Page 142 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“No. But neither have you seen mine.”

“You are light, Alia. A light that cannot be extinguished by the dark.”

“No, Sheng-Li, my Alpha. I’m the star that burns bright because of your night sky.”

His eyes popped open, his mouth dropping, no words coming forth.

“You are my mate, Shen. Source brought us together for a reason. But now… now I’m glad that it did. You’ve met my needs, helped me take down the walls I’d erected, and helped me understand how to light my own path. You protect and defend, but you also respect my wishes—both verbal and non-verbal. I want to be your mate in soul and spirit and someday, after it’s official, in body and mind. I need you for tomorrow and for all the battles we’ll face. We’ll be stronger… together, as one.”

He leaned his head down until it rested against my forehead, as if his body could no longer support his weight alone. He wrapped his other hand around the back of my neck and breathed me in deeply. “This requires much from my werewolf. I will be unable to shift and will need time to recover.”

“Then I’ll watch over you until you’re ready to battle again.”

He pulled back, his eyes creasing with a smile. “I trust you, heart of my heart and star of my sky. Come.”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“We will have your dragon watch over you while you watch over me. We will travel to any place you wish, so long as it gives you time to think this through. You can always back out–” He choked on the words. He swallowed hard, his eyes twin glints of fire as he looked down at me. “You can rend the bond at any time, Alia. Ripping it from us now would be painful, but not terribly so. After the mating bond is in place, it will bringexcruciating pain should you reject me.” He halted, running a hand through his hair. “You need to think about this, Alia. Please. I do not wish to hurt you.”

I stepped in front of him, lifting his chin and forcing him to look at me. “Just because your mother was a spineless coward for placing such a load on you doesn’t mean you’ll hurt me.”

His eyes, shadowed with doubt and fear, met mine. But it was the self-loathing looming like a wraith within that made me suck in a breath.

“You will hurt me,” I whispered, staring into those eyes made of fire and night. He jerked as if I’d hit him. “You will. And I will hurt you. Shen, there’s no way around such things. But if we strive to be our best selves first, that’s when we can stand together through the pain and overcome the trials. We’re stronger together. You taught me that.”

“I am not worthy. I am broken.”

“I know,” I said around the lump in my throat. “But so am I. Maybe together, we can be two broken pots that are together forever.”

A tiny smile twitched on his lips. “Together…”

“Forever,” I repeated.

“I like the sound of that, Little Red.”

Ran alighted before us, regally folding her wings as she took in the two of us with a smirk.Finally. Thought you two would forever deny the sickly scent of love you tried to hide behind animosity.

I chuckled, kissing her nose when she brought it close enough.

I wanted it to be the waterfall, but I couldn’t risk leaving my tribe. Not right now.

But there wasn’t anywhere here I felt safe enough to be vulnerable.

“There is a cavern near your tribe. A place where anyone from here could come find us should something occur,” Shen said, watching what I assumed were my many thoughts flashing across my face.

I blinked at him. How'd he… You know what, it didn't matter. I gave a single nod.

Shen transformed. It took mere seconds for his wolven form to emerge from where a man had stood before. Lycus nuzzled his cold nose into my neck. I released a low laugh, catching his muzzle and kissing between his eyes. He almost went cross-eyed trying to watch me. “Hey, baby boy. It's good to see you too.”

His entire hind wiggled with giddiness, the ground shaking with his enthusiasm. He knelt before me, gesturing to his back with his head, his tongue hanging out as his entire body rattled with the force from his wagging tail.

Ran picked me up and sat me on him. I glared up at her.Busybody.

Better than a staller,she replied with a wink.

Shen slowly stood and turned to lick my foot. Then he looked me in the eye, waiting. “Let’s go,” I said, ruffling his silky mane with a smile.

With a low bark, he took off.

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