Page 82 of Alpha Fate
Using the tip of my finger to raise her chin, I lock eyes with her. “Why not?”
“Because…” Her voice grows husky. “Because you know now.”
“That you’re pregnant?” I don’t release her chin when she tries to drop her head again.
“Yes.” It’s a whisper.
“Do you think that would make me care for you less?”
Her eyes flash up. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Why? You’re still the same she-wolf my wolf chose. Who chose me.”
“But the pups…they’re not yours.” She looks startled.
“No. They’re yours. And that means I’ll love them. I love everything about you.”
“You love me?” She seems surprised for some reason.
“Did I say that?” I chuckle. “I guess I did. And I guess I do.” I take in a breath. “Are you going to say it back?”
“Yes.” She licks her lips.
“So say it.”
“I love you,” she whispers, the words choking out.
My heart swells fit to bursting. I cup her face in my hands, stroking away the traces of blood Rack left behind. She leans into my touch, eyelids fluttering closed. I marvel that even in the midst of this horror, just holding her makes everything right in the world.
I press my lips to her forehead, her cheek, the tip of her nose…and then her mouth.
Heat builds in my chest as our lips meet, soft and hesitant at first. Then I taste her, and it feels like time stands still. Savannah’s arms wrap around my neck as she clings close, her mouth opening to mine, our tongues dancing.
I moan low as she tastes me back, her fingers curling into my hair, pulling me closer. Heat radiates off her body like an ember, her scent filling my senses. My hands graze her sides, tracing the faint marks left by Rack’s claws. She flinches, but only briefly, before her body melts into mine once more.
The world fades away as we cling to each other, lost in our embrace. The smell of iron, of coppery blood, recedes. All that remains is Savannah, her sweetness. The feel of her body taut beneath my hands. Reluctantly, I draw my head back. This is not the place to take things further. And that’s exactly what I want to do now.
“Let’s go home,” I say as I gaze into her eyes. She nods soundlessly, her lips parted slightly. I want to kiss them again. I don’t. I reach for her hand, raise it, and brush my lips against her knuckles. Then I turn and guide her away from the nightmare behind us.
It’s over.
Chapter 28
Savannah
“I love it! It’s gorgeous!” I run an eye around the walls of the bright space and feel a rush of warmth as I imagine Gage and I settling into this airy apartment.
“I knew you’d like it, sunshine.” He’s beaming with so much pride you’d think he’d built the place himself.
“It’s beautiful. No wonder Jagger and Sierra insisted we come to see it right away. They were excited for us.” I’ve barely recovered from the incident with Rack last night – although “incident” is an understatement. It was a bloodbath. It didn’t leave me devastated, though. I’ve come through with a sense of elation. A feeling that we’ve put that demon out of our world for good.
I could see the relief on Sierra’s face when we got back and updated everyone on what had happened. I’ll never tell her that he’d been watching Steel Lakes all along; she’d freak out, and there’s no need to put her through that when the threat is now gone. I’m just glad that she seems to have come to terms with the decisions I’m making now; that she trusts me to make the right choices.
“I’m not sure if Jagger is very excited with me right now.” Gage gives a wry smile. “It’s going to be a while before he’s not pissed with me for running off after you.”
“Who cares if he’s pissed or not? If you hadn’t done it, who knows how things might have turned out?” I suppress a shiver as I think of all the things Rack had threatened me with.
He’s gone, Sav. Put it behind you.