Page 60 of Marked By Moonlight
I shake my head slowly, not believing a single word he says. “I can’t trust you.”
“I know. And I’m sorry for that.” And then the voice changes from out loud to crystal clear in my head.“I’ll spend the rest of my life earning your trust. As soon as you are part of the pack and my mate, I’ll tell you everything I can’t tell you now. I’ll spend my life being worthy of you. But for now, have faith in me and in us. We are mates. You know it. It’s why you are closer than ever to getting your wolf.”
“Promise me you’ll help me get Kael back. And that as soon as you can, you’ll tell me everything and never keep secrets or make decisions without me again.”
“I promise. I couldn’t promise before in front of the pack to save a nonpack member. But I promise you, my mate, that I’ll help you get your friend back.”
There’s a twinkle of hope in his eyes.
Warmth spreads through me, and my newly formed claws begin to retract until I’m once again looking at the pinks of my fingernails.
“To your soon-to-be new alpha female. She’ll do anything to protect you, as I always have and will continue to do by her side.” Ambrose kneels, and I find that as I spin around, the entire crowd does the same.
I’m their hope; that’s why they accept me so easily. They’ve been cursed for twenty-one years, and I’m beginning to think that I only know the most basic parts of the curse. As I look into the eyes of those around me, I see their suffering in their puffy eyes.
This is bigger than me and Ambrose. Or Kael. Or the promise I made to Nyx. This is about saving them all.
Suddenly, a man with straight long black hair comes running up the dirt path. He’s completely out of breath, but everyone stands silently at the sight of him. He stops just in front of Ambrose, who is the only one still kneeling in front of me.
The man drops to his knees in front of Ambrose.
“Is Freya…?” Ambrose asks, croaking out her name as if it hurts him to even speak it.
A slow, deep smile spreads across the man’s lips. “She lives. Serenai says she’ll make a full recovery. Because of you. You saved my daughter when you made the trade.”
I process the words as Ambrose’s eyes fly to me.
“How old is she?”I ask Ambrose through our bond.
“Seven.”
“How?”
“She’s human, not wolf shifter. Adopted her when her human parents died.”
“And you traded Kael to save her?”
“Yes, Kael wanted to trade. He was the only one I could offer. It goes against my oath as an alpha to trade any of my own pack members. I’m sorry.”
There’s a softness in Ambrose’s eyes as he looks at me.
“You weren’t going to tell me that you saved a girl? That Kael wanted to be traded?”
“I knew you needed to get your anger out. Nothing I said would ease your pain. I’ll always let you take your anger out on me. I’ll always be the man you need, even if I’m not always the man you want.”
Mate—that word echoes in my head again. And despite everything, I know the word is true. I know Ambrose is my mate.Fuck, he’s my mate.
Chapter 25
Lumi
Rowena approaches me and we don’t have to be able to speak mind to mind for me to know what she’s asking me.Do I need her help when it comes to Ambrose?
Yes and no.
He’s such a contradiction that I have no idea what to think or feel about him. The connection I share with him…there’s just something there that I can’t explain other than saying we are mates. I don’t need her saving me. I have to learn to deal with Ambrose on my own.
With determined eyes, I smile gently at her.
