His lips tipped up with a ghost of a smile. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m not finished.”

I blinked at him.

Damon turned and faced his clan. They fastened curious eyes on their alpha.

“As you’ve all heard,” Damon began, “Sasha Havens is my fated mate. Even though I’m a werebear and she’s a werewolf. I amnotashamed of belonging to Sasha in such a way. I love her.”

My heart rocked to a stop. Some of the weres around us gasped in astonishment.

My breaths came out in erratic pants, and I blinked fast.Did he really mean…

Damon glanced over his shoulder at me. And that was the only answer I needed. Raw, open love shone within his blue gaze, with amber flecks shooting through them.

He faced his clan mates once more, a snarl on his lips. “If any one of you objects to this mating, then you are free to go. Because I’m not fucking leaving her side ever again.”

A knot expanded in my chest. My gaze flittered to his clan mates before meeting those of my own pack. I wondered if I would see rejection or disgust in their eyes over a mating between enemies. My eyes snapped wide. Not one latent or wolf stared at me with open derision. Instead, a hint of joy flashed among them all. I turned to face Damon’s clan. None had left. They met their alpha’s challenging stare with proud expressions.

My heart swelled. Tears slipped down my cheeks and a watery smile lifted my lips.

They’ve… they’ve all accepted us being together,I mused.

Damon, satisfied that his clan welcomed the revelation, dismissed them, and turned to approach me. He paused before me, so close that the toe of our shoes touched. Damon raised a hand and brushed my tears away with gentle fingers.

“It is all right, everyone,” I announced to my pack. “You can return home.”

Chuckles rose from my pack members, a few eyes gleaming with mirth, as they headed back deeper into the forest.

A seed of hurt and anger sprouted deep in my core. Twisted and fierce, it expanded until it became impossible to contain. My vision brightened, my eyes glowing amber. I whirled on Damon.

“Do you know all the shit you’ve put me through?” I asked, narrowing my bright crimson eyes. Damon’s brow shot up and he took a step back. “All these years I’ve suffered—my wolf has suffered—because of your fucking rejection!”

Damon’s bears took that as their cue and excused themselves, picking up the bodies of the rogue bears and traipsing back the way they’d come.

He stared at me. Damon’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “What are you saying, Sasha?”

I growled at him. “I’m saying you’re an asshole! You were from the beginning.”

A look of resignation crossed his features. The vibrant light in his eyes only moments before now dimmed.

He gave a curt nod. “I respect your decision, Sasha. You won’t hear from me again if that’s what you want.” He backed up a step before turning away. “I…I want you to know I’m sorry, Sasha.” Damon began walking away from me.

“You were an asshole from the beginning,” I repeated. “But then you changed.” Damon paused mid-stride. “You were worried about my safety when we went investigating on the trails. You defended me against those werewolves at the bar.” I shook my head in wonder. “Defended me! Hell, you stood up for me. You stayed by my side at my worst moment, laying in bed with me watching stupid Asian dramas.” I gave a laugh as tears sprung from my eyes.

Damon slowly turned around to face me. A look of open astonishment was visible in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re a thorn in my side that won’t leave me the hell alone. A goddamned idiot.” I smiled. “But I’m an idiot too. For falling in love with you.”

Damon’s lips parted. His pupils expanded, amber flecks bleeding through the blue of his eyes. He licked his lips. “Sasha… are you?—”

I grabbed hold of his hand. “Hush. Come with me.”

Damon eyed me with curiosity, but let me lead him through the forest back to camp. I ignored the awestruck stares and gaping from my pack as I weaved through the cabins. Anxious excitement consumed me and I didn’t care about others’ opinions about me bringing Damon into the pack. Slick moisture trailed down my thighs, my arousal knotting low in my abdomen. One glance behind me showed Damon’s nostrils flaring, his eyes glowing red as he caught a whiff of my heat. I no longer led him. Instead, he was at my side, his hand squeezing mine.

I found my cabin and moved us inside, closing the front door. I had just enough time to switch on the lights when Damon hauled me into his arms and carted me off to bed. He fumbled around my cabin for a spell, searching for my bedroom, to which I howled with laughter. Stumbling upon it, he opened the door and kicked it close. He laid me with such tenderness upon the bed, my wild curls spilling out over the sheets.

His eyes shone down on me in the dark, my night vision enabling me to see him in all his masculine glory. His gaze glowed with compassion. He looked at me like he had just come home and I was the answer to everything right in his life. The notion brought tears to my eyes. He hooked a finger beneath my eyes and wiped the tears away. Damon stretched his body over mind as his forearms bracketed my head to lift most of his weight off my smaller form. His warmth enveloped me and my wolf purred at the male heat of him.

He dipped his head and brushed his lips against mine—the touch lighter than a feather. I breathed into his mouth. My heart thrashed against my ribs, toes curling.