Page 131 of Bosse
Bosse had scratched his beard, now growing out again, then paused and cocked his head as if hearing something. He nodded, then told Alifair, “My wolf, Titan, is often better at explaining things. He suggested I explain why we call you mate. I am a shifter.”
Lifting an impertinent eyebrow at him, she said, “I’m not confused onthatpoint.”
His eyes twinkled. “I do love your sassy side.”
She hadn’t possessed one until meeting a grumpy wolf shifter. She rolled her hand in a motion to stop stalling.
His words turned somber. “When Titan and I choose a mate, we must agree because it is a forever commitment. One I had never thought we’d face, but we both want you. I did not go any further with you last night because once you give your body fully to me, everything changes. You would be mine... forever.”
She’d remained silent, not asking questions or helping him get his point out because hearing what he said in his own words meant the world to her.
He chewed on his thumbnail, then lowered his hand. “You are all I can ever want in a woman and a mate. I should have explained more before we were even that intimate.” His last words fell off into a whisper. “We choose you as ours, but you may... not... want me. You still have a choice so long as we don’t complete our bond.”
He’d lowered his walls and exposed a vulnerability no one saw to give her his truth. His sincerity in picking her forever sent her heart somersaulting.
No one had given her a gift she never expected to receive.
She’d stepped over and hugged him, happy to feel his arms wrap around her. She owed him words, too. “You are everything I could want in a man. I understand what you’re saying. I’m honored you and Titan chose me.” She just wished she could keep them both. Thinking of this ending too soon hurt her to the core.
Should she tell him so he wouldn’t continue to bond with her?
She’d ask him later but wanted to have this moment she’d never have again. Was that too much to ask for a last request?
They’d hurried back after that to pick up his clothes and find the horse standing around, thank goodness. She had no experience with horses and no idea one would be so considerate.
With the light now waning, the dark would soon close in and force them to stop.
She’d been miserable during the first half of the day riding this horse with Bosse at her back.
Alifair couldn’t believe the contentment she carried in her heart now. After all the turmoil of the past few days, she wanted to grasp this happiness and hold it tight so it would never end.
Capturing the wind would be easier.
Funny how a person’s mind could tear their insides apart for a while and then, with a few words, make everything feel like a fresh rain had blown through. She’d never questioned her drive to save Rez, but in realizing how it had looked in hindsight to Bosse, she understood his hurt.
Words can hurt or heal.
She’d never been a healer but would use her words more carefully in the future. Bosse could do that as well, but he deserved some time to adjust to a new world of freedom and learn to trust those around him.
He hadn’t known Adrian’s people for long, which meant he’d made a leap of faith to return with strange shifters who might not do what they said. They had, though. Meeting shifters he didn’t have to protect his back against would go a long way toward Bosse living a better life.
Anyone could see he wanted more for his life.
Given a chance to prove himself, Bosse would show everyone he was far more than what Krol had made him be.
Bosse and his wolf had developed their own code of honor. She’d never seen either of them toy with an opponent in the arena. Once the shifter they battled showed signs of losing, they allowed their opponent the opportunity and the chance to decide when to quit.
Krol had screamed at Bosse often to finish off a badly bleeding shifter.
Bosse would never lift his eyes to acknowledge the real monster in the room. That had made Krol even crazier.
“I think we are getting close to the place you saw in your dream,” Bosse said, breaking her out of her spinning thoughts.
She’d realized they’d been ascending a hill covered in trees. Bosse had worked the horse back and forth, climbing in degrees instead of straight up what could be a mountain.
When did a hill become a mountain?
She sat up straighter and assessed the area as Bosse leaned closer to her, guiding the horse until they reached a narrow path. It appeared to be more of a deer trail than somewhere humans had walked or ridden.
