She belonged to me, and I belonged to her, and if the world wanted to pry us apart, it would have to tear the earth in two.
“Tell me everything,” she whispered. “Tell me what happens next.”
I sat her down on the edge of my bed, the weight of her body making a small impression on the king-sized mattress. Her feet dangled off the side, bare toes not reaching the thick rug. She looked up at me with a blend of mischief and awe, eyes big as a prairie sky. I stood over her, hands clenched at my sides, trying to keep myself from devouring her right then.
There was so much I wanted to say. Too much. But I’d promised honesty, and I was gonna deliver, even if my tongue got stuck in my teeth.
“Before we start, I need you to know what’s coming,” I said, voice gravel. “Menace called. He found everything there is to know about wolf-witch bonds. About us.”
She drew her knees up, hugging them like a little kid. “Is it bad? Am I gonna turn into a frog or sprout a tail or something?”
I shook my head, smiling. “No, but you’re about to get a crash course in what it’s like to be loved by a wolf. The full package.”
She blinked, then grinned. “Lay it on me, Papa.”
I paced a little, hands behind my back. “When wolves mate, truly mate, it’s more than sex. We give a claiming bite to ourpartners, usually at the base of the neck and shoulder. It’s instinct, but it’s also how the bond is sealed. For a witch, it might be more intense, because your blood is magic. The bite won’t hurt, not really, but it’ll mark you forever. And after that—” I trailed off, felt my cheeks heat.
She arched a brow. “After that?”
“When we make love, my wolf will want to knot you,” I said, voice just above a whisper. “You know what that means?”
She blushed, but her gaze didn’t waver. “I’m not a total innocent, Papa. I’ve read the books. I even saw some videos once.”
“Okay, so you get it. My knot’s…well, it’s big. Your magic will help your body adjust, but it still might be uncomfortable. I’ll try to stay in control, but when we’re joined, my wolf’s gonna take over. I need you to trust me. If it’s too much, you say the word and I’ll stop.”
She shivered, her pulse visible at the hollow of her throat. “What if I don’t want you to stop?”
I chuckled, warmth rising in my chest. “Then you’ll make me an extremely happy wolf.”
She reached for my hand, pulled me close. “What else did Menace say?”
I sat beside her, our knees brushing. “He said you might get magical symptoms. Your bite mark could glow, you might feel cravings, or get overwhelmed if we’re apart for long. But the bond—if we let it happen—will make us nearly impossible to separate. I’ll know when you’re sad. You’ll know when I’m hurt. That kind of thing.”
Her face lit up like she’d swallowed a star. “That’s not scary. That’s amazing. That’s what I’ve wanted my whole life.”
I stared at her, at this beautiful, stubborn, reckless woman who’d walked out of a nightmare and landed right in my arms.My wolf ached to claim her, and my human heart thumped so loud it made my ears ring.
“I want to do it right, Aspen. I want to make you mine in every way a man can.”
She leaned in, her lips grazing my jaw. “Then stop talking about it and show me.”
I let go finally, and the last wall between us came down.
I cupped her face, kissed her hard, her mouth sweet with the sugar she’d stolen from the grimoire pages. She opened to me, let my tongue sweep hers, and moaned low in her throat. My hands slid down, tracing the line of her neck to her shoulder, and I could already feel the heat building there, the spot where I’d leave my mark.
“Now what?” she whispered, voice sleepy.
I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Go to the bathroom, Sunshine. Wash up. Come back naked and ready to do exactly as I say.”
She shivered, hunger in her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
She slid off the bed, legs wobbly, and padded to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
I watched her go, every sense alive with anticipation.
We were about to seal the bond that assured we’d be together for the rest of our lives. The magic thrummed through the room in anticipation of what was about to happen. I heard the toilet flush and then water running in the sink. After a few minutes, she emerged. My mate, my Sunshine, the woman who had reminded me that the life I’d been living before I met her, hadn’t been a life at all.
And now I would be hers, and she would be mine forever.
