Page 32 of Understanding Fate

No… No…No.

“Look, I…” I start trying to say anything to get back to who we were a minute ago.

“I love you too,” she interrupts me. All the air leaves my lungs, and I’m not sure I heard her right.

“What? Say that again,” I demand, shutting up this time and giving her all my attention.

“I love you too, Cain Arthur Mingan.” She repeats, smiling as she adds my middle name. I’m stunned. “I have for a while, I’ve just been fighting myself. But I don’t want to anymore. I love you,” she finishes.

Her face mirrors the emotions, and I feel like my chest explodes. My lips smash into hers with every bit of emotion I have. It’s no longer slow, sweet, or gentle but rather an outpouring of every bit of love I’ve held back over the last few weeks.

She matches my intensity and reaches for my shirt, her teeth tugging on my bottom lip as she pulls away to remove it.

“Off,” she whispers, and I stand up, reluctantly releasing my grip from her to remove the garment. Just as it hits the floor, I’m interrupted.

Dante: We have a problem. LLC moved the timeline. They are there to take Brielle.

Cain: What do you mean “there”? In Vegas?

Dante: No. At your hotel. Downstairs. Carter is waiting with them in the lobby.

Cain: What the fuck? You don’t actually expect me to hand her over to them…

“Cain…. You okay?” her voice pulls my attention back to her.

“Dante,” I say, pointing to my head.

“Well, that's a new one… Can’t say I’ve ever been cock blocked by mind messages from a best friend before,” she says, her voice still sounding amused.

Dante: We don’t have a choice.

Cain: You can’t ask me to do this.

Dante: I’m not asking.

“And… based on your face, this isn’t good news,” she adds, causing me to shake my head.

“The LLC wants to bring you in for questioning,” I say, running my hand through my hair and trying to get my heart rate back under control.

Not now. Not when I finally have her back.

“Okay…. Dante said I might have to give a statement or something,” she says, sitting up and adjusting her clothes.

“They’re downstairs right now,” I say, wincing as I see her shocked expression.

“Now?!? It’s nearly midnight. I have work tomorrow. I can’t go now. I don’t even have my suitcase!” I almost laugh at the absurdity of the fact that she is heading into a literal wolf's den, and she's worried about her clothes.

“Ghost should have dropped it off at the front desk, and if he hasn’t, I’ll grab it before I get on our plane.”

“I’ll come with you,” she says, standing up.

My fists clench as I fight my wolf.

“You can’t. They’ll have you on their plane to ensure no interference. The contract is still live,” I say, hating the fact that I can’t stay with her.

“You aren’t going with me?” she asks, her face falling and fear filling it for the first time.

I walk to her, wrapping her into me.

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