“Finding that person is like a dream come true, and finally meeting them makes everything click into place. It feels like spinning into oblivion, but standing still at the same time. It’s like that missing piece of your soul that has ached and throbbed forever is finally healed.”
“Wow.” Alfie wasn’t sure what else there was to say.
“They’re the best gift you can ever get, and you treasure them because you never thought you’d find them. You spend the rest of your life letting them know just how loved they are.”
Alfie had to swallow a couple of times before he could speak.
“Have you… do you have… Whoever they are, they’re very lucky.” Alfie finally managed to get out.
Those words coming out of his mouth felt all wrong. For some reason, Alfie wanted to claw out the eyes of whoever Malachi was talking about.
“I’m the lucky one. They’re more than I could ever have expected,” Malachi added.
There was a reverence in his tone that Alfie envied. Like, why couldn’t someone feel that way about him? Instead, he attracted creeps and cheaters.
Alfie wanted Malachi to feel all those things for him, which was ridiculous seeing as he had only just met the man… and knew nothing about him. It would be just his luck to find out that Malachi had a whole damn family wherever it was he lived.
Nine
Malachi
Traffic on their way home extended their journey by almost two hours. There was a horrible accident on the motorway, and a lane had been closed by emergency vehicles. Malachi was glad his mate had fallen asleep and didn’t have to see it.
It was summer, and the Lake District was always full of visitors this time of year. Thankfully, their home didn’t have that problem.
Chi couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face as he finally made the turn that would lead him into Whitfell. He glanced over at Alfie and his smile grew even more. Coming home always brought with it a sense of peace, especially the moment his connection with his brothers strengthened. He could now sense them clearer, which added to that feeling of wellbeing.
Wolves werenotsolitary creatures, but what really had him wanting to howl his pleasure was the fact that he was driving into his home with his mate beside him.
Alfie had probably thought he was being cold, but that wasn’t the case. He had heard every word his mate had spoken, and the sound of his voice was music to Chi’s ears. Yet the truth was, he wasn’t sure how to be around his mate and notactlike the man was his mate.
Chi hadn’t wanted to ignore Alfie, but it was either that or pull over and well… yeah… His mate was not ready for any of that, and until his dying day, he would always put Alfie first. He still couldn’t stop himself from speaking up when Alfie said he didn’t believe in soulmates, though. Malachi had heard the wistfulness in his mate’s tone when he’d spoken about his brother and Malek, and he’d almost blurtedyou’re mine and I’m yours… you’re my soulmate.You were made just for me. All that I am is yours.
But, thankfully, he’d controlled himself… mostly.
Still, he couldn’t stop himself from letting Alfie know what finding him meant… and he couldn’t wait for the man to realise everything he said was about him. Malachi wanted to show his mate what it meant to be truly cherished.
Malek had been right when he’d said to Mikhail, Marcellus, and him that he couldn’t put into words what finding his mate felt like.
Malachi felt whole. But more than that, it was like someone had dialled up all his instincts to five hundred per cent, and it was all focused on one person. Everything in him wanted to protect Alfie, take care of him, spoil him.
Goddess, the need to claim him was like nothing he’d ever experienced. His wolf was closer to the surface than it had been since he was a tiny tot learning how to control his shift, and fuckin’ hell, sitting in an enclosed space with his mate's enticing scent was… blissandtorture at the same time. Malachi was barely hanging on.
It helped that his wolf knew that keeping their mate safe and getting him home was the priority. Losing control would only put Alfie in danger, and neither he nor his wolf would stand for that.
Malachi turned onto the unpaved road that led to Whitfell and glanced over at his sleeping mate. He was tempted to wake him but didn't have the heart to. Alfie looked like he needed the rest, but Malachi shouldn't have worried. The bumpy, unpaved road to his home had his mate stirring until the man slowly came awake.
Malachi glanced over at Alfie and smiled at the soft, not-fully-awake look in his eyes. Chi glanced at the road, quickly making sure he was still on it, and then back at his mate. He watched Alfie stretch and couldn’t help imagining what he looked like under all those clothes, but then his mate winced, and Chi frowned. He was about to ask what was wrong and tell Alfie not to give him that down-the-stairs line again, but then Alfie’s gasp distracted him.
“Oh, my days, this cannot be real.” His mate’s eyes were wide. “It’s beautiful.”
Malachi smiled as he took in his home that was as much a part of him as his wolf. He felt his whole body relax, and he hadn’t even realised he’d been tense. He really wanted Alfie to fall in love with Whitfell.
After all, it would be his home—he hoped—but Malachi knew without a doubt that if Alfie decided Whitfell wasn’t for him, he would follow the man wherever he chose to go.
Ten
Alfie
