Page 48 of Fated
His eyes held mine.
I love you.
I closed my eyes as his words washed over me. My mother was at peace while my monster of a father was burning in hell. I opened my eyes again and looked at Blake.
There was still a traitor in my pack who was helping Richard. I also had no idea how I was going to lead one of the most powerful packs but, in that moment, none of those problems mattered.
Blake was magnificent. His fur was a darker shade of brown and it looked soft. I wanted to reach out and run my human hand through it. I’d found my mate and, despite all the issues and deception we’d dealt with, we were together. I’d tried to fight my true feelings for him but I loved him.
For that little time, I didn’t fight the happiness I felt, I reveled in every moment of it. Together Blake and I explored the forest. It didn’t seem to upset him that I never said those important words back to him. Maybe he understood that it would take me a while before I was confident enough to tell him.
Besides, wasn’t it more important that I felt that way about him? Just saying the words to him was more of a formality than anything else.
When it was time to go back, I hesitated. The carefree feeling of happiness felt fleeting and I wanted to hold on to it and never let it go.
What is it?Blake asked, seeing my hesitation.
I don’t want to lose this feeling, I answered him. He studied me for a moment before he walked over to me and leaned his head against mine. The soft brush of his fur against mine soothed me.
I promise to make sure you feel this way again, he promised softly into my mind.I promise to make you happy.
My heart squeezed at his words as I enjoyed the little moment we were sharing.
The sun was starting to set and it was time to get back. I didn’t want to still be exploring the forest after dark, especially when Richard was around somewhere.
I’ll race you, I shot at him before I bounded off into the forest, intent on beating him back to my property. Although I heard him close behind me all the way back to my pack, I was still convinced that he could have beaten me but he allowed me to win.
Most alpha males wouldn’t be able to put their ego aside to do that and that is why I was more convinced than ever that fate chose the exact person you needed. Blake didn’t need to prove anything even though we both knew he could have beaten me. I don’t know how I would have coped had I been fated to spend eternity with an egotistical and high-handed alpha like my father had been.
When I stopped outside the gate, I shifted back to my human form. I felt my carefree happiness begin to disappear, replaced by the responsibilities I held as a leader of my pack, which brought with it the tension into my shoulders. I heard Blake shift behind me and he walked up to me. I leaned against him for a moment, enjoying the last few moments before I stepped through the gate.
“You were so beautiful,” he whispered beside my ear and then he kissed my cheek.
His words and the way they made me feel made me turn to face him. I lifted myself onto my tiptoes and kissed him as my arms wrapped around his neck. I controlled the kiss as our lips moved together. I pushed my tongue against his lips and he opened them. The feeling that curled up in my stomach made me want more than just his lips on mine. I caressed his tongue with mine and I heard him groan against my lips.
Breathless, I pulled away and smiled at him. I liked that I had this effect on him.
“You keep that up and we will be going straight to bed,” he teased with a smile that made him look younger and less formidable.
“Who says that isn’t the plan?” I teased back, feeling a smile tug at my lips.
It took me a moment to realize I liked the person I was when I was with him. I didn’t have to act a certain way, I could be exactly who I was and it didn’t matter to him. He gave me a sexy smile that made me want to lead him by the hand back to my room and do a lot of naughty things to him. But as always, I had responsibilities. He saw the change in me immediately.
“It’s okay. Go do what you need to and I'll see you back in your room in a couple of hours,” he offered.
“That sounds good,” I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before I walked back into the property. I had to talk to Curtis and start putting my own plans into the day-to-day running of the pack.
Under my father’s rule, he’d refused any children to attend school so we had all been homeschooled. It had ensured that we didn’t escape his vicious rules. That was going to change.
Curtis was in the medical center as usual and as I walked into his office he stood up and pulled me into a hug.
“You okay?” he asked as he pulled back to scan my features.
“Yes,” I replied.
“How’d your first shift go?” he asked as he released me.
“It was good,” I replied, not wanting to tell anyone about the finer details of my first shift with my mate. I felt it was a special thing just shared by the two of us.
