Page 79 of Claiming Her Alpha

“I know and I hope it takes your mind off everything. But if you need something else, I’m willing to give that to you.”

She leaned down, her lips crashing on his and her mind full of gratitude and love.

‘I love you, my luna.’

‘I love you, too, Alpha Ryker.’

Chapter Twenty-Two

Laying on Ryker’s chest, she soaked in all the reassurance he projected into her mind. She finally felt as if she didn’t have to hide anything.

“You can always be yourself with me.”

“It’ll take me some time to get used to this. All this time I wanted you close. It all feels like a dream now. Like I’m going to wake up and you’ll be gone again.”

“I’m right here and I’m gonna fight whatever and whoever might come for us.”

Suddenly, guilt flooded his mind, guilt that he tried to hide from her–like he was ashamed of it. She couldn’t quite figure out what it was because in her eyes, he had nothing to be guilty about.

He inhaled deeply, his chest rising beneath her cheek. “I have everything to be ashamed of. While you fought for us to be back together, I did nothing. If it were up to me, we would still be worlds apart.”

“You were in no position to do anything. I don’t say this to be rude but you didn’t have the means to do so. You had to obey, otherwise he would have killed you. He would’ve never let you go rogue and return to me. You did all you could. You stayed alive.”

Somewhere deep down, his pride was hurt. He’d always seen himself as the one to save his mate.

“You are my knight in shining armour. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have found the strength to do anything. I wouldn’t be the woman I am right now, and I would definitely not be luna. I did all of that because of you. You saved me, and the pack even though I’ll never be able to tell them that.”

“It doesn’t feel like it,” he whispered, his words a hesitant admission. “I don’t want to take your place, nor your pack. I’ll forever gladly bow to you, but it feels as if I should’ve done more for you, my mate rather than my luna.”

“There is no need to feel that way. You did your part the moment you decided to tear one of your own men apart for me. I know that isn’t a good thing to say because you love those men, but you were willing to do anything to protect me. I know you will still do the same.”

He pushed into her mind, seeking her reassurance and needing to feel deep within her to wrap his soul in her words. “Thank you.”

They both sunk deeper into each other’s minds. They fell asleep knowing that they had each other, that they no longer had to suffer the pain they’d experienced. It was soul healing to feel Ryker’s touch, to hear his heartbeat, and know that his chest was rising and falling beneath her.

She didn’t wake again until her alarm began to buzz on the nightstand the next morning. She wasn’t laying on top of Ryker anymore. He was laying behind her with his arms wrapped around her.

“Not yet,” he grumbled, as she stretched to turn off the alarm.

“I’m not leaving, just turning this off.”

He loosened his grip so she could reach the alarm clock before she hunkered down in his arms once more. Closing her eyes, she soaked in the calm before the upcoming storm. Nothing bad was happening, but the day would be even more hectic than the one before.

“Kendra?”

“Yes?”

Ryker ran his nose along her neck and kissed the groove where she would wear his mark. “Will your wolf ever let me mark you?”

Her heart felt heavy as his wolf’s whimper filled her mind. It was a deep-seated need to claim her and her wolf hummed loudly in return. She wanted his mark, was proud to show it off and Kendra felt the same.

She didn’t have to say a word, he had heard both her wolf’s and her answer. She rolled her head back as his canines scraped over her skin. He was slow and gentle, nothing like she’d been as he sunk his teeth deep into her neck.

‘I liked how you marked me.’

‘My alpha likes it rough,’ she chuckled into the bond.

Since their minds were already connected, his mark wasn’t as overwhelming. It was beautiful, like an anchor in a wild storm or the grounded roots of an old tree.

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