Page 107 of Hayden's Haven
Ah, there, he found it. She still worried about his strength. Her worries mounted as they approached the lake where everyone would strip, shift, and run. She thought he was sacrificing for her, giving up his strength, but having the bond was something she had dreamed about her whole life, and he wouldn’t let her give it up because of him. In truth, he had wanted the blood-bond his whole life as well, though it had always seemed a fleeting dream. Now that he had found her, that dream had become reality. The bond was there. Mila and he had succeeded. They had won, no matter the outcome of their shifter abilities.
“It will be fine, sunshine.”
“I know,” she said, her smile trying to hide the worry he felt over the bond.
He kissed her, long and hard until he heard whistles around them. They were here to run, not make out. No, that would come later, when he had her deep in the woods, alone and under the moon. If they couldn’t go to Drake’s pack because it was too dangerous without his strength, then he would stay here, where she had her friends, the lab, and a pack that accepted her. He could stay on as Damien’s counsel, and let another strong shifter take his place as second. It would be enough, more than enough, because he would have Mila, and that’s all he needed and wanted.
“Let’s do this!” Damien called out from the rocks at the front of the lake. “But first, let’s call up the newly blood-bonded pair.”
“Fuck, Damien. Can’t you keep your nose out of anything?” Hayden said.
“I can. Tess can’t.” That earned Damien an elbow to the ribs.
Mila placed her hand over her mouth as she laughed. Well, they hadn’t exactly covered up the scars on their palms and the faint scent of blood remained. It was hard keeping secrets in a camp full of shifters. The scars would disappear in a few hours or days if their healing abilities had declined with the blood-bond.
“Lady’s first,” Hayden said. “I expect to see some jumping and joy even if you don’t shift fast after blood-bonding. This is to be celebrated, Mila, not looked at as anything less than what it is, a celebration of our bond.” He kissed her. She hesitated for just a moment, nodded and then shifted, fast!
She did just as he said. She jumped and ran in circles around him while the entire camp sent up a thunderous cheer. She finally settled, leaning her dark brown coat against his legs. He sank his left hand into her fur.
“No matter what, Hayden, you have a place here,” Damien said, knowing the risk. There was a good chance that if Mila’s abilities increased through the blood-bond, Hayden’s would decrease. Nature had a way of balancing abilities through the blood-bond, putting a couple on equal footing.
With a nod to Damien, Hayden dropped beside Mila to shift. A symphony of howls sounded through the area as the pack followed suit, shifting.
To Hayden’s utter shock, he shifted as fast as ever. Mila threw herself against him, knocking his wolf over. He took her body slam and howled with sheer delight.
More howls filled the air as the rest of the pack shifted.
Hayden’s wolf sprang to his feet, pausing only long enough to nip at Mila’s hindquarters, teasing her, enticing her to chase him. Hundreds of paws struck the earth, shaking the ground as the pack followed them deep into the woods.
The howling persisted, moving as one pack wherever Damien was leading them.
Hayden led Mila away from the other wolves and found a spot in the moonlight for just the two of them. He gently grabbed Mila by the throat and pinned her to the ground. They both shifted, him lying atop her, supporting himself on his hands as she slipped her arms around her neck.
“I didn’t weaken you!” Mila said, amazed.
Hayden sank his cock into her, slowly, enjoying every second as he watched those brilliant green eyes stared up at him.
“From the day I met you, my Mila, you’ve been a constant source of sunshine. No power in the world could dampen the light within you.” He took it slow with her, feeling his cock slide into her sweet warmth as the bond wove its way through their souls. Her eyes never moved from his, even as a new heat rose from within. They walked the edge together preparing to launch themselves off that cliff. His body began shaking a new spark wrapped around and entered his soul. Mila.
As the bond snapped into place, her walls clamped around him, holding him tight. He released into his Mila even as her soul moved through him. There were no words. They didn’t need any. This was what life was about, being with his mate, blood-bonded, being one with his Mila.
Chapter Twenty-Four
HAYDEN
Mila slipped her hand into Hayden’s as they entered the cookhouse. They were early, as the party didn’t start for another hour. Hayden looked over at his mate, the confidence on her face. She made him feel so alive. He only wished he shared her confidence. Taking her to Drake’s pack didn’t sit right with him. There were bad memories there for her, but as she reminded him, there were bad memories for him there as well. She was right.
“Stop worrying,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
Hayden swung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close so he could kiss her temple. “It’s my job.”
“Everything will be fine,” she said, trying to reassure him as they entered the cookhouse. “Has Damien given you his answer yet?”
“I haven’t asked him yet.” Hayden had been avoiding asking Damien to release him from his loyalty oath. Alphas only released lower-ranking shifters, usually when they moved to another pack to blood-bond. Never a second or an enforcer. There were too many secrets regarding pack safety to protect. Hayden could never swear a loyalty oath to Drake unless Damien first released him. To do otherwise would be considered treason.
“Maybe it’s just as well. I don’t like the idea of you swearing an oath to Drake.”
“I don’t like it any better.” Hayden stopped walking. “Please understand, Mila, I need to be there. To fix what I can.”
