Page 22 of Charmed and Dangerous

A sob burst out of Sacha, and she hugged him. Maeve felt tears rolling down her face, and she inched her way out of the room to give the family privacy. Before she could leave, Sacha turned to her.

“Thank you for saving my son. I owe you, Maeve.”

Maeve nodded and slipped outside. Saul’s parents were in the living room and jumped to their feet when Maeve exited the room. She nodded tiredly at them. “He woke up.”

“He’ll be okay?”

“We’ll keep an eye on him, but I believe he is on the mend.”

Saul’s parents hugged and cried. She started for the door when Saul’s father stopped her. “Maeve, I told my son that I had concerns about you being right for him as a mate for an alpha. I was wrong. You took charge and knew what to do. You kept everyone calm and were confident. Our clan owes you. Thank you, Maeve.”

Her face burned, and she didn’t know what to say. “You’re welcome, Mr. Grimsbane.”

She slipped outside to the cool evening, a welcome change to the warm interior. After a moment, though, it was cold, and she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Now, how was she going to get home?

A jacket was placed around her shoulders, and she was pulled into Saul’s warm body. “Thank you for coming, Maeve. We owe you so much for saving Brady. We didn’t know he ate anything poisonous. He never told us about that berry. Who knows how many other cubs would have eaten it?”

She smiled, trying not to think about how right it felt to be in his arms. “I’m glad I could help. The Klosinth berry looks so much like a blueberry and has a sweet taste but a hint of decay. Shifters in particular like it because it almost tastes like sweet meat. They don’t taste the bad part of it.”

He swore. “We’ll burn it. All we can find. And seek out any more to ensure it’s all gone.”

“Good.” She leaned into him, involuntarily enjoying his warmth, the scent of his skin, trying not to think about being without him.

“Maeve, walk with me, please.”

She wanted to protest, but he sounded broken, like he needed her. So she nodded and let him lead her off the porch and into the meadow under the moonlight. After several minutes, they finally stopped.

Saul took a deep breath. “Maeve, this week has been hell without you. My bear knows you’re his mate and I want you, too. I know what you said about feeling like you can’t handle the bears or being strong enough for the clan, but you handled that healer perfectly well. I’m convinced you’ll handle the clan just fine. And, if you don’t want to be alpha mate, well, I don’t need to be the alpha either. Blaize can take over. I just want you. You’re the other half of my soul. You bring me peace, happiness, and soothe my bear. I need you, Maeve. I love you.”

Tears were pricking her eyes at his words, and she faced him. “Saul, you were right. I was running away again, hiding because it was easier. I blamed the potion, the clan, anything I could, so I could protect myself. But you had already stolen my heart, as had your clan. It’s going to take me some time, but I want to try. You’re worth it. I love you and I love your clan.”

He crushed her to him, lifting her off the ground to pull her fully to him. He kissed her, claiming her fully with his kiss. Maeve's heart raced as he pulled her closer, their lips lockedin a passionate frenzy. His strong arms enveloped her, sending shivers of desire through her body. She surrendered to his touch, feeling the heat between them intensifying with each passing second.

Their breaths mingled in the air as they finally broke apart, their eyes locking in a heated gaze. Maeve could feel the hunger in his stare, matching her own desire.

"I've never wanted anyone like this before," she whispered, her hands exploring his muscular chest. “You give me strength, make me stronger.”

He groaned softly, his fingers tracing down her spine. “I can't resist you, Maeve. You're like a drug to me, addicting and intoxicating. Be mine. Forever.”

She smiled and kissed him again. “I’m yours. Now and forever.”

Saul ledher to his house and quickly stripped her down, wrapping her in a soft faux fur blanket and settling her in front of the roaring fire. He brewed some tea and added a liberal dose of honey to sweeten it, and some whiskey to warm her up from the inside. He handed her the cup and settled behind her, pulling her between his legs against his chest.

She leaned back with a sigh, resting her head against his chest. “I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you. It seems odd that I should have missed you. I barely knew you. Yet, being without you this week has left a large void in my life, like all the magic had gone out of it.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and tightened his arms around her. “I felt the same. My bear was crankier than usual, and that’s saying something. Most of the clan was readyto exile me, and my sister wanted to ban me from the bakery. I think it’s safe to say you’re more popular with the clan than with me now.”

“At least more than that healer.”

He heard the laughter in her voice, and he groaned. “Don’t even joke about that.” After a moment, when they both were sipping their tea, though his was more liberally laced with honey and whiskey than tea, he asked, “Why aren’t you a healer? You seem well suited to that profession.”

She sighed. “My father refused to let me study healing. He said Whispers don’t work a trade. We study the secrets of the universe.”

He snorted. “How does he feel about you working in the Dupree’s shoppe?”

“He doesn’t know about that. We needed the money, and they were the only place that would carry my potions. He still doesn’t know.”

Anger burned inside of Saul. Her father was not improving on him, the more he knew about him. How could he leave the support of the family to Maeve yet not letting her have the means to do it? “Would you like to be a healer?”

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