Page 108 of Bitten Shifter

He steps closer, wrapping his arms around me. My cheek settles against his bare chest, and I’m enveloped in his warmth and comforting scent. The purr deepens, and the bass hums through me, soothing the tangled mass of hurt and stress, melting the tension in my muscles, and stilling the storm raging in my head.

Merrick feels safe.

For the first time in weeks, I feel safe.

Leaning against him, it’s as though the broken pieces inside me finally begin to slot back into place.

“I love you, Lark,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “I will always love you. And if you decide you can’t forgive me, I will still love you. I will protect you for the rest of my life, because my world does not make sense without you. My life means nothing if I don’t have you.”

I lift my head, and his eyes—those beautiful, piercing eyes—glisten with unshed tears. Seeing this strong, steadfast man laid bare before me twists something deep inside.

Guilt and shame bubble up, knowing I’ve pushed him to this point.

Yet love follows, overwhelming and undeniable love.

“You lit up my world like the sun breaking through a storm,” he goes on quietly. “You made me realise how lost I was. Because when I’m not near you, I feel it—sharp, unbearable. Missing you hurts, Lark. It’s like a physical pain.”

He pauses, resting his forehead gently against mine. His breath is warm and steady, yet electric with unspoken feeling.

“Losing you because I misjudged things was the worst moment of my life. The vampire used magic to breach the wards, disrupting Lander’s freezing spell—it didn’t trigger until that magic was displaced. When he attacked you, the spell finally activated, but it was too close. Too damn close. I should’ve planned for everything. I should have known.”

His jaw tightens, and he exhales in frustration. “I hate myself for risking you. I hate that I failed you. I don’t ever want you to feel that fear again. Not from me, not from anyone.”

“You didn’t fail me,” I whisper.

He shakes his head, his voice raw. “I did. But I won’t fail you again. As long as I’m breathing, I will protect you. Always.”

His hand brushes my cheek, his thumb tracing a gentle path over my skin. “Please, Lark,” he says, voice cracking. “Forgive me?”

The desperation in his gaze is nearly unbearable.

“Okay,” I whisper, the word slipping out before I can think.

I see my own surprise echoed in his eyes, but he keeps me close.

“You are it for me, Lark. I will never stop fighting for us.”

“I’m sorry,” I manage, choking on the words. “I was terrified—so much was happening, and I didn’t know how to cope. That’s why I was so angry with you. It was all too much. I’m so sorry.”

His fingers slide into my hair, massaging my scalp with disarming gentleness.

“I love you,” I say, my voice quiet but laden with everything I’ve held back.

Merrick’s arms tighten around me, his breath catching as he holds me. Each unspoken vow hums between us in every heartbeat.

I once thought the breakdown of my marriage was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. But now I see it was only the beginning—a painful shove toward a destiny I’d never imagined, a fate waiting for me all along.

It didn’t break me; it transformed me.

Like a butterfly, I emerged from the wreckage stronger, freer, and finally ready to embrace the life I was meant to have.

“The storm’s passed. Would you like to go for a run?” Merrick asks softly.

“A run?”

“As wolves,” he clarifies, a teasing smile curving his lips.

Before I can reply, a muffled voice calls through the front door. “I can drive. I will get the car.”

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