Page 26 of Shifter Mate Magic
“Give it time.” He shook his head. “I haven’t been here that long.”
“To quote the really sexy man I’m madly in love with, ‘Bullshit.’”
He frowned at her.
“I bet most shifters, even alphas, don’t care that you’re different. Especially here in Kotoyeesinay. They’d care if you caused trouble, or wanted their clan, but you don’t like fighting, and you don’t want to take over anything.” She brushed his jaw with her fingers. “I feel your longing to be part of something. You already are. You’re my mate, and the heart-father of our princess. We’re a family.” Through their mate bond, she sent him an image of two huge bears and a leopard cub together, surrounded by love. “That’s how I see us.”
Her love flooded his heart and washed away the last lonely part of him that had been expecting another rejection. He pulled her back into his arms, her thigh draped across his, her head on his chest. “Yes. To that. To everything.”
She kissed his chest. “I love you.”
“Want to get married tomorrow?”
She sat up again, consternation on her face. “Tomorrow, as intomorrowtomorrow?”
He chuckled. “Yes, Sunday. When I asked Shiloh about a good place for a wedding, he said the heart of the glade was already booked for our commitment ceremony at four in the afternoon. He said an oracle works in the scheduling office.”
He felt a hint of sadness from her. “We can wait. Oracles aren’t always right.”
“No, I want to, it’s just that…” She slid a hand across her stomach. “My old life is gone forever, and I’m looking forward to a new life with you, but I’d always hoped my mother would be at my wedding.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, in this town.” He sat up.
“I don’t know.” She blew out a noisy breath. “I don’t want her to die of a heart attack because she thought I was dead. I think I should just call her with the news.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask, but he had to. “Afraid of what she’ll think of me?”
“No, she’ll love you, and especially the bear side of you.” She looked away, then back. “I’m afraid of what she’ll think of me. Pregnant. Thief. Nearly a murderer.” Her hand fluttered. “She’s a healing witch. She raised me to be better than that.”
“If she loves you as much as you love her, she’ll understand.” And if she didn’t, he’d be happy to personally tell her a few home truths.
Her eyes welled with tears and she smiled. “The mate bond… I heard that. It’s been so long since I’ve had someone to stand up for me.”
He knew the feeling well. He gathered her in his arms and rocked her gently.
She sniffled. “I swear I’m not usually a watering pot. Stupid hormones.”
“It’s okay.” He kissed her forehead. “At least I’ll know what to expect if we ever have another kid.”
She groaned. “Let’s get me through this pregnancy first.” She sagged against him. Through the mate bond, he felt the wave of exhaustion that caused it.
He leaned her back onto the fresh pillows and pulled the sheet over her to block any drafts.
“So, back to my original question. Wanna get hitched tomorrow?”
“Yes,” she said sleepily, patting his arm. “I hit pay sand with you. Gotta register my claim.”
He chuckled. He’d never been compared to a drillable oil field before. “Yes, ma’am.”
