“What?No—no, absolutely not.”Korlooked positively pale for a minute.“Thatwould be a bad idea.”
“What?Why?”Ifrowned at him.“Doyou think he might hurt me?”
“Not on purpose.”Heshook his head.“Ican’t explain it, but he’s become very…interested in you these past few weeks.
“Interested?”Iput a hand to my throat.“Idon’t understand.”
“He wants you—wants to breed you,”Korsaid bluntly.“I’msorry—there’s no pretty way to say it.Butplease don’t worry,” he added quickly, clearly seeing the apprehension on my face.“I’llmake sure he’s never anywhere near you.Everyfull moonI’llbe far away, roaming the woods.Youwon’t have to ever even see him,Iswear it.”
I wasn’t sure what to say.Itwas disconcerting, to say the least, to find out that his alter-ego—theBeastthat lived inside him—actually wanted to breed me.Thewolves that live inside most maleWeresunderstand instinctively that it’s wrong to breed inFurForm.Also, they retain the sentience of the males who they’re tied to.Iwondered if theBeastwas less sentient…or simply harder to control.
“Has he ever, uh, gone after anyone you were with before?”Iasked.
Kor shook his head.
“No, never.That’sthe strange thing—he’s never even shown an interest in any of the womenI’vedated in the past.”Heshrugged his shoulders.“Heseems to think you should be our mate.”
“Well,Iagree with him about that, at least,”Isaid, smiling.“Butyou’re sure it’s safe?—”
“I’ll never let him near you,”Korinterrupted.Hetook me by the arms and looked into my eyes.“I’llnever hurt you or let myBeasteven get near you, baby—Iswear it.You’resafe with me—always.”
The sincerity in his eyes soothed the last of my doubt.
“All right,”Isaid, nodding.“Itrust you,Kor.Iknow you won’t hurt me.”
“Good.Thankyou for trusting me.”
Kor pulled me close and gave me a long, sweet kiss.Whenwe broke the kiss, he looked down at me.
“I’m going to breed you tonight and make you mine, sweetheart,” he growled softly, looking into my eyes.“Idon’t give a damn about theUnbreakableLawsanymore.”
I nibbled my bottom lip.
“ButKor, breeding meansBondingand our age difference?—”
“Doesn’t mean a damn thing,” he said, firmly.“Wewere made for each other—Iknew it the first minuteIsaw you.”
“I might not be able to give you children,”Ireminded him.
He shrugged.
“You thinkIcare about that?I’mnot my uncle,Vivienne.Icare about more than just having an heir to carry on after me.Icare about havingyouas my mate—as my wife, too.Idon’t want to justBondwith you—Iwant to marry you.”
My heart flooded with joy asIunderstood that he meant it—all of it.
“I want to marry you, too,”Iwhispered.“Andmate with you andBondwith you.Andspend the rest of my life with you.”
Kor grinned.
“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.Letme go get on the computer and find us some flights toColorado.I’llget them for tomorrow afternoon—is that enough time for you to wrap up everything here?”
I thought of all the clothes hanging in my closet—the onesI’dworn whenCarterwas alive thatIdidn’t want to bring.Likewise, he had given me a few trinkets on birthdays and holidays that might be worth something.Icould pack those easily enough—orIcould just leave them here.Ihad enough money in my bank account to buy anythingIneeded when we got toColorado.Really, the only thingsIneeded to pack were the clothesI’dbought sinceCarterwas dead and a few toiletries.
“Yes, that’s plenty of time,”Isaid, nodding.“Butlet’s go early tomorrow afternoon.Iwant to get out of here before thePackstarts gathering in theMoonGladefor theAlphaChallenge.”
“I’ll book the earliest flightIcan find,” he promised.Hekissed me again andIcould see the excitement dancing in his dark brown eyes.“Thisis it, sweetheart—this is the start of our life together.Ourreallife.”
“Our real life,”Iagreed, grinning at him.Ikissed him again and then he left to buy our tickets.Myheart was so fullIwanted to sing—even ifIknew it would come out off-key.Itseemed to me that happiness—real happiness—was finally within my reach.
