Page 52 of The Alpha's Runaway Mate
I cross my arms, still facing the mirror. “What if they don’t like me?”
“They don’t have to,” His tone shifts, deeper now. “They just have to respect you.”
“And if they don’t?”
He meets my gaze in the mirror, his expression unreadable. “Then they’ll learn the hard way.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head. “You can’t threaten your own people because they don’t like me, Nolan.”
“I’m not threatening,” he says simply, stepping close enough that the heat of him seeps through my shirt. “I’m making a promise.”
He’s freshly showered, hair still damp and curling at the edges. The veins in his forearms flex and I swear the man could make tying his shoes look like a slow seduction.
I turn to face him, trying to mask the smile tugging at my mouth. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Yeah,” he says, stepping close enough that our chests almost brush. “But you love me anyway.”
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Too late,” He leans down and kisses me slow and sure. It’s barely a kiss, really, but it still manages to knock the air out of me. When he pulls back, his gaze flicks to the mark on my neck. “You’re not covering it.”
“Should I?” I ask, fingers grazing the spot automatically.
He studies me for a long moment, then shakes his head. “No. I want them to see it. Shows everyone you’re mine.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
His hand finds my waist, thumb tracing slow circles through the thin fabric of my shirt. “It’s not about easy. It’s about truth. You’re mine, Jess. The bond says it. The mark says it. I want them to see exactly what that means.”
I should roll my eyes. I should tell him he’s being dramatic. But the way he says it turns all my nerves into heat. “I’ll hold my own,” I whisper, more to myself than to him.
“I know you will.” His hand slides up my spine, settling at the back of my neck. “You’re stronger than half my pack. You just don’t realize it yet.”
My throat tightens. “You really think that?”
“I know it.” His voice is low, serious now. “I felt it the moment you bit back at Rhea.”
I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Oh my god, we’renottalking about that.”
He laughs, the sound warm and rough, vibrating against my palms. “Fine. I’ll save it for later. But you should know… most of them already respect you for it.”
That stops me. “Wait, what?”
“You stood your ground against a dominant female in front of the whole bar. You didn’t flinch. You didn’t hide behind me.” His eyes glint, proud and a little dangerous. “That kind of strength? They notice.”
I blink at him, unsure if he’s trying to make me feel better or if he’s serious. The look on his face says it’s both.
Before I can answer, he reaches for my jacket hanging by the door. “Come on, sweetheart. We’re already late.”
I grab it from him, slipping it on while he watches me with that half-smile that’s equal parts fond and possessive. My nerves haven’t gone anywhere, but the way he’s looking at me makes it a little easier to breathe.
As I step out onto the porch, the evening air wraps around us, cool and alive with the scent of rain and woodsmoke. The forest hums softly in the distance, and somewhere far off, a wolf howls low and drawn out, like the world itself is waiting for what comes next.
Nolan locks the door behind us, his hand finding the small of my back as we start toward the truck. “You ready?”
“Not even close,” I say honestly.
He grins. “Good. Means you’ll fit right in.”
