“I was wrong,” I proclaim.
Before he can respond, I use my good hand to clutch the back of his neck and bring his face down to mine in a searing kiss.
At the taste of him, the feel of his sturdy body against mine, my proclamation is proven fact.How could I have thought for a second to give this up?To give him up?
I love my family, but they’re a sure thing.I realize that now.I could move to China, and my brothers would come by plane or boat or teleportation machine to force their overbearing love on me.
Warner doesn’t have to follow me.And I shouldn’t ask him to.What Warner needs is for someone to fight for him.To choose him.
To love him.
I cup his face, pulling myself away more than I’m pushing him back.I could kiss him until the next apocalyptic event ravaged the earth.And then I’d only pause for a moment to check if there were any zombies nearby before returning to his tempting mouth.
But I hurt him, and he deserves another Gunner apology.
This seems to be a habit for me.One I plan on breaking by making this man as happy as possible.
“I’m sorry, Warner.”
“Zoey—” He goes to interrupt me, but I cover his mouth with my hand, staring intently up at him.
“Let me say this?”After waiting for his nod, I continue, “You asked me to be your mate.To be with you forever.That’s heavy, and it scared me.I don’t think I was wrong to be nervous about that.”
His eyes get sad, and I push on.
“I’m not always … healthy.”
Hell, I didn’t think it would be this hard to say.There’s an urge to use metaphors or skirt around the topic.But I want the word out there.It needs to be said.I need to say it.
“For the last few years”—tears are in my throat, but I swallow them down—“I’ve battled depression.”
Warner’s entire body tenses.Then, treating me as if I were formed from spun glass, my werewolf slowly gathers me into a hug that presses the entire length of my body against his.With my head tucked under his chin, a surge of comfort and confidence overcome me, and talking about it becomes easier.
“It hit me for the first time in college.I was away from my family, and I don’t know if that triggered it or what, but things got bad.When my brothers didn’t hear from me for a while, they got worried and made a surprise visit.I was practically comatose.They brought me back to Denver, convinced me to transfer schools and talk to a professional.That helped.So did medication.”I draw in a deep, bracing breath.“But I’m not cured because there’s no permanent fix.And I worry all the time that I’ll have a bad episode like I did then and I won’t be able to pull myself out of it.”
“You want to be in Denver because of your brothers.Because they’d recognize it.They would know how to help you.”Warner doesn’t ask.He just realizes the truth.
I press my face against his chest.“I came to Pine Falls to test out living without my family around me all the time.Their love is a gift, but sometimes, I felt suffocated by it.I mean, you’ve met my brothers.You know what I’m saying, right?”
The brush of his chin against the top of my head tells me he’s nodding.
“I didn’t come here to add more love to my plate.”Sucking in a deep breath, I pull back to meet Warner’s eyes, making sure he’s listening.“But you didn’t care about my plans, did you?You infuriating werewolf.”I’m growling through my smile.“You made me fall for you.Damn it, Warner.I love you.”
Hope sparks in his gaze, but he holds still.He needs more, and I plan on giving it to him.
“Your love doesn’t smother me because you listen to me.You’re this wildly powerful supernatural creature, but I’ve never felt crushed by you.”My thumb traces his bottom lip.“But when you saidmate, I panicked.I’m scared.Scared that I’ll make plans for the future and they’ll come crashing down if I get sick again.”
Pain creases the corners of Warner’s eyes as he cups my face.
I stare up at him with determination.With love.“But I realized something.”I wrap my fingers around his wrists, holding him to me.“I’m stronger now.And smarter.What happened in college was bad because I hadn’t expected it.Couldn’t plan for it.But now, I know how to take care of myself.”My ankle smarts as I rise up on my tiptoes to brush a soft kiss against his lips.“And I know if I start drowning again, you’ll be the one to see it.And I trust you to help me keep my head above water.”
“Always, Zoey.Always.”He growls the words, eyes fierce.
The sight warms every bit of me, even as it renews my guilt for how I treated him.
“I’m so sorry for doubting you.For rejecting your affection.For saying that I’d leave you?—”
“You should’ve left.You’ll do it anyway, so why not go now?”
