“If you wish to belong to the pride, to take your rightful place in the pride, you are welcome,” he said.It was a battle for him to keep his words loud enough for anyone but Franklin to hear them, but Cameron forced every syllable out as clearly as he could.The words had to be heard by the pride.That was important.
Franklin’s answer had to be heard by the pride, too, no matter what it was.
The pain in Cameron’s whipped back became irrelevant as he pushed on.“If you come to us without lies or secrets, you are welcome.”
As he stared down at Franklin, there was no way Cameron could believe that he would ever say yes to his offer, or that he deserved for him to say yes to it, but he kept going, regardless.
As he felt the full force of a true lion’s instincts racing through him for the first time in years, there was nothing else he could do but try to claim his mate.“If you are who we believe you to be, say that you wish to take your rightful place in the pride, and you will be welcomed.”
Cameron lowered his fingertip from Franklin’s mouth, freeing him to answer, but before Franklin had a chance to say anything, Arslan stepped forward.
Obviously, he was going to tell Franklin not to accept—that they weren’t ready.Cameron dropped his gaze, knowing that the leader of the pride was probably right, knowing that being part of a pride meant sometimes having to tolerate that.
“Franklin,” Arslan began.“It’s important that you understand what Cameron is asking you.He’s asking you to become his mate.To be…married to him, a human would say.It is a permanent bond—it means you will spend the rest of your lives together.It’s not something that should be entered into lightly.”
Franklin dropped his gaze when Arslan fell silent.When he looked up again, his eyes went straight to Cameron.“You really want…me?”
He sounded so shocked by the idea, Cameron automatically reached out to him, cupping his cheek in the palm of his hand.Unable to trust his voice he just nodded.He wanted him.
“Are there words I’m supposed to…?”Franklin asked.
“A clear yes or no is all that’s required,” Arslan said.
“Yes.”
It was the single most confident word Cameron could ever remember leaving Franklin’s mouth, and the only confident word that seemed to be said by him rather than someone he was pretending to be.He said it like he believed it with his heart and soul.
It took all Cameron’s strength to look away from him then and to turn his attention to Arslan.“You’ll give us your blessing?”
The older lion looked from Cameron to Franklin and back again.“I think you’ll suit well.”His expression turned a little more serious then.“That doesn’t mean I think you should rush.There is plenty of time.You’ll both need time to heal.”
“But the whole pride will help however we can.”
Cameron looked past Arslan to where Ryland stood next to him.He smiled slightly as he saw the look in Ryland’s eyes when he looked up at his master.Cameron turned his own gaze back to Franklin.
He was so exhausted, and in so much pain, but there was a spark of hope in his eyes that Cameron realised he hadn’t seen there since Franklin had agreed to be his pet.
Reaching out to Franklin once more, Cameron gently stroked his fingers down his cheek.
“Do you need help to get back to your room?”Arslan asked.
Franklin looked up to his master.He didn’t want that.Cameron could see it in his eyes.
“We’ll stay here?”Cameron suggested.
Some tiny part of the tension that had flooded into Franklin’s body eased, letting Cameron know that he had guessed just the right thing to say.
He looked up to Arslan.“We want to sleep in here tonight,” he said, with more confidence.
He was disobeying his leader, contradicting him in front of his pride.Cameron only realised that after the words had already been said.Memories came flooding back of the last time he’d defied the leader of a pride that way.The roar he expected to fill the air failed to materialise.
Arslan’s gaze flashed back and forth between them.
“Franklin is your mate.As the lion, it is your responsibility to see that your mate can rest comfortably here, if this is where you wish him to sleep.”
Cameron nodded his understanding.
Arslan looked around the room as if assessing it in a million different ways.Finally, he seemed willing to grant their request.“It won’t do either of you any harm to stay here.”
