“Get to know your mate and give this pairing a chance,” Grayson advised.
Rafe dropped his head back onto the headrest. “She’s a Sacco. Kane’s daughter.”
Grayson gestured with an open palm. “If she’s your mate, your wolf won’t let you walk away.”
Rafe’s wolf snorted inside.It’s true. I refuse to let you ignore our mate and drive us to misery and possible insanity.
“I’m starting to sense that.” Rafe exhaled through flared nostrils. “After all the strife it’s caused, let me ask you something. Is it worth it?”
Grayson cocked his head. “Do you mean bonding with my mate?”
“Yes. Any regrets?” Rafe added.
Grayson shook his head with decisiveness. “No. None. Yes, there’s been a price to pay with all the complications, but I’ll never regret choosing Aurora above all else. Since we’ve committed to each other with the mating bond, I feel balanced. I wasn’t even fully aware that something was missing in my life until she made me whole. The searching, the inner restlessness is gone.”
Which was exactly how Rafe had been feeling. He ran one hand over his temple. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Grayson asked.
“It means I’m utterly and simply screwed.”
Mila
When the door opened to the supply room, Mila sat up on her cot and glanced up. One of the Franconia’s dopey shifters had given her an oversize, button-down shirt and a cot to sleep on. A female had helped her use the bathroom earlier. Although Mila had searched for a means to escape, the restraints that bound her wrists as well as ankles had made it impossible to run.
In stepped Rafe, and her body responded with a strange mix of disgust and elation.
He’s back,her wolf rejoiced.Don’t scare him away this time.
Ha! Time to catch up to the reality that this alpha was completely off-limits. Last night, Rafe had been infuriating. Today, he was sure to be even more so. She resolved to keep herself calm and not let him get a rise out of her.
His scent reached her and her wolf pranced like a pup discovering snow for the first time, rolling in it with gleeful abandon.
Great.
She snarled.
“Sleep well, Sacco?” Rafe asked.
“Wonderful!” she declared with contempt. “I’ve never spent a more comfortable night than one locked inside a room and forced to sleep on a shitty cot.”
He closed the door and narrowed his gaze. “You could have woken up in your sweet little bed this morning if you hadn’t chosen to trespass over here and sabotage my business.” His stare hardened. “So who put you up to it? Daddy Dearest? His evil henchman, Lars?”
Mila ground her jaw. With those few words, he edged close to the truth. She raised her chin and declared. “I volunteered to do so.” She was now questioning why since she hadn’t been as stealthy as she thought and had been captured. Way to go in proving worthiness to the pack, especially her father.
Epic failure.
Rafe scanned her body. “You’re wearing clothes.”
“Genius!” She bit into the word and wagged an index finger. “Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you weren’t born with the big brains, Alpha.”
He appraised her, his expression turning amused. “Do you always have such a smart mouth?”
“Being held captive tends to bring it out in me,” she replied.
“If you watch the attitude, I’ll make sure you get something to eat soon.”
“Oh.” She tipped her head to one side and batted her eyelashes. “My hero.”
