Page 57 of Campfires & Canines
“Are you sure you want to be stuck with a human for the rest of your life?" Her smile is self-deprecating.
"I'd do anything for you." The words are spoken without thought. Her mouth opens slightly as she gazes at me.
Heath sets an elbow on the table and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Are you absolutely sure, Hazel?" She flinches, a blush spreading across her face. "You need to understand that if you decide to leave, it'll cause Slate pain to be apart. It's more than a promise or commitment. You're tied together on a deeper level."
"If she wanted to leave, I'd endure it for her to be happy," I say quietly. "I watched my dad handle it for years."
"Your father was in agony," Heath snaps, his careful control slipping.
I don't care if I'm risking the same pain he lived with, pain that ultimately killed him. For her, I'd be damned.
Hazel hesitates and I watch the facts connecting in her mind. "Your mom left. Didn't she? For that other Alpha. And it hurt your dad because they were mates?" My jaw clenches. I don't like to think about my mother and I never wanted my deepest wound exposed to her. She reaches out and rests her palm on my thigh. "I would never do that to you. If we ever leave, it'll be together."
She's incredible. "If that's what you want,” I say.
Heath scrubs his face. "I can't convince you otherwise, can I?"
She shakes her head. "This is the safest option, isn't it? And that's what you always focus on, right?"
I can't help but smirk. She's been so frustrated with rules and the constant concern over her safety. Even though it was necessary and valid, I love seeing her throw it back at him.
Heath sighs, resigned. "Fine. Get to Slate's cabin. Stay out of sight until tomorrow."
"Thank you, Alpha." I take her hand, leading her to the door.
"Slate?" Heath stops us. "If you guys don’t go through with it, it's okay. Let me know and we'll figure something else out."
Hazel squeezes my hand and leans into me as if saying she's made up her mind and it's me.
10. Kisses & Claiming
Hazel
Ibarely taste my dinner and quickly set my plate aside.
Slate makes swift work of cleaning up while I slip into the bathroom. When I return, Slate holds out a glass of wine. I smile, taking a sip. It's crisp and earthy. I take a longer drink. He’s watching me like I'm a skittish animal.
"You good?" I ask him, breaking the silence. He nods. "This feels weird. Like we're having a shotgun wedding. But not..." I'm rambling. “Sorry.”
"It's okay."
I need him to start talking or do something to distract me or I’m going to start spiraling. "Do you guys normally do some sort of ceremony orsomething?"
"Not really, unless you’re the Alpha or heir and it’s an arranged-type thing." He sets his glass down. "But people usually ask someone to be their mate in a nice way. Kinda like a proposal, I guess. It’s common to have a party. We can do that if you want."
“I’m good. I don’t like that much attention.” I twirl the stem of my wine glass.
He steps closer, the motion fluid. I’m suddenly vividly aware he’s a predator. I should have known. His lissome movements never seemed exactly human to me.
"Hazel,” he says, his husky voice drawing me in. “Do you want to be my mate and my partner?"
I shouldn’t. It’s one thing to want to kiss him. But to want to commit to him for life? That’s idiotic. But I do. I’m scared to admit how much I want him. No boyfriend before was like this. The pull between us is cosmic, incapacitating, irrefutable.
"Yes."
As the light outside fades, his evergreen irises darken. Heart thrumming in my throat, my skin warms until I feel feverish, burning and freezing simultaneously.
He takes the glass from my hands and sets it on the counter. My stomach somersaults. “I promise to be devoted to you,” he murmurs as he closes the distance between us. Heat radiates off his body. “I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
