She stared at me, lips parted. I stayed quiet, letting her turn it over in her head. She straightened, and my arm fell away from her shoulders. “I’d have to clear that with my boss. I can’t just place him with us. It would mean home visits. You’d have to be approved as a foster parent.”
Hope bloomed in my chest. “I’ll do it. You can move into my cabin. It has its own kitchen, and there are three bedrooms.”
She chewed her lip. “He’s already formed connections here. That should work in our favor.” She placed her palm on my chest. “I can’t make any promises. But we can try.”
I leaned down to rest my forehead against hers. “Even if it doesn’t work, I’m sure we can visit him in Shifter Alley. I don’t want to abandon him. I never want him to think we don’t care.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “We’ll make sure he knows.”
I twisted her hair around my finger. “I need to tell you something about the mate bond.” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. How could I tell her without freaking her out? I didn’t think I could. “Completing the bond requires me to mark you.”
“What does that mean?”
I brushed my fingers along the curve of her neck, where it met her shoulder. “During mating, I would bite you. Right here.”
She blinked rapidly. “Oh.” She sucked in a breath. “Does it hurt?”
“I’m told there’s some pain, but it’s followed by pleasure.” I swallowed. “If you say no, I’ll understand.”
“This is important to you?” She tilted her head and met my gaze. “Be honest.”
“Yes. My wolf will never fully settle without completing the bond.”
She studied me, the wheels turning in her head nearly visible. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
She nodded firmly. “I’m in. When do you want to do this?”
Words leaped into my throat, but I shoved them down. Instinct clamored for me to do it immediately, but we were both recovering from injuries, and Eli was sleeping in the second bedroom. “As soon as your wrists heal. I’m sure one of my brothers will take Eli for the night. Maybe Ethan can take him and Jonah camping.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She bit her lip. “It feels forward to say this, but we may need to get married. It could help us get approved to take Eli.”
“It’s not forward at all.” I grinned at her. “Marking is the shifter version of marriage. We might as well make it official in both worlds.”
A quick laugh escaped her. “Two days ago, I didn’t even know you. And now we’re talking marriage.”
“It’s the bond. Even though you’re human, you’re still affected. It can make you do crazy things.” I dropped a kiss on her nose. “Thank you for making me the happiest shifter in the world.”
Katie
I gave Eli a quick hug, and Luke held out his backpack. Ethan and Gabriel were taking the boys camping for two nights, giving me and Luke a mini honeymoon.
Two months had passed since we’d decided to get married. We’d told Mae the next day, and she’d taken control like a general, arranging everything. The other mates took me out shopping for a wedding dress, and we found a simple white sundress that fit perfectly.
The wedding was small but beautiful, though I only had eyes for Luke. Eli stood by his side as his best man, his chest puffed up with pride. We were still waiting for final approval to be his foster parents long term, but it was looking promising. It was obvious to anyone who spoke to him that the ranch had done wonders for Eli.
The officiant’s words barely registered, but I must have heard them, because I spoke my vows at the right time and repeated the right words. I just remembered Luke’s hand holding mine. His skin, calloused from working on the ranch, warm against my own.
After he kissed me, the world rushed back in as everyone came forward to congratulate us. My parents hadn’t made it, something about being too busy, but the acceptance of Luke’s family dwarfed the twinge of sadness.
Mae and Hannah had prepared a lunch for everyone, including a large three-tiered cake, followed by dancing and lots of laughter. Shifters may not usually have weddings, but they apparently knew how to throw a party.
But now, Luke and I were alone. We swayed while embracing, half dancing, even though there was no music. He kissed me softly. Gently. As if I were something precious.
I slid my hands around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair. The kiss deepened, and I raised up on my toes to better meet his lips. He lifted me, sliding his hands to the back of my legs to wrap them around his waist, and walked to our bedroom.
He’d refused to go beyond kissing for the last two months, insisting I needed to heal first. Then he’d decided we should wait for the wedding. I’d protested, but when he admitted he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold back from marking me, and he wanted to do it right, I gave in.
