Page 48 of A Monster’s Future

My chest tightened like a fist had wrapped around my ribs. Did I love him? The question gnawed at me, like a cooki chewing its way through leftovers. The mate bond hummed between us; that part was undeniable now. But love? I didn’t know. Maybe? But was that real? Was that me, or just some alien pheromone bullshit designed to turn my brain into a puddle of goo?

Ugh.

I hated overthinking. Did I even have a choice at this point, or was I just as locked in by the mate bond as Grtirr? And was that even a bad thing? A few weeks ago, I’d have said yes. It was a horrible thing to be stuck with the bossiest, grumpiest Kadrixan of them all, but I didn’t think so anymore. And he wasn’t so grumpy now that he’d accepted the mate bond. He was still bossy though.

Then, before I could even continue overthinking, Grtirr dropped to one knee in front of me, just like in those old Earth vids I’d watched with Dana back on Nova Vita. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, worn box. My heart was slamming against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack, as he opened it. There, inside, was the ring.

The gorgeous sky-blue oval sapphire gleamed under the fairy lights, flanked by two triangle-cut diamonds. The ring I’d spent a solid ten minutes drooling over on Halcyon Station. The one I’d told myself was frivolous, impractical, stupid to even think about. He’d gone back for it!

He’d gone back for it despite believing that two of the three stones were practically worthless aside from historical value and sparkle.

I couldn’t believe he’d actually done it.

Oh, fuck it. Who the hell cared if this was real love right now or not? True love would blossom eventually anyway. It always did with the mate bond. I was doing it. I was going to tell him yes, I’d be his mate.

And it wasn’t just about the ring, it was about the fact that he’d somehow figured out I was a sucker for grand gestures and romantic rituals, and had gone all out. The round nest bed. The workbench. The filled cupboard of snacks. The plants. And yes, the ring helped too—okay, it helped a lot. But he could’ve gotten down on his knees and proposed with a rock from the cave floor, and I would’ve said yes. Why? Because the intent was there.

I knew he thought of these customs and gestures as silly, but he did them anyway. For me.

Grtirr’s golden eyes burned into mine. “Julie,” he growled. “Will you be my mate?”

Chapter 25: Grtirr

The world narrowed to a single, razor-thin point, the only thing that mattered: Julie. My mate.

Say yes.

I knelt before her, the weight of the ring box heavier than it should be against my palm. The question that had just left my lips hung in the air between us. My chest was beating like I’d been running for hours.

And I had. I’d been running from her. From this.

I’d done so many things wrong. First, the nullvein, and ignoring the mate bond like a coward, pretending that I could medicate away fate. And then I pushed her away with my surly attitude while simultaneously being overprotective. Pushing her away even as I burned for her.

I’d been such a fool. And now my time was up, and I had to face the consequences of my actions.

And if Julie said no—

I cut the thought off before it could finish.

I wasn’t a male who begged. But for her? I would.

I’d tried to make it right. The nest. The tools. The ring. The sky-blue sheets and bedding. The lush plants. Every detail had been for her, a silent promise that I would spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy.

Was it enough? I didn’t know.

Say yes.

All I knew was that I needed her to say yes. Just the thought of living without her made my chest ache like I’d been hollowed out. Once we were together, I’d have the rest of our lives to show her again and again that she’d made the right choice.

She let out a shaky breath, and I searched her face for a sign, any sign, that I wouldn’t leave this place today a wounded male. Did she not know that she had my heart, my very life, in her hands even now? That one wrong syllable from her and I would cease to be?

Her fingers trembled as she covered her mouth. Her eyes weren’t on the ring; they were on me, like the answer was written on my face.

I had spent too long fighting this. Too long pretending I could outrun fate, that I could bury the truth beneath duty and denial. But the moment I’d dropped to my knees for her, my world changed. And now here I was on my knees again, my heart wild in my chest… waiting.

Say yes.

“Yes.” She reached out with a hand, but hesitated. “Yes, Grtirr. I accept your nest, and I will be your mate.”