Page 28 of Bonded Beyond Trickery

“And that is why our mate made the choice that she did,”my wolf points out and I know he’s right.

I need to let it go. The years we lost can’t be the reason I continue to let fear rule me. Not when I can’t say if I wouldmake the same decision if I were in her place. She deserved to follow her dream and do it without the weight of a pack on her shoulders.

“I won’t leave you, Whitaker,” Tilly’s voice is small. “Just,” she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, “open the bond and feel it.”

When her eyes open, our gazes clash and hold. I’ve avoided her side of the bond for days, but now I lean into it. I open myself up completely to her and let myself feel.

Adoration.

Contentment.

Joy.

Loyalty.

Excitement.

Hope.

My mate’s emotions slam into me and steal my breath.

“I’m sorry,” my hoarse apology has my mate smiling. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. You deserve my trust and my devotion.”

Time seems to stand still for a moment, but then I’m reaching for my mate. My gorgeous mate who I don’t deserve, no matter how we started and the time we lost.

I could have allayed my own fears and worries days ago, but I didn’t want to know. Because then I would have to move forward with my eyes wide open. Being stubborn and afraid of weakness makes me a good Alpha, but that doesn’t mean anything when I need to be a good mate.

With the bond open between us completely, it feels like Tilly is flowing through my veins. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

When I reach for her, she comes to me willingly. Even though I haven’t followed through and sparred with her so she can start training with my warriors, I have no doubt that if she didn’t want to come to me then she wouldn’t.

Just another way I’ve failed my mate.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper against her neck when she straddles my lap, and I bury my face there.

Her fingers comb through my hair, making my cock, which is always hard around my mate, throb with need. It’s been days without being buried inside of my mate. I need her. My wolf needs her.

And with the bond open, I know that she needs me too. Her desire for me is like a pulse, constant and tempting.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been a good mate to you.” Tilly freezes on my lap and I can feel the way she gears up to argue with me, but I don’t let her. I bark, “Don’t deny it. I should have allowed the bond to alleviate my worries. I shouldn’t have shut you out, especially after we agreed to move forward, and we marked each other. I should have followed through with sparring with you so you could train. I definitely should have explained myself better about the Luna ceremony and announced who you are to me and the pack.”

“Whitaker,” her voice wobbles, filled with so much damn hope that if I weren’t an Alpha then I would admit that my eyes mist over.

I move us easily until her back is cradled against the ground. How she knew to come here, to a place where I’ve always found peace, I’ll never know. It doesn’t matter.

All I can see her is, the need we have for each other echoes and amplifies through the bond. As our hearts beat in time, my hands glide over her body. She’s so damn hot to the touch even as goosebumps break out over her skin.

“You’re so damn beautiful, my little wolf,” I murmur and fall a little more for her as her eyes sparkle with happiness.

Her hands come up and cup my jaw, holding me there in her thrall. It would be so easy to forget everything else. The responsibilities. The worries. The stress.

“Give it all to me, Whitaker,” she murmurs so damn softly that if I weren’t looking at her then I would question if she was speaking at all. “I can handle the burden with you. Let me.”

I break as my wolf howls in my head.

Since our clothing was lost in the shift, we’re both gloriously naked and my cock is so fucking hard that it’s on the verge of painful. I dip my head and suck one of her nipples into my mouth with my eyes locked on her face. The way she tilts her head back, pure fucking bliss covering her features, is a sight to behold.

“Please,” she mewls, “I need you inside of me.”

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