Page 46 of Betrayed Wolf Mate

But Sam didn’t answer. Instead, a rustling sound came from behind me, like Sam had opened a drawer and was rifling around in it.

Then he said, “Stella?”

I turned back around and saw Sam shifting back and forth on his feet. His features were taut, and my stomach clenched in dread. What on earth could be making him this nervous?

“What’s wrong?” I asked, unable to conceal the panic in my voice.

He hesitated, fiddling with something in his hand I couldn’t see.

“I was sort of waiting until all of this blew over,” he said. “When the last of the loose threads tied up, you know? And that’s happened now.”

“Yes…” I said slowly. I still had no idea what he was talking about, but my heart was beating so hard, it was threatening to shatter my rib cage.

He sighed, clearly trying to find the words. “Do you still not believe in fated mates?”

I nearly laughed. That was what was worrying him? “I was able to find you in a massive forest because my wolf led me to you,” I said. “I’m pretty sure denying the whole fated mates thing would be stupid at this point.”

He snorted, looking a little more at ease. Then he took a deep breath. “I know you want to be independent,” he said. “And I respect that. I really do. But I also want to spend the rest of my life with you. Do you think there’s a chance we can figure out how to do both those things?”

“I’m sure we could make it work,” I said, my brow furrowing. “Sam, I’m sorry, but could you tell me what’s going on here?”

“I’m trying,” he said. He scowled. “I really didn’t think I would be so bad at this.”

I wanted to askbad at what?But something lodged in my throat, blocking the words. My body froze.

“I’m able to open up to you in a way that I haven’t been able to with anyone else before,” he said. “And I meant it when I said I think you came back into my life for a reason, and that it was fate. But I don’t think fate has anything to do with how much I love you.” He took a deep breath. “I want to be with you no matter where you decide to go. I’m not losing you again.”

Hesitantly, he got down on one knee. I think I might have squeaked. He held up the object in his hand, and I saw it was a velvet black box.

I had always thought the hand-to-the-mouth gesture you always saw in cheesy romantic movies was a trope. But my hand flew to my mouth as my brain finally registered what was happening.

“Oh,” I said. “Oh.”

“I know I fucked up the first time around,” he began. “But I’m not the same idiot I was back then, and I’m not going to make the same mistake again.”

I don’t think I’d ever seen him babble this much. It was kind of adorable.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

I nodded, still too stunned to trust my mouth to work properly. My head was swimming in surprise and happiness.

Grinning like a maniac, Sam stood, his hands still trembling slightly as he slipped the ring on my finger. I pulled his mouth to mine, kissing him deeply and trying to push all the love I felt for him into that simple gesture. His arms wrapped around me, holding me tight, and we stayed like that for a long time.

Eventually, I broke the kiss and looked at the ring now wrapped around my finger. It was a yellow gold band, formed to look like two vines intertwining with one another, ending in two leaves that cradled the largest diamond I had ever seen. My eyes widened at just how gorgeous and perfect it was.

“I had it made just for you,” Sam said, still holding me tightly. “Do you like it?”

I laughed. “I love it.” I was dizzy with happiness. I was going to spend the rest of my life with the shifter I loved. My wolf howled in excitement, just as happy as I was to be with her mate forever. The wolf she had recognized as her mate all those years ago, even if I had been too stubborn or dense to realize it myself.

I kissed him again. This time, the kiss intensified. His grip around me tightened, pulling me in closer so that our bodies pressed against one another. A moan escaped my lips, and Sam’s grip on me tightened even further.

His hands moved downward, toying with the hem of my shirt before slipping beneath it, sliding along my stomach. That delightful tension he always instilled in me began creeping in. Already, my wolf was hungry for him, and the lust growing inside me intensified even further.

My hands yanked desperately at his shirt, yearning for more of him. It didn’t take long for him to comply. I took in the sight of his gorgeous, well-toned body, as much of a turn-on for me now as it was when I’d first met him.

I didn’t wait for him to take my own shirt off; I did it myself. The hungry way he looked me up and down sent shivers through my entire body. The bulge in his pants stiffened as my shirt fell to the floor, along with my bra a few seconds later. His eyes raked across my body in a way that made my toes curl.

He stalked toward me, none of his earlier nervousness anywhere to be seen on his face, and pulled me toward him, locking his lips against mine as his fingers gripped my hips, holding me in place.

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