“That’s a lot.” I breathe, lost for words.
“It is,” he says gently. “It is massive, and it changes everything. But it’s not something you have to force. For humans especially, it’s a gradual process. The bond is already there, it’s a thread that strengthens with time, with trust, with love. It’s only after the bite that it hits hard.”
“But what does it mean….. long term?” I ask. “Do I lose who I am?”
He shakes his head. “No. Not unless you want to. The bond doesn’t erase you or your feelings. It enhances what’s already there.”
“And you? When you knew I was yours, how did that feel?”
He’s quiet for a long moment before answering. “Like someone finally turned the lights on when I’ve been in the dark for a long time, Paige. I saw you, and suddenly… I knew. My wolf knew. But I kept it to myself, because I didn’t want to scare you. Or pressure you. Or make you feel like you didn’t have a choice.”
“You should have told me,” I whisper, but there’s no anger in it. I completely understand why he kept it from me.
“I know, and I’m sorry.” He leans forward, resting his arms on the kitchen island. “But I’d rather be patient and do it right than push you into something you’re not ready for. You’ve had enough to deal with.”
“I just… I don’t want to let anyone down.”
“You won’t,” he promises.
I take a slow sip of my tea, letting his words settle.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“For what?”
“For waiting, for being here, for explaining things and for making me feel safe.”
Parker’s smile is soft, his eyes full of honesty. “I’d wait forever if it meant I still got to be yours in the end.”
There’s a long, quiet stretch after that. It doesn’t feel heavy or awkward. Just… calm. Like the stillness after a storm. I think I understand what he means about being near your mate settling you, because he’s had this effect on me from the start. It’s almost like his presence wraps around me like a blanket.
Parker watches me for a moment longer, his fingers tracing the rim of his beer bottle. Then he pushes it aside, looking at me nervously. “Would it be okay if I held you?”
The question is so simple. So gentle. But it undoes me.
I nod before I can second-guess myself. “Yes,” I whisper. “I’d like that.”
He moves slowly, as if he’s giving me a chance to change my mind with every step. He walks around the counter and extends a hand toward me, not grabbing, not pulling, just offering. I take it.
He draws me up and into his arms, and for a second I just stand there, unmoving. Then something inside me relaxes. My body melts against his, my face resting against his chest. He smells of pine, warmth and something clean. Like this, with his arms around me, everything else fades away.
His hold is firm but not crushing. Protective, not possessive.
I exhale a breath. “I didn’t realise how much I needed this.”
He hums. “Any time you need this, just come to me, you don’t even have to ask. I’ve felt your need for it for days, but I didn’t want to overstep. You carry a lot, Paige. You shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
“I’ve always done it alone,” I say quietly, not really meaning to admit it. “It just… became a habit, I guess.”
“Well,” he says, his voice so sure, “you don’t have to anymore.”
I press my cheek against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. With Parker’s arms around me, I feel untouchable. Held together. Emotionally stronger than ever.
His thumb moves in a slow, comforting circle over the small of my back. “You’re safe here,” he says, so softly I almost miss it.
I believe him. Not because the world has suddenly become less dangerous, but because, in this moment, wrapped in his warmth, I feel it. That thread he talked about. The one that connects us.
It’s not overwhelming. Not yet. But it’s there, humming quietly beneath my skin. I close my eyes and let myself breathe him in.
When I open my eyes again, I pull back, just enough to look up at him. His eyes search mine as if he knows what I’m about to say.
“I want you to kiss me now, Parker.”
Get
** Parker’s POV **
“I want you to kiss me now, Parker.”
The words knock the air from my lungs.
I don’t move right away. I’m not sure I can. She’s looking up at me like I’m something she wants, and I’ve spent days trying to bury just how badly I want her too.
“Are you sure?” I manage, my voice low, husky with restraint.
She nods, lips parted, eyes wide but steady. “I’ve never been more sure.”
That’s all I need.
I cup her face gently, letting my thumbs brush over the soft skin of her cheeks before I kiss her slowly. She leans into it, her hands gripping my shirt, and it’s all I can do not to lose control right then. I don’t want to rush this. I want to savour it. Every second, every breath, every flicker of emotion in her kiss.
Her lips are soft, warm, eager, and when I deepen the kiss, I feel her melt into me like she’s been waiting for this too.
A low growl rumbles in my chest. Not threatening, just need. For her. For more.
I lift her easily, gripping her waist as I guide her back onto the kitchen island. She gasps, but her legs wrap around my hips without hesitation, pulling me closer, anchoring me to her.
My hands settle on her thighs, then trace slowly upward, palms pressing against warm skin beneath the hem of her top. She kisses me deeper, harder, and I match her intensity with everything I’ve been holding back.
The taste of her undoes me, and still, I manage to keep one part of my mind clear. This can’t just lust. Not with her. Not with what she’s been through. She deserves more. be
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