Page 19 of Mated By Moonlight

"Why's he looking at you and growling?"

Liza bit at her bottom lip. She reached for her nose, then thought better of it. Twitching her nose was a tell that she was telling a lie. "Don't get mad."

"You only say that when there's cause for me to be mad."

"Rylan claims I'm his fated mate," she admitted, rolling her eyes. "But I don't want to go through it again."

Rylan stepped up to the door, but he didn't come in. "It's real this time, Liza. I swear it."

Liza crossed her arms, a skeptical look on her face. "I've heard that before."

With Liza's head turned, Maize noticed a faint mark on Liza's neck, something that looked suspiciously like a hickey. She glanced back at Rylan, her suspicion growing.

Twenty-four hours ago, Maize would've taken her sister and hightailed it out of here. That was before she'd met the Blackwoods and mated Gideon. If this was Gideon's Alpha, she knew the man had to be honorable. Still, Liza was her flesh and blood.

"Liza, you can stay with me if you want," Maize offered. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."

Liza shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's clear that Gideon wants some privacy with you. Besides, I can handle Rylan."

Maize studied her sister, searching for any sign of fear or hesitation. But all she saw was a mix of determination and something else—something that looked a lot like acceptance.

"Are you sure?"

Liza nodded, her smile widening. "I'm sure. Trust me, Maizey. I'll be fine."

"Time to go, Elizabeth." Rylan's voice was filled with command.

Maize felt that command skitter over her skin. It must have to do with the mating bond. If Rylan was her mate's Alpha, that likely made him the boss of Maize, too.

Liza's back remained straight as she regarded the other wolf. Glancing at her sister, Maize knew what that something else in her eyes was. It wasn't exactly acceptance. It was sass. Her sassy sister was back.

Maize would've fist pumped the air, but she wasn't about to make the mating easier on Rylan. The man looked like he needed to be taken down a couple of pegs.

"Talk tomorrow," said Maize.

"Tomorrow," agreed Liza before stepping out of the cabin and then ducking away from Rylan's hold.

Gideon came inside, his hand gently touching Maize's arm. The warmth of his touch sent a comforting wave through her, easing the lingering tension. "It's real with Rylan. I promise you. He'd die for Liza."

"He might die because of her."

"What's that?"

"Nothing," Maize said, turning into her mate's hold.

Maize looked up at him, seeing the adoration in his eyes. The bond between them felt stronger than ever, a tangible connection that promised safety and love.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Maize allowed herself to believe in the possibility of a future filled with love and security. As she looked into Gideon's eyes, she knew she had found her place, her home, and her heart.

"Every moment since I met you has led to this," Maize whispered, stepping closer until she could feel the heat radiating from Gideon's body. She lifted her hands, placing them gently upon his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. "I never knew what it meant to belong to someone completely, to feel destined for another soul."

Gideon's eyes shimmered with unspoken words. The wolf was there in his gaze, looking out at her as though it worshiped her. The quiet strength of man and beast enveloped her, promising safety, promising eternity.

Maize wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against the solid wall of muscle that was Gideon. Her voice was soft, imbued with the reverence of a sacred vow. "To be recognized as your fated mate... it honors me beyond words. I love you, Gideon. With every fiber of my being, I love you."

The admission felt like a release, the final piece of her spirit locking into place. There was no uncertainty in her mind, no shadow of doubt that lingered—only the purest form of truth that resonated through her, amplified by the mate bond that tethered her soul to his.

"It was love before I even laid eyes on you. The moment the bond tugged at me, I knew you were my destiny."

---