Page 60 of Understanding Fate

His voice shouldn’t be able to affect me this much. He just told me he didn’t want to be tied to me forever, and I’m a puddle on the floor with a single touch.

I’m pathetic.

Thumbs swipe away the streams of silent tears as I try to find the strength to look at him again.

“We will find a way through this. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to protect you,” he says, nothing but sincerity in his tone.

“Why?” I ask, finding my voice.

“Why what, Firefly?”

“Why risk your pack, your family, for me when you don’t want to be with me? Why?” I ask, finally opening my eyes to find his no longer glowing and confusion flashing across his face.

“Don’t want to be with you? What are you talking about? I only want to be with you.Youare my whole world, Firefly. I would give up my life if it meant allowing you to have the life that you wanted.” His eyes search mine, sadness replacing theconfusion. “Is that what you think? That I don’t want to be your Mate? That I don’t want to be tied to you forever?”

“You’re the one who is saying no,” I state, trying to keep the quiver out of my voice.

“For you. Firefly. I’m saying no for you. We’re just getting back to the good place we were in before Hudson,” he pauses, grimacing at the mention of his fallen pack mate. “You just started to let me back in. I don’t want you to feel pressured into deciding this out of fear or obligation. I want you to choose this life. I want you to choose us. I want you to choose me. I need you to choose me.” Tears form in his storm-gray eyes, and I see his restraint for the first time.

Why do I always jump to the worst possible conclusion?

He has always shown me this side of him. He’s never wavered, never faltered, but the moment he said something I perceived incorrectly, I assumed the most destructive intent.

“This is me choosing you,” I say, placing my hand on his cheek and mirroring his motions of wiping away the streams that are falling.

His eyes search mine. What they are looking for, I don’t know, but I stand still, holding his gaze, knowing with every part of myself that my words are true.

I choose him.

I choose us.

Forever.

Chapter 24

Bri

I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting when I told him to Awaken me, but a living room floor covered in couch cushions and pillows wasn’t it.

“Is all this really necessary?” I ask, watching him move the cushions and pillows just so, before flipping them.

“I don’t know how long you will be out, and I want you to be comfortable until you wake up,” he says, not looking at me but continuing to mumble a list off under his breath.

It had taken another hour of discussing everything before he finally agreed I was ready. We’d talked about my career, or atleast the idea of it, kids, pack life, and his role and obligations should we stay in Vegas.

I’d asked every question I hadn’t gotten to or had thought of since my chat with Dante, and he answered every one with care.

I’m ready.

And now he was fluffing pillows on the floor and pacing around shifting things.

“I think this will be just fine. You said you will be behind me to catch me when I pass out. You can lay me down carefully and go about your day,” I say, pushing more confidence into my voice than I felt.

“I will absolutely not be going about my day! I will sit right here until you wake up so I can get you to shift as soon as possible. We will do this exactly how it is supposed to be done, only I’m not the Alpha of the pack, and you aren’t ten,” he finished, his complexion waning as worry lines his features.

Stepping close to him, I place my hand on his chest just over his heart, pulling his eyes to me.

“I’m going to be fine, Candy Cain. You said it yourself: your friend Jake’s Awakening happened at eighteen, well after puberty, and he had no issues. You're going to say the words, bite me with your magic ‘make a wolf’ venom, and I’m going to take a nap for a few hours. Easy peasy. When I wake up, we can both meet my wolf,” I say, smiling at the idea.

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