Page 47 of Hunted

I rest my head on his shoulder. “This isn’t why I came downstairs.”

He kisses the top of my head, and I can tell he’s smiling when he responds. “Well, I’m glad you did.”

Smiling, I lift my head. “Bed?”

“When my legs want to work again.”

I smile. “I’m surprised we didn’t break the chair.”

He laughs. “You know what? So am I.”

“Mack?”

“Aerin?”

I lift my head and meet his gaze. For the longest time, I’m not sure if I’m going to tell him that I know about his plans for a new home for the pack.

He runs his fingers through my hair, his expression curious. “Did I flick an off switch, love? What’s wrong?”

I flash him a quick grin. “No. But…”

“But what?”

“Home will always be you. And there is no other place I’d ever want to be more. You know that, right?”

Pleasure softens his deep brown eyes. “I do know that.” He kisses me. “Come on. Let’s go up to bed.”

“I know you don’t want to worry me, but please don’t take this all on your shoulders.”

The pack meeting went on for a long time and I know he must worry about keeping me and the rest of the pack safe. He might have come down here to plan a future home for all of us, but I have a feeling that wasn’t the only thing that drove him out of our bed in the middle of the night.

“I’m the Alpha. If responsibility belongs on anyone’s shoulders, it belongs on mine.”

“What use is a pack if you try to do everything on your own,” I counter.

His smile is faint. “When did you get so wise?”

“I don’t know. Maybe when something drove me to come to Winter Lake and fall in love with an Alpha who showed me what a pack is supposed to be.”

“This Alpha sounds impressive,” Mack whistles.

“That’s because he is.” I kiss him. “And he also looks exhausted from falling asleep at the dining table. Time for bed.”

I move to get up, but he stops me.

“What?” I frown.

“I love you,” he says softly.

My power, the fickle, frustrating thing it’s become lately, chooses now to flutter to life, and I see Mack’s soul. It’s pink with his love for me.

I smile. “I love you, too.”

He gathers me in his arms, easily lifting me. “Then how about I take you upstairs and show you again?”

“With a short pit-stop at the bathroom?” Because there will never be a time I don’t need the bathroom five million times a day.

“With a short pit-stop at the bathroom,” he confirms with a smile.

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