Page 51 of His Mate

Rowan’s eyes fluttered open slowly, and when he saw me looking up at him, a soft smile curved his lips.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.

“Morning,” I whispered back, smiling as I felt his hand slide up my side, his fingers brushing over my ribs and sending a shiver straight through me.

For a long moment, we just looked at each other. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but there was something else there too—something soft, something I hadn’t seen in him before. And as I looked at him, as I felt the warmth of his body against mine, I couldn’t help but think about those words, those quiet, almost-forgotten words that had drifted through the air last night.

Did he really say it?

But I didn’t ask. Not yet. Instead, I leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, feeling the way his hand slid down to my hip, cupping my still very sore welted bottom and pulling me closer. His lips were warm and soft, and the slow, lazy way he kissed me back made my heart skip a beat. Everything about this moment—waking up in his arms, the feel of him beside me—felt like something out of a dream.

“I could get used to this,” I whispered against his lips, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

He chuckled softly, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.

“I was hoping you would,” he murmured, his breath warm on my skin as he pressed a kiss to my forehead, the touch of his lips lingering there long after he pulled away.

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes closing as I melted into him, the warmth of his body surrounding me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Last night…” I began softly, my voice trailing off as I debated whether or not to bring it up. My heart fluttered in my chest as I remembered the way he’d held me, the way his lips had brushed against my hair, and that soft, almost inaudible whisper that I wasn’t sure was real. “I thought I heard you say something.”

Rowan’s hand paused on my back, and for a moment, I thought he might ask what I meant, but instead, he pulled me closer, pressing his forehead to mine.

“I said that I love you,” he said, his voice low and full of meaning.

My breath caught, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me again, my chest tightening with something I hadn’t been ready to acknowledge until now.

He’d said it.

And he’d meant it.

“I love you too,” I whispered, my heart beating faster, and his eyes lit up with warm emotion, making my head spin.

I pressed another kiss to his lips, slower this time, deeper, letting the warmth between us grow as his hands roamed over my body, drawing me closer until there was no space left between us.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady thud of his heartbeat. I could feel his hand stroking my back, the feel of it lulling me into a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I’m happy you were the one that came through that door the first time back at the compound,” I said, my voice barely audible.

Rowan pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his hand resting on the small of my back. “Me too, my sweet mate,” he murmured.

I smiled, my eyes drifting shut again as I let myself relax against him, my body fitting perfectly into the curve of his. It was like we were made for each other, like every piece of me was meant to fit with him. And as I lay there, wrapped up in his warmth, I knew one thing for certain—I wasn’t just falling for Rowan.

I was already his, completely.

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled light on the forest floor as we walked. It had been a quiet few hours, the only sounds coming from the occasional crack of a twig beneath Rowan’s boots or the rustle of the underbrush as we made our way through the thickening trees. His hand was always close, sometimes resting on the small of my back, sometimes brushing against mine as if to remind me he was still there.

I loved it.

I couldn’t help but let my mind wander, thinking of the past few days, of the bond we’d formed so quickly. His presence had become so familiar, so grounding, that the thought of being away from him now felt impossible. But as we walked deeper into the forest, I realized there was still so much I didn’t know about him.

“Rowan,” I said softly, breaking the silence. His head turned toward me, his blue eyes steady and curious.

“Yeah?” he replied, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the stillness around us.

I hesitated for a moment before asking, “What was it like? The first time you… shifted into a wolf?”

He raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on his lips, but the look in his eyes told me he knew what I was asking.

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