“Shh, Lucy, it’s okay, honey,” he soothed.
“I could have killed you,” she sobbed. “Twice!”
As a fresh round of grief rocked her, Cade kissed the top of her head, saying sweet things and rubbing her back. Lucy surrendered to the moment, to the sensations, letting her emotions and confusion out as Cade held her in his wonderful arms. When she finally calmed, she felt completely spent.
“I’m so sorry, Cade.” She whispered.
He lifted her chin to gaze at her. “Don’t be. You didn’t know, and I should have been paying better attention to the road.”
“I mean, for not believing you. And for that too, hitting you, drugging you.”
“You took incredible care of me, Lucy.” He grinned. “Hell, I would have been happy to have been your dog. But, I’m a wolf, honey. A shifter.”
“And there are others like you?”
Cade nodded. “Pine Haven Falls is a sanctuary for shifters. A safe place where we can be ourselves.”
“I’ve never seen animals in town.” Not that she’d been there much, a few grocery trips, and that visit to the clinic yesterday. “Wait a minute. Grey’s not a veterinarian, is he?”
“No.” Cade chuckled. “But I sure am glad you called him. Can you imagine how upsetting it would have been for you to find a naked man in your bed?”
Lucy grinned, shifting her hips against Cade.
“If it was you, I wouldn’t mind. I like you naked.”
He laughed, the sound lifting her spirits.
“Are there really dragons in Pine Haven?” She’d always wished dragons were real.
“A few.” Cade nodded. “I’ll make introductions later. Right now, we need to focus on us.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “If you need more time to adjust to things, I understand. We aren’t supposed to tell outsiders about this at all. That’s part of why I didn’t shift when you thought I was a dog. But I knew even then that you were mine. That’s why I didn’t run away.”
“You were going to run away?” Lucy frowned. “I got you all those toys.”
Cade laughed again, pulling her into his embrace and kissing the top of her head.
“You were incredibly thoughtful. And by the way, I loved that lamb you made me for dinner.”
Lucy grinned, thinking about that night.
“I loved the way you curled up on my bed and snuggled close to me at bedtime.” She admitted. “I’d thought you were just cold.”
“Nope.” He smiled. “I’ll own that. I wanted to be close to you and protect you even then. Listen, you need to know I’ll be a bit territorial with you. Not overbearing or anything, at least I hope not. Please communicate with me if you think that’s happening. But I won’t let any harm come to you, Lucy, and I won’t take kindly to other men getting too close to you.”
“Is that why you growled at the vet and his techs and at your friends?” She giggled as Cade nodded.
“I’m not proud of it, but it’s part and parcel of being a wolf. I protect what’s mine.”
“So,” she laced her hands around his neck. “I’m yours, am I?”
“If you want to be.” He smiled. “If you’ll have me.”
“You do realize we just met, right?”
“I do.” He chuckled, caressing her earlobe with one hand while resting the other on her hip. “And I know how insane it sounds after such a short time of knowing each other. But you’re it for me, Lucy. My true mate. My people only have one, and you’re mine.”
Lucy smiled at him, marveling at how safe she felt right now. At how much she still wanted to be with him, even after having learned he could turn into a wolf, which was kind of crazy.
“It’s customary among my people to mate for life,” he said solemnly.
