Page 64 of Rejected Wolf's Secret Baby (Rejected Moons 4)

“I won’t do that.”

“Because youhavedone that.”

“I know,” Alicia says. “It’ll be different this time. I promise.”

Fuck, I really want to trust that promise. I’ve believed things could be good between us so many times. But she’s saying this time is different.

I get to my feet and take her in my arms quickly, before she can make her escape. “I love you,” I say.

She bursts out laughing.

“Is that funny?”

Alicia controls herself. “It’s not,” she says. “Of course it’s not. It’s just that you got to say it first.”

I smile. “You can say it now if you want to.”

“Of course I love you,” she says. “Do you know how hard it’s been keeping that to myself?”

“You never had to.” Doesn’t she know how much I’ve wanted to hear her say this? How even now, it feels like I can barely keep my feet on the ground, I’m so elated?

But she shakes her head and says, “You don’t understand.”

Again. Again, I don’t understand.

But she loves me.

“I’m going to ask you again to be my mate,” I tell her.

“You’re just going to ask me? Here and now?” I’m stunned. I never thought this would actually happen. I’ve been actively trying to avoid this. And now I’m face to face with it.

“No. I’m not asking you now. But I’m telling you that it’s coming, so you can tell me if it’s not what you want. You can tell me not to ask if you think you’re going to say no.”

“Then you won’t be rejected,” she says, like she’s got me all figured out.

But she’s wrong. “You’re worth the risk of rejection,” I tell her. “I just don’t want you to run away again. Even if I’m not what you want, I want you to stay. I want you to stay as my mate, but if you can’t or won’t, then stay as my friend.”

Alicia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “I’ll have to think about it,” she says quietly. “I can’t promise anything.”

“That’s fine,” I say, even though I’m dying for an answer. “Think about it. I’ll ask you soon enough.”

“I do love you,” she says.

And even though I don’t understand why, I do understand what she’s telling me.

It will have to be good enough for now.

38

ALICIA

“Hesaidhelovedyou?”

Kayla and I are sitting at the kitchen table and drinking tea, although right now I feel like I need something a little stronger. I’ll stick with the tea, though. I need to have a clear head. I have a decision to make here.

“That’s what he said,” I say.

“And you told him you loved him too?”

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