Page 164 of Bosse
She didn’t react to his anger. He had every right to question her people. Exposing a vulnerability to others went against everything a shifter like Bosse had likely been taught or had learned on his own.
She’d hoped to have this conversation tomorrow when they could walk and talk. “I don’t intend to go anywhere today.”
“What about tomorrow?” He clearly wanted answers now and was not allowing her to sidestep this conversation.
Huffing out a breath, she gave explaining a try. “Rez came here with us and stayed with me while I got better the first day. She said she had never wanted me to take on my mother’s role, but pressure from the clan got to her, and she didn’t expect me to do much anyhow. She regrets underestimating me as well as allowing the clan to push me into an unfair position. She took full responsibility for being the reason we both almost died and is returning to inform the clan that every able-bodied member starts training to defend the clan, or she will not stay.”
He released a sigh. “That is good and should free you from invisible obligations.”
She couldn’t totally agree with him. Her obligations had not been invisible. She’d just blindly followed the path she’d been given and questioned nothing. Her blinders were off now, which is why she finally realized she could not jump onto another path without more forethought, no matter how much she loved Bosse.
In fact, because she loved him, she needed to discuss her reservations about them being together. “Having this chance to spend time with your people has opened my eyes to many things. One is that you deserve a mate.”
“I have a mate.”
Hearing him say she was his mate released butterflies in her insides. But she’d taken the time to give Bosse’s new life consideration while she could think clearly, which rarely happened when Bosse was near her. “You areallshifters here. I do not want to be changed into one.”
“I would never change you into something you are not,” he declared.
She had mixed feelings about his words. She did not want to be a shifter, but she might not be qualified as the mate of one.
Bosse would argue they were bonded, and that was that, but had he considered being together for years? She hadn’t, not until coming here. She felt something inside her that claimed him as hers and had no idea if a bond could be changed. Now was the time to have a talk they should have had before making a life commitment.
She would never regret loving him, but could she make him happy when they weren’t trying to survive?
Forcing the words past her tight throat, she spit out what had kept her up all night. “You should have a mate equal to you as a shifter. I will never be equal in that way.”
After a long silence, he replied, “You are correct.”
Well damn. His quick agreement cut her deeper than she’d expected.
Sure, that sounded contrary, but she’d never been in love before and tried to do the right thing. If she were honest, she’d admit that she wanted him to beg her to stay.
How could she explain what had her mind and heart battling over when she couldn’t understand it herself?
She wanted Bosse to be happy like Jaz and Adrian.
That was the truth. Everything else was selfish. Her eyes stung with tears, but she blinked them away.
Bosse crossed his thick arms over his chest. “You have never been equal.”
She wished he’d stop talking. Rubbing it in only made her feel worse.
A twinkle sparkled in that devil’s brown eyes. “You arebetterthan equal in your own unique way. You are far more exceptional than a shifter mate to me. I can’t alter what I am, but I do not need a woman who changes into a wolf. I need a woman who wants me the way I am. Who accepts me with all my flaws. I love you, Alifair. My wolf loves you. We want you as our mate.”
Her heart jumped around like she was having a panic attack. Deep inside, she’d longed for a man to want her just as she was, flaws and all, with his whole being. Bosse tackled everything with his whole being.
He was the man she wanted. How could she argue with a vow of love so honest? He had no confusion over what he was getting with her as his mate. That’s all she needed to know.
Still talking, Bosse explained, “I understand your clan is like family. I will take you to them and stay with you. You do not have to live with shifters.”
When had she been so happy? Never really. She’d struggled to reach her mother’s expertise instead of reaching for her own potential. She had people she did love in the clan, but she no longer felt compelled to live a role that allowed her no life of her own.
Impatient to hear her thoughts on what he’d expressed, Bosse said, “You will not need an airplane. I find I don’t care for them.”
Standing, she leaned down with her hands on each side of his chest, which kept her from hurting her abdomen. She lowered herself until she could gently kiss Bosse.
He kissed her back with smiling lips and then upped the level of the kiss until he had her breathing hard. She muttered, “Jaz will kill both of us if we go any farther.”
