“When Natale disappeared, I was afraid. When you were taken from us, I was afraid.” Uberto felt something touch his arm and when he looked down he saw Ana’s fingers slowly tracing the lines of his veins from his elbow to his wrist. Her touch normally inflamed his senses, but now, it settled him, and helped even more when she leaned against him. “And the first time I held Amara in my arms I knew true terror, thinking someone could hurt that beautiful little cub, but I also knew determination.”

Ana moved closer, wrapping her free arm around his middle. She turned and placed a kiss high on his shoulder and he felt the warmth seep through his skin.

“I knew that we’d do everything we could to protect her, because she was family.” He lifted a hand and covered Ana’s hand where it lay on his stomach. He threaded his fingers through hers and felt her fingertips against his skin.

Her touch was addictive and he was willing to be under her thrall as soon as he helped Allegra.

“Do you love your cubs, Allegra?”

“How could you ask that?” Her voice hissed over the line, pulsing with a raw anger. “How could you? You know that I love them, just as much as I love Val.”

He felt Ana pinch his arm and ignored her.

“Because you needed to hear the answer, Allegra. You’re so worried about problems that haven’t even had a chance to happen. Besides that, you’re one of the strongest and most resilient women I know. With you remarkable hearing and your innate sense of space and that amazing mind of yours, you’re going to be a natural with those babies. And you know that Valerio will do everything he can to help you, but you need to remember that you’re one of the family. You have us to help, whenever you need it.”

“Like when I call and wake you up? Sorry, again.” Her voice wavered, but she he heard a little laugh as well. “Thanks for talking me down off the wall on this, Uberto. I miss you. We miss you. Take care of what you need to do in Santa Biago and then bring your mate home to meet us.”

He paused for a moment, hesitating. “How- Allegra, I didn’t say anything about-”

“You’ve got your strength,” she sighed, and her laughter eased some of the tension that had pinched at his neck muscles, “and like you said, I have my ears. You had this… wistful tone when you spoke about going back. Worried and wistful. So, I hope what you were worried about is working out for you. And that you bring her home to meet us.”

His own laugh felt a little raw in his throat. “I’m going to have to be careful what I say around you from now on.”

Allegra yawned on the other end of the connection. “You should have thought of that sooner, but you know how much I love you.”

“Go to sleep, Allegra, before my brother blames me for keeping you up.”

“Good night, Uberto.” He swore he could hear her mind working. “And goodnight to your… mate.”

The phone call ended and Uberto looked down into Ana’s dark eyes, sparkling with mischief.

“And you say she’s blind?”

With a satisfied sigh, he nodded. “I’m beginning to realize that she sees more than the rest of us.”

* * *

Ana’s fingerseased away from his skin and she sat up a little higher so that her teeth could rasp lightly over his bare skin. “I like the way you talked to her. Liked the way she spoke to you. She trusts you. Confides in you.” She couldn’t help the sudden stab of jealousy that knifed through her heart. “I’m glad she has you.”

She felt him turn to look over his shoulder at her, but she ducked her head, turning her cheek against his shoulder blade. Emiliana had to concentrate on the task of breathing in and breathing out. She didn’t think Allegra was any danger to what she felt for Uberto or what he felt for her, but she was beginning to realize that ten years ago when she was so sure about everything she felt, she was ready to carve it in stone. “You’ve changed.”

Uberto covered her hand where she’d laid it on his arm and gave her hand a squeeze. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

Emiliana squeezed her eyes shut and drew in a steadying breath. “I think so?” She still wouldn’t release him enough for him to shift and turn around to face her, at least without physically moving out of her embrace. It was a cowardly thing to do, but she couldn’t exactly let all of her defenses down at one time.

Not after she’d held onto her indignation all of these years.

“I know you’ve been telling me that you’ve changed. I’ve heard the words and I thought I was seeing little bits and pieces of it in how you’ve acted, but-”

He didn’t even try to move or break free of the position she’d put them in.

It boggled her mind.

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