“I was afraid that my nightmare would come true. It almost did.”
“But you saved me.”
I shake my head slowly. “Rissa saved you,” I protest, but Thane leans in, staring deeply into my eyes.
“No, Willow. You saved me. You see? You never had anything to fear. You're stronger than you realize.”
Whatever was left of my fear disappears like a breath in cold air while the sun is out, misting and dissipating from faint warmth. Staring into Thane's eyes, I can see how ridiculous it was for me to be clinging to those nightmares as if they were some kind of prophecy.
It's like the others advised me—the outcome of a vision can be changed in reality depending on how one acts, and what one chooses.
I acted last night when I carried Thane with my gifts back to the village to get him the help he needed.
And I choose…him.
“You're right,” I concede with a gentle nod, nuzzling into his touch and smiling at the way my heart flutters from hiswarmth. “I am stronger. But it was only possible because you've been supportive of me.”
“No, Willow,” he whispers. “It was all you. Don't you see how amazing you are?”
“I think I'm starting to see that,” I say as I gaze deeply into his eyes, finding my reflection in the soft glow of forest green, as if I'm seeing myself through his eyes.
Perhaps I've been underestimating myself all this time, but Thane has been seeing me for who I am since the beginning.
Even in the past, he was the only one who made me feel seen.
Reaching up on my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his lips—a chaste, reverent kiss that silently thanks him for having faith in me when I didn't believe in myself. It's what saved him last night, and it's what pushes me through every ounce of training, my powers to help this pack and defeat the demons.
Deep down, I want to protect the Snehvolk pack even if I never felt like I belonged, because deep down, buried in my subconscious mind and in my heart, is the mere fact that I am the sub-alpha's fated mate.
An etheric cord binds our souls, and it's only been my insecurities keeping me from accepting this one thing, just like I'd been refusing to accept my powers until they came out forcefully.
Perhaps it's that force that drives me to deepen the kiss, pushing my tongue through his plump lips to explore the warm, minty cavity of his mouth. I pull back only because I sense his hesitation, a frown furrowing my brows as I stare into his eyes.
“Is something wrong?”
“No,” he shakes his head slowly with a short sigh. “I don't want you doing anything you'll regret later.”
“I won't regret this,” I assure him, but he steps back, turning and running a hand through his hair.
“I brought you here because I do have an ulterior motive, Willow. I thought that maybe if I brought you to someplace you loved, it'd help you tap into the full extent of your powers.”
“You believe there's more?” I ask with a frown as I stare at the back of his head.
Thane nods. “I do. We all do.” He turns back to face me. “I think you know it, too.”
I take a step closer and lift my hand to cradle his cheek. “Then you missed something. I do need to tap into my powers fully.”
Thane frowns. “What did I miss?”
“You,” I breathe, and a feral sound escapes Thane's lips.
He shakes his head slowly. “If I start, I won't be able to stop,” he rasps, and my heart skips a beat.
“Then don't stop,” I whisper, and that's all it takes for him to crush his lips to mine, the kiss feverish now, full of pent-up passion that we've both been neglecting for too long.
The air around us is charged with desire as Thane becomes a ravenous beast and growls into my mouth, his strong hands sliding down my sides and stopping on my hips. He lifts me like a feather, spinning us over and finding an empty spot on the metal table to prop me on.
My hands fist in his hair, desperate and hungry for him as I moan into the kiss when I feel the rigid heaviness of his manhood between my thighs. My body ignites with a fire that'sbeen begging to burn, yearning for this moment when nothing stands in our way any longer.
