Page 46 of Jasper

She took another sip of the tea, the hot brew soothing her throat. “It was instinct. I saw Ludo about to strike, so I acted. You would have done the same for me.”

“Yes, I would have, but I can also shift and heal myself. You… nearly died.”

“You said that already.”

“It bears repeating!” With an angry scowl, he planted his hands on his hips, but he looked so freaking adorable that she wanted to do a lot of fun stuff to him.

“I won’t apologize for saving you. I’m sorry I nearly died, but in the moment I only cared that I might lose you. And I worried that I hadn’t told you I loved you that day. I tried to say it before I passed out.”

“We did tell each other that in the morning,” he said. His face softening, he put his fists on the bed on either side of her hips and moved in close. She looked at his lips, tracing the gentle curve with her gaze.

“Good,” she whispered. “Because I do.”

“I love you too,” he said. He kissed her just once, and then said, “Let’s not go getting each other into danger like that again, okay?”

“Definitely.” She put one arm around his neck and kissed him again. “Is everyone else okay? My parents? Ellie and her mom? Your friends?”

“Everyone is okay. We didn’t lose anyone, thankfully.” He sat next to her on the bed and sighed. “Ludo is dead and a few of his buddies died in the battle. The others are in the prison, and your dad is figuring out their punishment, since he killed Ludo and is officially the new alpha.”

“My dad’s the alpha. That’s pretty cool.”

Jasper smiled. “It is. He’ll be a great alpha. And Ellie and her mom are waiting to hear you’re up. They were able to shift and heal themselves, and I did too. I stayed out in the hall because Reese wouldn’t let me in here in my shift. She said I’d get fur everywhere.”

“I’m glad that everyone is okay and that asshole is dead.”

“Me too.” He paused, then added, “We can stay here if you want.”

“What?”

“Your dad offered me the second-in-command position again. He said he’d like to train me to eventually take over as alpha.”

She took another drink of the tea and let her thoughts roam for a bit, but she didn’t need to think too hard. “Do you want to be second-in-command of the Northbelle pack and eventually lead it?”

His eyes were sincere when he met her gaze. “I just want to be with you.”

“That’s not an answer.”

His mouth quirked up at the corner in a wry smile. “I never wanted to be alpha. It’s a lot of pressure. Plus Grimes died because he was alpha.”

“Well, I think he died because he was an asshole, just like Ludo. But yeah, it’s a big job. You’d be a great alpha.”

He hummed. “I only want to be here in Northbelle ifyouwant to be here. If you wanted to stay in the pack with your parents, I would move here in a heartbeat. Your happiness is the most important thing to me, and if being here would make you happiest, then that’s what I want.”

She set the empty mug on a side table and twisted on the bed to face him fully. He mirrored her, the bed creaking as he resettled his weight on it. She took his hands and linked their fingers. “Jasper, I love you so much. I want you to be happy too. I think with both of us wanting the other to be happy that we’re going to have a great life together.”

“Definitely.”

“But I don’t want to stay in Northbelle. I mean, if you wanted to be second-in-command and take over eventually, I’d be right here by your side. But if you’re asking me where I want to start a family with you? It’s in the park withyourpack.”

“I’d stay here for you, but I’m glad that you don’t want to. The park has been home for me for seven years, but now that you’re back in my life, it feels even more like home.”

“Then we’re staying in the park,” she said.

“Yes.”

She smiled and hugged him, loving the way his wolf let out a happy growl whenever they touched. The part of her that was wolf growled in response.

He cupped her face and smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. “Sexy female, light of my life, I’m so glad you’re mine.”

---