Page 70 of Dawn Unearthed

Trace raked his hands through his hair, looking so much like Rome just then that it was a little startling. “You are mated to an alpha now. That means, you’re also alpha. And not everybody will be happy about that.”

Laurel cursed under her breath. “Do you think this is a good time for you to mention all this?”

Trace smirked, but I didn’t see humor in his gaze. “No, but I figured it’s as good a time as any. And, frankly, she needs to be prepared. So, let’s get you to Rome. Let’s fix whatever the hell is wrong with him right now, and then we’re going to save this town because I’ll be damned if one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever known died for nothing.”

I nodded, my heart breaking. But I pushed those thoughts away and tried to get out of bed quickly.

Rowen just shook her head. “Give us some privacy, boys. Let’s get the final herbs into her so she’s healthy, and then we will send her on her way to meet her mate. And then, we fight. Because our town needs to be protected, and I will not let another person die because of that necromancer and her senseless hatred.”

I nodded and leaned into the girls as they helped me get ready. I knew I needed to get to Rome. I needed to find out how to protect my mate and make sure he understood that while some things were taken out of our hands, we still had to face them.

I could barely breathe as grief overwhelmed me. I tried to push it away because I needed to focus on other things. I couldn’t focus on Penelope right now. I couldn’t concentrate on Rupert. I couldn’t focus on why I was here. I could only take one step at a time.

Anger radiated through me. I would grieve later. I would cry, rage, and I would likely break. But I would be Rome’s mate. And I’d do everything in my power to make sure he understood what that meant and how I felt about it.

Chapter Twenty

Rome

Isat by the pond and looked at the water, trying to understand how I had ended up here. It didn’t make any sense to me that this was how my bond had been created.

I shouldn’t have crossed that boundary, but I couldn’t lose her. Ravenwoodneeded her. The coven needed her. I needed her. And yet, there was nothing I could do now. I had bitten her. I had marked her. I had taken her as mine without her permission.

She would likely be awake now. She would know what I had done. She would now understand that I had taken everything from her: her choices, her future, her ability to be herself without the pack surrounding her. She was only just learning how to be in the coven and Ravenwood. And now, she would have to do more with the pack.

I didn’t know how to fix this. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. All I knew was that Sage would never forgive me.

And, frankly, I was never going to forgive myself.

Her scent hit me first. I froze, wondering if it was a dream. But that rose scent was here. One that wasn’t cloying but slowly softening as it wrapped itself around me. Pulsated and seeped into my pores. I couldn’t breathe. Because if I did, I would inhale more of it.

And I would realize there was no going back.

My bear pushed at me, crawling over my body as my anchor tried to lift off and move towards the woman that it loved. The womanIloved. The bond flared. I closed my eyes, willing it to stop. Willing myself not to feel. I knew it was there, waiting. Waiting for me to do something about it. My bear played with that thread and knew that our mate was on the other end, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything about it because I would only end up wanting the bond more than I already did.

Our mating should have been a joyous occasion. But it couldn’t be now. I couldn’t let it become that for me. If I did, I would break. Though I deserved any pain that came because of the choices I had made.

I inhaled again and knew that she was in the house, not in the yard or the forest near me. I shook my head. I didn’t want to go in there. Every part of me knew I needed to. My bear pushed at me and I let out a breath.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

I stood up, wiped the dirt from my pants, and looked over the area. No one was around. However, I did see a tip of a wing out of the corner of my eye. I knew Jaxton had brought Sage here. Had brought her to me.

She was awake. She was healed. And she was mine. Now, I needed to face the consequences of my actions. I could scent Trace, as well, but I knew he was on the other side of the house. Watching, protecting.

I let out a chuff, a deep growl that only other bear shifters would hear, and Trace did the same in answer. There was no need for words, not now.

I needed to speak with Sage. I needed to make sure she knew that I wouldn’t force her into anything more. That I wouldn’t make her be my mate beyond the bond we now shared forever. She would bear my mark, just as my soul bore hers. The one I had placed above my heart because she couldn’t.

I walked into the house and inhaled again, her scent wrapping around me.

“Rome,” she said as she looked up at me, her eyes wide. She looked beautiful with her hair flowing in soft waves around her face. Her lips parted. Her eyes were wide—the hazel hue alluring.

I tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t. My bear pushed at me. Suddenly, I was moving forward. And then I had my hands around Sage’s face, cupping her cheeks, the tips of my fingers in her hair.

I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. “You’re okay,” I whispered.

She looked at me. “Yes, because of you. You saved me.”

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