Page 33 of Rebel for Claws
My mate. My protector. My equal.
Alaric stood vigilant near the cave entrance for several more minutes, his torn white shirt hanging open to reveal the powerful muscles of his chest. Blood splattered the fabric—not his own, but remnants of their explosive confrontation with Thorne's human operatives. His dress pants were torn from their desperate flight through the forest, yet he maintained that commanding Alpha presence that made Vivian's pulse quicken.
Even disheveled and battle-worn, he's magnificent.
His light grey eyes scanned the morning sunlight filtering through the trees beyond their shelter, every line of his body taut with protective alertness. When he finally turned from the entrance, apparently satisfied they'd lost their pursuers, his gaze found hers with a piercing intensity that made her breath hitch.
"We should be safe here," he said, his voice carrying that deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through her bones. "But we'll need to stay the night, just to be certain."
Vivian felt a strange flutter of excitement at the prospect of being alone with him in this intimate cave setting. The space felt charged with possibility, their mate bond humming stronger than ever.
Dangerous territory.
Alaric moved with practiced efficiency, gathering dry wood from deeper in the cave where previous travelers had left supplies. His movements were fluid and purposeful, every gesture highlighting his lethal grace.
Within minutes, flames danced to life between them, casting golden light across the stone walls and warming the cool December air. The firelight played across his features, highlighting his strong jaw and the silver threading through his dark hair.
"That's better," he murmured, settling back on his heels near the fire.
Vivian remained standing near the cave wall, still wearing her black tactical jacket. Her blonde-silver braid had come partially loose during their escape, wisps of pale hair framing her face. She could feel his eyes on her, tracking her every movement with that predatory focus that both thrilled and unnerved her.
The way he looks at me... like I'm the only thing in his world.
"There's something I need to ask you," Alaric said, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that made her stomach tighten with anticipation.
He rose to his full height, towering over her even from across the fire. The torn shirt fell open wider, revealing more of his muscled torso and the small scars that told stories of battles fought and won.
"About what happens between us after all this is over," he continued, taking a deliberate step closer.
Vivian's heart hammered against her ribs as understanding dawned. "You want to know if I meant what I said. About completing the mate bond."
"Yes." The single word carried the weight of everything unsaid between them.
She studied his face in the flickering firelight, seeing past the Alpha mask to the man beneath. The vulnerability he tried so hard to hide, the longing he couldn't quite suppress, and the hope he was afraid to voice.
This incredible, complex man who's been carrying the weight of the world for thirty years. Who sacrificed everything, even his relationship with his sons, to protect what he loved.
"Despite everything I assumed about you when we first met," she began, her voice soft but certain, "despite thinking you were just another rigid traditionalist Alpha..."
She paused, letting her gaze travel over his features—the strong jaw, the intelligent grey eyes that held such depths of pain and determination, and the mouth that could be both commanding and tender.
"After spending these past few days with you, getting to see who you really are beneath all those carefully constructed walls..." She stepped closer, drawn by the magnetic pull of their bond. "You're pretty incredible, Alaric."
A flush of color rose along his neck, creeping up to his cheekbones. For a moment, the formidable Alpha looked almost boyish, caught off guard by her honest praise.
I can make this powerful man blush.
"I—" he started, then stopped, running a hand through his black hair. "I haven't had many people say that to me."
"Then they weren't looking hard enough," she said simply.
His eyes darkened with something that made her knees feel suddenly unsteady. Not just desire, though that was certainly there, burning hot and obvious. But something deeper. Reverence. Wonder. As if she were something precious he'd never expected to find.
"Vivian," he said, her name a prayer on his lips.
He moved toward her with predatory grace, each step deliberate and controlled. When he reached her, his large hands came up to frame her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones with surprising gentleness.
"You didn't answer my question," he murmured, his voice rough with barely contained emotion.
