Page 88 of Forever Mine

His body trembled in my arms as I returned his kiss and I could feel him coming back to me. Finally pulling back and leaving me breathless, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Just tell me you're okay."

"I'm okay," I said honestly. I knew it wasn't the time to tell him what I had done. He needed to get control of himself more before we had that conversation, but I was going to be okay, and I knew he would too.

"I'm sorry I bit you. My wolf doesn't understand and is angry you haven't completed the bond."

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm going to be now that you're back. Just promise me the mission is over and you'll never do anything like that again," he begged.

"I can't promise that, but for now, it's over." I hoped beyond all hopes that what I was telling him was the truth.

Liam

Chapter 27

The calm that came over me just from Maddie's presence scared me almost as much as my wolf as he battled for dominance. To think one person had that much control over me was overwhelming, but if it had to be someone, I was glad it was her.

I hadn't meant to bite her, to mark her in that way. It wasn't right. My wolf had surged, insisting she was ours and calling out to her wolf. I couldn't help but think that if her wolf were truly gone, mine wouldn't continue calling her out. I imagined he'd be in mourning, not so insistent and impatient. Still, to mark her when she couldn't return it was wrong. Anyone who saw it on her now would know that I had marked her, but she hadn't marked me back. It was a sign of the ultimate rejection to our kind. Though I tried not to take it personally, it hurt on a deep level.

I wanted to kiss her again and a whole lot more, but not there. The place had always given me the creeps and before then I had only spent enough time in that place to satisfy a dare, since the first time Kyle and I had stumbled across it and asked Dad what it was. I knew it had been the right thing to do, but I was ready to take her home, shower, and claim my mate over and over again until my wolf was again at peace. So I did.

For the first week or two afterward, I could barely let Maddie out of my sight. I still didn't know all the details of what had happened, and wasn't sure I ever would, or wanted to, but something had scared her. I could tell, because she clung to me, too.

She asked if she could enroll in some online classes, saying that with Oscar she had never had the opportunity. Annie had insisted on her graduating high school, but college had never really been an option. Of course I encouraged her, and set up a second desk in my office for her to work and stay nearby. With the construction of the house wrapping up, I didn't expect her to work side by side with me much longer, but for the time I was grateful. It was exactly what my wolf and I needed.

With the tension of her mission behind us, we started to grow closer again. It was insane how much I had missed her in those weeks of distance where she kept her silence, as I had stubbornly asked, but causing a wedge between us in the process.

Somehow the mission had helped us in the bedroom, too. She was no longer freaking out or pulling away if I got a little aggressive. It was a good thing too, because my wolf was exceedingly aggressive these days and it was rubbing off on me, too. It wasn't all bad though. I felt stronger, more secure in myself than I ever had before. Kyle had even recognized me as an Alpha to the pack council. I had been a little surprised. I had never shown Alpha signs before, but they watched for them throughout the pack. Channeling Alphas in healthy ways that allowed them to be active members of the pack without causing problems was an important process within the pack. It helped guide and direct them into positions of power. My job as CEO already gave me that, so little was changing in my life in that regard.

Standing before the mirror, looking over my tux on what was supposed to be the greatest day of my life—at least that's what the humans said—I thought life was pretty good. Lily and Maddie had spent countless hours making this day the greatest wedding in the history of weddings. I smiled to myself thinking about it. If this was what she wanted, what did it really hurt?

Oscar was still beyond excited. I had insisted on incorporating his adoption into the ceremony, despite my sister's protests. He was as much a part of this as Maddie and I, perhaps even more, because we both knew the only reason I had agreed to any of it was for him.

Dad knocked on my bedroom and walked in, looking like a slightly bigger, grayer version of me.

“How are you holding up, son?” he asked.

I shrugged. “It's all just a formality, really. They're already mine.” My grin widened. We hadn't been able to seal our bond, but we would be legally tied to each other after today, a “real” family as Oscar liked to say.

Mom peeked her head into the room, and immediately started to tear up. “It's time.”

Dad went to his mate and consoled her, as he escorted her from the room before she could begin fussing over me. I said a quick prayer that my groomsmen had sobered up some. Since we were going all out, they had insisted on a kickass bachelor party the night before, and less than twelve hours ago had all been completely shitfaced—well, with exception of my best man, Oscar. Of course I didn't drink, so it wasn't an issue for me.

“Hey, look at you!” I said, seeing Oscar in his tux for the first time. He looked so grown-up and proud, with little Z toddling after him carrying the ring bearer pillow. No, we were not allowing a one-year-old to carry the actual rings. He had fake ones tied to it and they would only be for show.

Lily and Elise had truly gone all out. There was froufrou girly stuff everywhere. My new backyard was covered in tulle and flowers and though we had asked to keep it small, it looked like half of San Marco had shown up anyway.

Maddie's family hadn't been able to make it, except for her sister Shelby, who was one of the bridesmaids. Collier Pack had three newly mated pairs and challenges had been scheduled requiring their Alpha. I knew the reunion of Maddie and Shelby must have been an emotional one, and I truly hoped my mate was okay. They had held their own bachelorette party and my sisters forbade me to come anywhere near her until the wedding.

We didn't get settled into the house as we had hoped, but I did have a surprise of my own for our honeymoon night. Our new king sized bed had arrived the day before. It was the only piece of furniture in the house, but as far as I was concerned, it was the only one that mattered. The rest would be delivered within the week.

I didn't realize I was nervous in the least, until I saw Kyle, Patrick, Chase, and Cole Anderson dressed and sober enough at least. Relief washed over me. Chase hadn't yet met Madelyn, at least not since her return. He had driven in from college late the night before to stand up for me in the wedding. I knew he would love her and welcome her to the family.

“We're all ready, Liam. You have five minutes then we need to start walking out. Cole will lead the way,” Oscar informed me, checking his watch every few minutes to ensure we weren't late.

“Kid, you've been hanging out with Aunt Lily entirely too much.” They all laughed, knowing it was true.

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