There's no way I heard him right!
"I'd never let him do that, which is why I can't let him out. I know it's your choice and I don't want to take it away, just because the universe thinks we’re a good match and I love you—"
I'm on him before either one of us can properly react, his arms half wrapping around me as I leap up into his chest and press my lips to his.
Pike loves me!
He doesn't pull away, doesn't put me down the way I worried he would.
No, he pulls me close, damn near crushing us together, and somehow it still doesn't feel close enough. Running my fingers through his hair drives him crazy; it always has, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't doing it on purpose.
His wolf's ears sprout on top of his head, and I can't fight the smile knowing I'm winning. I carefully stroke his ear, and he can't stop the growling groan sound that is a strange mix of beast and man.
"Serena," he's damn near panting, and I'm not much better, but I don't want to stop. Quite the opposite, actually.
"Pike," I mock him, peeling my eyes open to find him staring down at me with such intensity I feel it like a physical touch, making me squirm in his arms.
His voice is thick and rough as he curses before taking a deep breath, and it takes me too long to realize what he's doing.
He leans in, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my neck, once again breathing me in. It should be weird, but I know how sensitive his wolf is to scent, and having him react like this to my scent only turns me on more. Pike lets out a whine that's more beast than man before dragging his tongue up my neck to nibble on the sensitive flesh of my ear, making my breath catch.
"You're making this very hard, Serena," he groans, sounding as if talking is hard for him. I swear I can almost feel his beast, how close he is to the surface.
Just a little more.
I grind into him, feeling just how 'hard' he is, and can't help but giggle.
"Literally, huh?" I watch his eyes as he blinks, and they flicker between his and his wolf’s as he fights for control.
"Serena, there's nothing I want more right now than you, but..." he sucks in a breath through his teeth, his clawed fingers digging into the naked flesh of my ass where he still holds me. "I couldn't stop him last time, and I could have hurt you. I don't want to do anything you don't want. I'd never be able to forgive myself. I'm just happy to be here. You don't owe me anything just because the universe deemed it so."
My lips pull down in a frown at his words, and this time when his eyes flick back to those of a man, I can see the sadness there.
How could he possibly think I only want him because he's my mate? Even when I thought he was with Harlow, I loved Pike. It was stupid and probably a red flag, but I've always loved all of them. For as long as I can remember, these guys have been my home, my safety, my best friends. Somewhere along the line, I might have convinced myself that's all they were, but I was wrong; we all were. I was simply too afraid to lose them over feelings only I might have.
Joke’s on me because we could have been doing this for years.
I won't let fear get in the way anymore, not mine or his.
I let my hand drop from his ear to his cheek, cradling his face in my hand as he nuzzles into my touch, his eyes falling closed in a way that melts my heart.
"Pike," I breathe his name and wait for him to look at me again. I need him to understand, to really get what I'm about to say. "Nothing about this is because of the universe. I don't give a shit if they didn't make you my mate. I don't need some invisible force making decisions for me. I love you because of you, because you're sweet and fiercely protective of the people you hold close to your heart. Because you put your happiness aside to save me, you did what you thought was best for your pack for years, even if that meant dealing with your piece of shit father. You're funny and lovable, and you're not too bad to look at, I guess." He raises a brow at me with that last bit, and Ican't help but laugh, but he doesn't interrupt. "I love you because you'reyou, Pike, not anything the universe says. I've loved you since we were kids when we used to curl up and watch movies in those ridiculous puppy piles you insisted on. I'm not afraid of your wolf because he can't possibly do anything I don't want—"
He presses a hand to my mouth, cutting me off, and I bite down on the soft flesh of his palm in annoyance.
Rude.
"Watch it, Buns. Make sure the next words out of your mouth are true because there won't be any going back."
I push off his chest, and he lets me go so that I once again stand naked and vulnerable in front of him, yet somehow I don't feel embarrassed, not with the way his eyes devour me. If anything, I feel strong, beautiful, and loved.
"I know exactly what I want, Pike, and that's you. I want to be your mate. I want to belong to you and for you to belong to me, forever." Even before I've finished getting the words out, he's shifting; hair sprouts from his arms as his face morphs, getting longer like the muzzle of his wolf.
"Run for me, Buns." He drops down on all fours, and I hear his bones as they snap and shift. It sounds painful, but he doesn't seem to have any problem with it, at least not after so many times. His head snaps up, and his eyes meet mine, glowing a bright red I've never seen before, making me take a step back.
"When I catch you, you'll be mine," he growls, as his wolf finally has enough. Throwing his head back, he lets out a howl so loud I'm forced to cover my ears as it bounces off the cavern walls around us.
I'd bet the whole damn kingdom heard that.