Page 47 of Moon Destiny

And I knew with a burning certainty that fate had chosen correctly. I’d been given a gift, and I would do anything to protect it.

Eventually, I gained enough control of my body to tuck myself back in my jeans. I pulled my T-shirt off and wiped my mess from her belly and legs. I chanced a look up and found her biting her lip as she tried not to laugh. I snorted, and then we both cracked up.

When we’d sobered, I helped her off the desk and into her clothes. Then I pulled her hips against mine and tucked a finger under her chin. “Stay with me. You won’t regret it.”

She put a flat hand on my chest. “I don’t think that, Hugh. It’s just…”

“What?”

“I’m not saying we can’t be together. But I’d like to have a relationship first. I’ve been human all my life. It’s going to take some time for me to feel comfortable with an unbreakable bond.”

My wolf roared in my mind, pushing me to refuse. Until she was totally mine, our bond was open—with just enough space for her to slip through. If that happened, I could become like Dylan, estranged from my mate and aching with the loss of what might have been. He was good at hiding his pain, but I knew it wore on him every single day.

“Hey,” Brooke said. My panic must have showed on my face, because she put a hand on my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. I just want to take things one step at a time.”

I pushed my wolf’s protests aside. “I won’t ask you for everything right now, but there are some things I can’t be flexible about.”

“Like?”

“You staying in Bosford. New wolves can’t live on their own. You may think you’ve got control of your wolf, but you’ve never really been tested. And I’m not okay with you living in Seattle while rogues are launching attacks.”

She frowned. “My job—”

“We have to find a way to compromise.” I rubbed a thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ll give you time, sweetheart. But I’m going to need you to give something in return.”

“You mean like my livelihood? Journalism isn’t just work for me, Hugh. I love what I do.”

But you don’t love me. I swallowed the words before I could say them. Instead, I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. “We’ll figure things out.”

Doubt swam in her eyes, and I braced myself for a fight—

—and then her stomach growled so loudly I felt the vibrations in my chest. She turned bright red, and we both started laughing.

“Hungry?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Like all the time.”

“Come on. I’ll feed you.”

“Okay.”

I pulled her toward the door, and the swell of tension ebbed away. But I knew it was a temporary reprieve. Nothing was really settled between us.

And I wasn’t sure how long my wolf would be content to let it stay that way.

CHAPTER TWENTY

BROOKE

For the second time in two days, I listened absently while Tanner described a set of animal tracks. Deer this time.

At least I thought so. I couldn’t really be sure, because my mind was occupied by thoughts of Hugh Dalton. And I was more confused than ever. After our encounter in his office, he’d delivered on his promise to feed me—whipping up grilled cheese with fresh tomato and thick pieces of crispy bacon in the (thankfully empty) kitchen.

“This is amazing,” I’d said from my perch on a barstool, my body still humming from the wicked things he’d done with his tongue.

He’d winked. “Good, because it’s the only thing I know how to make.”

That wink had been almost as devastating as his touch, and I’d lowered my head so he couldn’t see how flustered he made me.

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