Page 74 of Secrets and S'mores
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It looked worse than it was.” She probably knows I’m lying, but I don’t know what else to say to make it better. It wasn’t a great moment for me, and I definitely thought I wasn’t going to make it out of there alive.
“Don’t ever-” she starts to say.
“Come for you?” I interject. “Try to save you? Follow you?”
She scowls at me and pushes away, but I keep a hold of her waist so she can’t move far.
“I’d go through all of it again for you.” Her eyes widen and her mouth opens to argue. “It wouldn’t be my first choice. If I could help you by taking a little vacation or maybe save you by getting a massage, that would be much nicer.”
Gurgling laughter bursts out of her, and she wipes at her tears with the back of her hand.
“But don’t think for a second I wouldn’t do absolutely anything necessary to protect you.” My voice drops, threatening all kinds of dark things.
“I’d do the same for you,” she whispers. “In fact, I’m already planning several scenarios that involve torture for the men who hurt you.”
“There’s my beautiful, bloodthirsty girl,” I say before lowering my head to kiss her. She tangles her fingers in my shirt, kissing back with the ferocity I love in her. We break apart just long enough for her to pull my shirt over my head.
She shoves me backward and we stumble toward the master bedroom. Finally, I have her alone in a proper bed, and this time she won’t disappear in the night.
This isn’t a distraction, it’s devotion.
The door clicks shut and I press her back against it hard enough her emerald hair falls across her face. She lets out a low laugh. I tuck it behind her ear tenderly, running my fingers over the shell of her ear. She tips her head toward my touch.
“Be my mate,” I say simply. No teasing, no speeches, just my heart laid out before her.
Her hand rests against my chest and her fingers tap while she picks her words. “I’m not a safe person to be with.”
Grabbing her wrist, I move her hand to the scar across the bottom of my ribs. “I can take it. We already established that.”
Her expression darkens. “I am going to reclaim my pack and be Alpha.”
“Okay,” I say immediately.
“Onyx,” she says slowly, “it’s what I have to do. And if you are my mate, you’d be Alpha too.”
It’s not a surprise. That’s how it works for every pack. Yet, it hadn’t crossed my mind that becoming Ember’s mate would mean I became Alpha when she did. I’ve never wanted leadership or power.
Before, I thought she'd give up her position, but I know her better now. Looking into her determined gaze, I know she will make it happen. Nothing could stop her.
So do I want her still, if it means becoming an Alpha?
Yes.
Without a doubt.
“I’m sure Slate can give me a few pointers,” I say, dipping my head to brush my lips against her cheek.
“Seriously, Onyx, I need you to be completely sure.”
I fix her with an unflinching stare. “Yes. I will be your partner and mate, even if it means learning to be an Alpha.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, her gaze softening and mouth parting. “Really?”
“I’ll be your trophy mate,” I say with a snicker. “Every strong Alpha needs someone pretty on their arm.”
She slaps my chest, but her smile widens, her dimple visible. “I’m trusting that you are completely sure. Because I can’t have you hold me back from my position.”
“Ember, I would never hold you back.”
