“I know it now,” I say, my voice softer but no less sure. “The app—it works. My Bear knew before I did, but I was too scared to listen. You’re the one, Stripes. My person. My mate. Mine.”
I reach up, cupping his face the way he did mine.
Grounding him.
Grounding me.
“I was trying to protect myself,” I admit. “From getting hurt again. From believing in something that might not last.”
His eyes search mine.
Desperate.
Hopeful.
Terrified.
“And now?” he asks.
I take a breath.
Let it out.
“And now I don’t care if it’s scary,” I say. “Because I want you.”
My voice shakes—but I don’t stop.
“I want us.”
His hands flex against me.
“Hadley—”
“And I, I love you,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can second guess them. “I know it’s fast and crazy and maybe a little unhinged, but it’s true.”
Silence.
The world narrows to just us.
“Will you be my mate?” I ask, my voice soft now, but my heart wide open.
A beat.
Two.
Then—he moves.
Lightning fast.
His mouth crashes into mine, all heat and relief and something deeper that steals the air from my lungs.
I gasp against him, clutching his shirt, kissing him back just as fiercely.
“Yes,” he growls against my lips. “Yeah, Cookie. You already know that’s a yes. Love you, mate. Love you so fucking much.”
My heart soars.
And then suddenly—I’m off the ground.
