Page 167 of Untamed

The warmth in my blood chases away the chill in the air. “Bliss, what are you doing out here?” I find her, her face tilted upward into the night sky filled with stars. Without moonlight to shine down on her, the glow of light seems to come from her. My eternal light.

“It’s the Dark Moon, Mactiir. I like it on these nights.”

“Why?” I ask her softly. The bond thrums, my monster salivating at the mere sight of her. He is more potent on dark nights, I realize. Wilder. Uneasy, I step closer to my mate. The monster that lurks inside me has more control.

“You can see the stars.”

“You like the stars,Qitsuk?”

“They remind me that without eyes to see, you have to use your heart.”

“Not your nose?” I tap her gently on the tip of hers. Drawing her into my body, I nudge her belly with my hard-on. She may be entranced with the heavens, but all I see is her.

She smiles at me, giggling at my antics. “No, your heart.” Her hand comes up and rests over my strong heartbeat.

I kiss her quickly. I can’t help myself. “It beats for you, my Bliss.”

“What does that mean?”

“That I love you. You own my heart.”

Goddess, I’m fucking sappy. The smile on her face makes it worth it, but only Willa will hear those words. I would have to kill anyone else who hears me talk like that.

“What does your heart say?” I ask. Inside, my monster tumbles, pacing, growling. He fearsnothingin this life or the next but her answer. Her answer terrifies him. We know we are a monster. Undeserving of her. All he loves in this world is here in my arms.

“Love means so many things, my Mactiir.” She traces my pectoral with her finger. “I love Mama. And the forest… and being alive, I suppose.”

“Yeah?” I mutter. My stomach pitches a little. My monster is whining, fearful, hurting. Jealous. I press him down. Let her speak. Orion-fucking-Ferax was right when he claimed the alphas of our territory were a bunch of bastards. I won’t silence my mate. I want her to have as much love as she can grab for herself.

“Qitsuk?”I prod her when she falls quiet.

“I don’t like males, did you know? I… didn’t like males. My father. Thomson. So many males just like you are not good wolves.”

I hold my breath. I hate that she’s thinking of her father… Fathers. Those males tainted my female’s perception of males, maybe forever. It rankles. I’m nothing like those weak, cruel males.Nothing.

“Then you captured me. I thought you would be the same. But… you’re so much worse. My Mactiir,” she murmurs.

Worse? Shit. No fucking way. My heart speeds up. My throat is raw from holding back angry words. Let her talk, wolf. Let her speak her mind. I know she doesn’t think as the rest of us do.

She pats my chest over my racing heart. “And so much better. So, so much better. You will be a good father, Mactiir.” Her hand smoothes over her flat stomach.

Every atom in my body turns to pure ice, then thaws in a fire of shock and joy. “You’re pregnant?” I ask in disbelief. The monster in me struts arrogantly, confirming my mate’s news.

She smiles at me. “Just.”

“I… You didn’t have a heat cycle, Bliss,” I whisper to her even as the thought runs through my mind; witches don’t have heat cycles.

Holy fuck. A pup.

“My sweet Bliss.” I fall to my knees in front of her, pressing my nose to her belly. I can barely scent it. She could only know from some sixth sense. Maybe her trees told her the truth. Who knows?

“I want lots and lots of pups, Mactiir. Males and females.” She says it in a warning tone. As if I would deny her.

“You’re so young,” I murmur.

She shrugs as I stand shakily. “The Moon told me that your white stuff makes pups.”

“I didn’t… She-wolves, Bliss… They need to go through heat. Did Lyri explain that?”

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