Page 103 of Love Bites Hard

He pulled one of my legs over his knee, so it was draped over him as he dodged potholes and maneuvered dips in the road like a professional. One of his hands rested on it casually, his massive palm spread over my thigh.

He must’ve driven the same road a hundred times in the years he’d been gone. Maybe more.

“Do you miss living out here?” I asked him, watching the gorgeous scenery as we drove through.

“No. You know how dark my mind was—this place felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. It reminded me of what I’d lost, every time I opened my eyes.”

“And the Manor doesn’t?”

“In some ways, it does. But your mind is right up against mine in the pack’s link. Thanks to the bond, I’m mentally closer to you than I’ve ever been to anyone else. Having you close gives me a place to turn when I feel myself falling into the past again.”

The words made me warm.

I put my hand on his and squeezed lightly.

He lifted it to his lips and kissed my fingertips. “If I’d lost you, I would’ve razed the pack to the ground. They would’ve had to kill me to stop me.”

“The only person that wanted me dead was Corbin, and he seemed a little psychotic.”

Porter’s expression darkened. “He is. I should’ve hunted him for the way he abandoned my sister. I should’ve?—”

I squeezed his hand again. “It’s done. He’s gone, and he can’t hurt me or anyone else anymore.”

He gave a jerky nod. “I just wish it hadn’t come to this.”

“You’re not all-knowing, Porter. You can’t see the future or stop all of the bad things and people in the world.”

He grimaced, still holding my hand close to his lips. “I didn’t protect you any more than I protected them, Izzy.”

“Pull over.”

He didn’t listen.

“Pull over,” I repeated.

He reluctantly pulled off the road.

I climbed back onto his lap and put my hands on his face. He grabbed my waist lightly, his expression still dark.

“Look at me, Porter. I’m here. I’m healthy. I still feel like shit—but I’m going to be fine. You found me, and you got me out of there without letting anyone hurt me. And before you bring it up, the cut on my neck isbarelya scratch.”

He scowled, but before he could argue, I continued.

“I never met your family, but I’ve seen the million pictures of them in our room. I can tell they loved you. I know you love them fiercely. And because of the stories you’ve shared, I feel like I know who they are. What I know of them makes me absolutely positive that if you could talk to them, they would tell you to stop blaming yourself. You didn’t abandon them—you were out of the city because you were helping another pack. Your dad was the one who sent you there. No one could’ve predicted what happened. It wasnotyour fault.”

His eyes shone with unshed tears. “It’s so fucking unfair, Izzy.”

“I know.” I caught his single escaped tear with my thumb, wiping it away. “And I’m sorry. But you have to stop blaming yourself. They would want you to be happy, Porter.”

He closed his eyes and nodded, his body trembling slightly. “I know.”

I released his face and hugged him tightly as he shook against me. The emotions that crashed down on him were so intensely strong that I could feel them with my magic, even though I didn’t reach out.

“Tell me we’re going to be okay,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion.

“We’re going to be more than okay. We’re going to be powerfully, ridiculously happy. And when the moments of grief hit, we’re going to survive it until we feel okay again.”

He nodded against me. “I love you.”

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