Page 19 of Wolf's Wild Woman

That didn’t sound good.

“Taylor, I’m fine.” I spoiled that vow with a harsh cough that deepened his scowl. There was only one thing I could say to get through to him right now. I cupped his face and leaned in. “Taylor, I love you.”

Wonder immediately filled his gaze.

“I love you,” I vowed. “You’re my mate, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”

“You’re mine,” he growled.

“Show me.” I reached for the hem of my shirt and tugged it over my head before he could stop me. His gaze fell to my chest before lifting to my face again. He paused on my throat. “I need you, Taylor. I can smell him on me.” I shuddered because I really could smell Benji’s stink on my skin.

He scooped me up again, and we were off to the shower. He stripped us both then moved us under the hot spray. It didn’t take much persuasion to have him coating me in his scent while we were still under the water. This time, when he laid me on the bed, he joined me and pulled me under him as he continued to love me. By the time I fell into an exhausted slumber, I was saturated in his scent.

Days ago, I’d been ready to run away in search of someplace where I could belong, where someone might love me instead of always judging me. I snuggled closer to Taylor’s side. Now, I knew I belonged here, with Taylor and the James Pack he called family. With a man who loved me, and a pack that was now my family. Finally, I belonged.

Epilogue

~Rebel~

Six Years Later

I stopped in the doorway and couldn’t contain my grin. Taylor sat cross-legged on the floor, having a tea party with our two daughters. Each of them wore a sparkly tiara, including my mate. Even better he was bare-chested and had somehow found a tutu to wear over his athletic shorts. Her face serious, Sophie was telling him something important, and he was giving her his total attention, much to our baby’s irritation.

Tessa kept tugging on his arm while whispering, “Daddy.” Taylor reached over and scooped her onto his lap and continued to listen to Sophie while Tessa rubbed her hands over his beard. My youngest had a fondness for that beard, just like her mama.

I leaned against the doorframe and took it in. The three most important people in my life. How had I gotten so lucky? My mate didn’t accept anything less than everything from me. That’s how. I counted my blessings every day.

“I gets to talk now,” Tessa demanded, waving her little hands at her big sister. “You gets to be quiet. I tells a stowy. Wight, Daddy. Is Tessa turn? Wight?”

“Why don’t we ask Mama?” he said and turned to smile at me. God, that smile melted me.

“Mama! Mama!”

Sophie flew around the table, arms wide as she came barreling into me. At five, she was a constant blur of motion. It was rare to see her sit for long. The only thing that seemed to hold her attention was her father. She was definitely a daddy’s girl.

While Sophie wrapped around me as if I’d been gone for days instead of an hour, Tessa took advantage of having her daddy to herself. She tugged his face to hers, resting her forehead against his and whispering what was probably nonsense. Taylor quietly said something back and tickled her, making her squirm as she giggled. He stood, sitting Tessa on his forearm as he headed toward me and Sophie.

“How’s my woman?” he asked as he leaned in to kiss me. Sophie made ew sounds while Tessa continued giggling.

“Missed you,” I murmured as Tessa reached for me.

“Miss me, Mama. Miss me, too.”

“Of course, I missed you, baby girl.”

Tessa slid from her father’s arms into mine. At three, she was the female version of her father, right down to his dark blue eyes. And like him, she had me wrapped around her little finger.

“Mama missed me, Soapy. She missed me most.”

Sophie shook her head and moved away to start twirling around the room in her tutu.

“I wanna dance, too. Me! Me, too!”

I set Tessa on her feet, and she took off after her sister, doing her best to mirror all of Sophie’s twirls. Taylor pulled me against his chest.

“How’d the appointment go?”

I glanced up and smiled, nodding my head softly.