Page 71 of Hawke

“Our bed is our nest. Males create one for their females to entice them to stay. We release our scent. It is supposed to make our mates feel secure, loved, and ultimately protected.”

I rolled my bottom lip into my mouth. “We? Why are you saying we?”

“My wolf,” he stated. “My wolf is in my subconscious, well, more like on the surface. He talks to me. He is definitely more animal than human. In fact, he made the nest the other night and also woke you up with his tongue between your thighs.” Hawke’s eyes darkened, his large hand gripping my backside to pull me closer to him.

“T-that wasn’t you? It was your wolf?”

He nodded, pressing a kiss to my cheek. If I weren’t wrapped up like a burrito, almost unable to move, I would have been rubbing my thighs together.

“So, you didn’t do that? He did?”

Hawke nodded.

“Have him do it again.”The voice purred.

This voice was going to kill me.

As weird as it was, his inner animal licking me, touching me… It was still Hawke. And I suppose that since they were both one and the same, then it was okay?

Sheesh, I’ll have to question that part later—

“And why did you say, mate? What is a mate?” I stared up at him. His dark eyes sparkled with a happiness I’d only seen a few times.

He beamed, cupping my cheek, and placed a sweet kiss on my lips.

“All supernaturals believe in the Moon Goddess. She is the matchmaker of souls, and with the help of Fate and Destiny, supernaturals are led to their supposedly one true love.”

Hawke had a sorrowful voice when he spoke, a pain I couldn’t describe. It wasn’t toward me or didn’t feel like it was. Instead, he stared at me like I was his light house, guiding him home.

“And you think we are soul mates?” I whispered.

“I know we are, Sunshine. From the very first time I saw you, when I touched you, I knew you were. But my stubborn ass didn’t think the gods would grant me a second chance at finding my soulmate. I thought I was reaching for something I could never have.”

“Wait, what?” I cocked my head. “Second chance? So, there was another that was yours?”

That did not sit well with me. Hawke was supposed to have another soulmate? How did that work? How did I know I wasn’t just the second best replacement?

The voice in my head growled; she didn’t like that either. A growl escaped my own lips, and Hawke raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“I’m not finished with my story,” Hawke said sternly. “But I fucking love it when you get all possessive. It’s hot as hell.” He rolled his hips between the apex of my thighs. Even with the thick blankets, I could feel his raging erection.

I whimpered, wanting to escape the cocoon of blankets, but Hawke stilled, resting his hand on my lower back.

“The Moon Goddess may suggest a pairing for souls. They are instantly attracted to one another, but all supernaturals are given their agency. A choice. They can reject the bond, reject the soulmate. When that happens, they choose a chosen mate and seal their soul with the other person.”

Hawke’s eyes went cold, his grip on my waist like iron.

“W-what happens to the one that gets left alone?” My words were a mere whisper, my heart racing in my chest.

“They become a rogue.” Hawke’s voice went hard. “A broken soul. Without a complimenting soul, they slowly die with no chance for redemption. My wolf has not been out of my body for years, unable to shift because we’ve been too weak. His hair grew matted, his body becoming weaker by the day. Once I realized I needed you and couldn’t live without you, he came back to me. Once I decided I wanted you and was going to keep you, he was there, ready to claim you.”

My heart ached, seeing Hawke’s face drop and his eyes fill with sorrow. But that didn’t stop him from claiming my lips with fervor, and the kiss that ensued was electric. I felt a sudden surge of warmth, my hands desperately pushing away the heavy blankets.

Hawke was rejected by some bitch, but I was glad. I was glad that he was, so I could have him. As I thought about the Goddess throwing me at him as a second choice, it bothered me. But even without this bond, I would have been attracted to the big grump.

This bond that wove us together was strong, but what was stronger was my feelings, my heart that had been quickly enamored of the big grumpy biker. I still had a choice, he had a choice, and I was damned happy he was finally choosing me and not going off of some bond.

“He was always meant to be ours,”the voice whispered.

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