Page 26 of Coveted By The Bear

For me.

“Hope D’Amato, right?” Marcus asked.

“That’s right. Take these cuffs off him.”

“Miss, I am sorry, but you need to let us finish this interview,” Daniel said, standing.

But even the Enforcer’s serious mien couldn’t sway her. And goddamn it, I fell in love right then. I mean, I already knew she was my mate, but this display of possession and protection, well, it had my heart galloping like a herd of wild horses inside my chest.

No one ever did that for me before. Not one single person I could recall.

“You need to uncuff my mate right now. He saved my life tonight. He is no criminal,” she snapped back at the two huge men.

She was trembling from head to toe, but she didn’t smell scared. She smelled angry.

And that was hot as fuck.

“Do you know what you’re saying? What it means to be his mate?” Daniel asked.

“I know I want him. I care for him. And if he wants me, too, then I am going to have him.”

“Are you sure you want this, Hope? Cause if you don't and you walk away it will kill him,” Daniel said, plainly.

Fuck. He wasn’t wrong. But I hated that his words might persuade her.

“What happens if I say no? Do you let him stay here?” she asked.

“No,” Daniel said. It was the truth.

“He’s already chosen you, Hope. If you don’t want him, he will be unable to control his Bear. A Shifter like that, well, he’s broken. He could destroy the thing that keeps our kind safe.”

“What do you do with Shifters like that?” Hope asked.

I already knew, so I didn’t react when Daniel answered.

“We put them down.”

Hope gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Then she straightened her spine and looked right at Marcus.

“Uncuff him. Miles is mine, and I want him. He belongs to me, and I belong to him,” she said, finally turning to face me.

“Uncuff him,” Marcus said, and Daniel grumbled, but he obeyed his Alpha’s command.

I didn’t think the Enforcer liked me very much, but that was okay. He didn’t have to.

“Hope,” I began, reaching for her the second my hands were free.

I didn’t want to dare to believe this woman might actually consider accepting my claim. That she might consent to being mine.

“I'm telling the truth. I want this. I want us. I knew it the first night I saw you,” she whispered.

“Alpha, please give me tonight with my mate. That is all I ask. If you decide to banish me after that,” I replied, my Bear seeping into my voice, making it thick and rough.

“Tomorrow you will stand before me and the council. We will hear what you both have to say then, and I will make my decision,” Marcus said.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

I took Hope’s hand, guiding her to the door, and to her car. When I opened my palm, she handed me the keys silently.

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