Page 49 of Beckett's Fate

18

IRENE

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls of Beck’s suite. Irene paced the room, her mind a whirlwind of questions and emotions. She’d grown used to being the one with a plan, the one calling the shots. But here, surrounded by Beck’s pack and his unwavering presence, she felt unmoored.

The door creaked open, and Beck stepped inside, his imposing frame filling the space. He searched her face, sharp and assessing. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well?” Irene asked, her voice sharper than she intended. “What did Des want?”

Beck’s lips twitched, but the faint smile was reflected nowhere else on his face. “Nothing to worry about. The pack’s curious, that’s all.”

“Curious?” Irene arched a brow, stopping in her tracks. “About what?”

“About you,” Beck said simply, his gaze steady. “And about what my plans are.”

Irene’s stomach twisted at his bluntness, though she kept her expression neutral. “Funny,” she said dryly. “I’d like to know the answer to that, too.”

Beck’s eyes glinted with something unreadable as he pushed off the door and took a deliberate step toward her. “Would you now? I’d have thought that claiming bite would have made it fairly obvious to anyone paying attention, especially you.”

“Don’t play coy,” she shot back, holding her ground even as her heart raced. “You brought me here, Beck. You dragged me into your world. So, what is it you want from me? Protection? Partnership? A pawn in whatever game you’re playing?”

His gaze darkened, the teasing edge disappearing as he closed the distance between them in a few long strides. Irene’s breath hitched as he stopped just inches away, his presence as overwhelming as always.

“I want you,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “All of you.”

The words sent a shiver down her spine, a heady mix of anticipation and defiance warring within her. She tilted her chin up, refusing to back down. “What does that even mean, Beck? You can’t just throw around declarations like that without?—”

He cut her off with a hand on her waist, his grip firm but not forceful as he pulled her closer. “It means I don’t see you as a pawn, Irene. You’re not some piece on a board for me to move around. You’re my mate. My equal. And I’m done pretending otherwise.”

The intensity in his voice sent heat coursing through her veins, but she wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily. “Equal?” she challenged. “Because so far, it feels like you’ve been calling all the shots.”

Beck’s lips twitched again, this time with a faint trace of amusement. “Fair enough,” he said. “But tell me this—if I hadn’t stepped in when I did, how much longer would you have lastedon your own? Between the hunters, the treasure, and your pack’s survival?”

Irene opened her mouth to argue but stopped short. The truth of his words was a bitter pill to swallow, and he knew it.

“That’s what I thought,” Beck said, his tone softening slightly. “I’m not here to take over, Irene. I’m here to stand beside you.”

She looked up at him, her anger faltering as his sincerity broke through her defenses. “And what about you?” she asked quietly. “What matters to you?”

He didn’t hesitate. “You.”

The single word hung between them, heavy with meaning. Irene’s heart twisted, the gravity of his admission crashing over her.

“Beck...” she began, but he silenced her with a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his.

“No more running,” he said, his voice firm but laced with a quiet vulnerability. “No more games. I want you to stay, Irene. Here. With me. We’ll figure out the rest together.”

Her breath caught, her body betraying her as it leaned into him, drawn by the gravity of his presence. “And if I say no?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then I’ll fight for you,” he said simply. “Because that’s what fated mates do.”

The termfatedmatesent a jolt through her, her wolf stirring restlessly within her. She searched his face, trying to find cracks in his resolve, but there were none. Beckett Grey was a force of nature, and he was looking at her like she was the only thing in his world.

The charged energy between them was electric, crackling like a live wire. Irene’s chest heaved, her pulse racing as she weighed her next words. But before she could speak, Beck leaned down,his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was equal parts gentle and commanding.

Her resolve crumbled. She kissed him back, her hands finding their way to his chest, her fingers curling against the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt. Beck’s arms tightened around her, pulling her flush against him as the kiss deepened, the heat between them flaring into an inferno.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard, their foreheads touching as they stood tangled in each other’s arms.

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