Page 66 of Unbreakable Bond
Chapter 26
Rafe heldtight to Zoey’s hand as she led him up the steps of their cabin. Michael had graciously lent them one of the pack vehicles to get home and they’d driven in silence. It hadn’t been the most comfortable silence they’d shared but he’d known they both had a lot to think about. It had been a long night, a scary night, but they were still together and that was whatmattered.
He followed Zoey through the door into the cabin and shut it behind them. The smell of them was everywhere. All of their hours of lovemaking from the day before, of their mating, it permeated the air and filled his lungs. It made his wolf rouse from his slumber and brush at his insides. When Zoey started to let go of his hand, he held tight and pulled her closeinstead.
“Rafe?”
He tugged her against his body, holding her in a tight hug and she accepted easily. She wound her arms around him as well and they stood there like that for a long time. Intertwined. Breathing the same air. Their hearts synching as they fell into one another and he felt that now familiar ache in his chest whenever he thought of losingher.
He was an idiot. He’d been trying to hold back and go slow, for her. But Zoey had never asked him for that. She’d rushed headlong into this relationship, accepting that fate had a plan and accepting him as her mate. He’d been stupid keeping secrets from her and he swore that he would never do it again as he breathed in her warm, sweet scent until it permeated hisblood.
“Zo?” He brushed her hair back and leaned away enough to look down at her beautiful face, “There’s something else I need to tellyou.”
Her brows pinched slightly but she didn’t pull away, “What isit?”
“Last night, when we sealed the bond and mated fully, it was your first change and a full moonand…”
A small smile tugged at Zoey’s lips, “Are you trying to tell me I might bepregnant?”
His eyebrows hit his hairline, “Youknow?”
“I grew up with the pack.” Zoey nodded, “I know how it works even if I didn’t have my own wolf until now. I know pregnancies are high after a full moon, particularly for the young in the pack that have undergone the change recently and are mated. So yeah, Iknow.”
Rafe rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone, “And you’re okay withthat?”
“Of course I’m okay with that. I’m more than okay with it. Rafe, you’re my mate. I want us to have a family together. I want us to have everything we’ve both ever dreamedof.”
His heart ached again at the strength of his tiny little mate. She was gorgeous inside and out. Beautiful and sweet and kind and understanding, he’d done nothing in his life to deserve her but he would. He thought maybe that was why the fates had seen fit to gift him with her as his other half. She made him want to bebetter.
“You’re everything I ever dreamed of,Zoey.”
She cuddled her cheek into his touch, “Are you worried I might bepregnant?”
“Only about you. Carrying pups, I’ve heard it’s difficult and I don’t want you to hurt, not for asecond.”
“I can handleit.”
“I know. I just worry.” He dropped his forehead to hers and lowered his voice, “I don’t want to loseyou.”
“You won’t.” Zoey covered his hands with her own and held him close. “Youwon’t.”
Rafe brushed his lips over hers and groaned when she sighed a sound of contentment that rocked him. He did it again, loving that sound. And again, and again, until her sighs had turned from content to something else. Needy. He pressed his mouth to hers harder and when she tiptoed up, trying to keep him close he groaned as he broke away and hauled her up into hisarms.
“I love the sounds you make when I touchyou.”
Zoey wrapped herself around him, a glint in her eyes, “I love when you touchme.”
“I need you, baby.” He nipped at her jaw, “Let me make love to you. No heat forcing it on us. No wolves clawing for each other. Just you and me. You’re my mate, Zo. You’re my woman. My other half. You make me whole.” He pulled back again just enough to meet her eyes, wanting to see her when he admitted a truth that seemed as natural as breathing, “I loveyou.”
Zoey’s bottom lip trembled slightly and she bit into it, steadying herself. Tears glistened in her eyes but she blinked them away. Her answering smile eased some of the tension the tears had caused to ratchet up in his chest and she soothed him completely when shenodded.
“I love you too,Rafe.”
“Youdo?”
“Of course I do.” She brushed his hair back from his forehead, “You’re my mate and my man and my other half. You make me wholetoo.”
The weight that he felt like he’d been carrying around inside of him for years eased a bit at her words. She loved him. He didn’t know how or why. He knew he wasn’t easy to love. He was half-feral, wild and untamed. He was gruff and rude and add to that he was overbearing and dominant. But she loved him and that made him look at his entire life in a newlight.
