Page 115 of Chased By My Grumpy Alpha
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “Yes.”
“Most men would consider that a compliment,” I say, dabbing at the blood on his shoulder with perhaps more force than necessary.
“I’m not most men.” His grip on my other wrist tightens. “And you’re not most women.”
I pause in my ministrations, looking down at him with genuine confusion. “Lucian, I honestly don’t understand what you mean. How have I been rejecting you?”
“Every gift I give you, you thank me like I’m some stranger doing you a favor. You won’t let me buy you things, you won’t let me protect you without arguing, and you act like you don’t...” He trails off, frustration clear in his voice.
“Like I don’t what?”
“Like you don’t belong to me,” he says quietly, releasing my wrist. “Like you don’t have a right to be cared for.”
Surprise makes me drop the bandage I’m about to wrap around his shoulder. “I—I don’t know how to do that.”
His jaw tightens. “Then figure it out.”
I resume my work, but my movements are shaky now. “I thought I was being grateful. I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“I don’t want your gratitude, Astra. I want your trust.” His free hand comes up to cup my cheek as I bend over his wound. “I want you to stop looking shocked every time I come back. I want you to expect me to take care of you.”
“And what happens when you get tired of taking care of me?” The question slips out before I can stop it, my old fears resurfacing despite everything he’s saying.
His eyes flash fiercely. “You’re going to find out I’m not the man you think I am.”
I pause, studying his face. “What does that mean?”
“It means I will never tire of you.” His thumb traces my cheekbone. “And if you need me to prove it to you, I will.”
“How?” I whisper.
“I’ll mate you,” he says plainly. “Bond with you permanently. So you’ll never have to wonder if I’m going to leave you.”
The cloth falls from my fingers. “Mate me?”
“Bond with you. Forever.” He drops his hand to touch my lower lip, and I shiver. “So you’ll always know you belong to someone. So you’ll never have to worry about being abandoned.”
I stare at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. He wants to be my mate? The idea causes something hard inside me to melt, and the hope and desire that follow make my chest tighten.
“You’re hurt,” I whisper, picking up the fallen bandage with trembling fingers. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I’ve never thought more clearly in my life.” His hands frame my face as I try to focus on cleaning the cut on his forehead. “I want you, Astra. Not just for tonight, not just until something better comes along. Always.”
“Why?” The question comes out sounding broken and desperate as I dab at the wound. “Why me?”
“Because you’re you.” His voice takes on an almost reverent quality. “Because you’re brave and kind and beautiful and you make me want to be better than I am. Because when I look at you, I see home.”
Home. The word sends a dangerous flutter through my stomach.
“You’ve only known me for a month.” The words tumble out quickly, my voice breaking on them. “Why would you want to mate someone you don’t know very well?”
His thumb catches a tear on my cheek that I didn’t know had fallen. “I know everything I need to know.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I know you’re important to me.” His voice sounds raw, desperate. “I know my wolf recognizes you as ours. I know that even when the world can’t see how intelligent you are, I do.” His eyes burn into mine. “I know that you’re brave enough to face down four shifters to protect your cat. I know you’d rather go hungry than accept help you think you don’t deserve.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Lucian—”
