Page 44 of An Unending Claim

“It should,” he finally responded.

“Normally, perhaps, but you aren’t normal.”

“Because I’m an Alpha,” he agreed with a nod. As if it were that simple.

“Yes. But also, you have a more powerful, dominant personality than most men.” I considered him silently for a moment. “I wonder if you would have been better off with a meek mate, one who—” I stopped when I found myself hauled over to straddle Nathan and our faces were only an inch apart. He looked furious.

“You are my true mate, Peyton.”

“I know.”

Nathan looked as stunned as I felt. I’d come to that conclusion already, but I hadn’t admitted it out loud.

It took at least a full minute for our mutual stupor to fade.

“Are you ready to admit that you’re part of this pack?”

I narrowed my eyes at him in warning. “Don’t push it.”

He stared at me, and the intensity made me squirm a little. I tried to ignore him, but ended up blowing out a frustrated breath before growling, “I’ll admit that my life can be lonely sometimes.”

Nathan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly and he pressed his forehead to mine. “I’ll take the win,” he murmured.

I took a deep breath as anxiety built up inside me and the walls I hadn’t felt lately began to close in on me. My panther scrambled to her feet, pushing against me and freaking out over my emotional claustrophobia.

Nathan’s head reared back and his hands clasped my cheeks, drawing my cat’s attention and making her instantly calm. “Relax, kitty cat,” he said firmly. “Breathe.”

I tried, but couldn’t quite fill my lungs and he squeezed my face just a little to force me to focus solely on him.

“The next steps have to be made together, Peyton, but even if I had control, I wouldn’t force you.”

The walls stopped moving in, but didn’t recede.

Nathan’s silver eyes searched mine and I wondered what exactly he was looking for. “I can’t make you stay, baby. But I think there’s a big part of you that wants to. To be part of a pack, have a home.”

He was right, I felt as much of a pull to stay as I did to leave. Except… My panther had attached herself to Nathan’s wolf long ago and hadn’t pushed me for freedom recently.

It made me wonder if I was clinging to what I knew and not truly considering the idea that I might have changed. Did I truly believe that I could move on from Nathan, live a life where we only interacted when picking up or dropping off our daughter?

The answer hovered at the edge of my mind and I considered telling Nathan. However, something else had become increasingly clear to me. Putting down permanent roots, finding peace here, and only indulging my inner nomad from time to time, stepping into the role of Alpha female… all those things required more than just my determination. Even Nathan’s vow of an unending claim wouldn’t be enough.

It shook me to my core when I realized the truth. I’d never been fanciful, romantic, or emotional until I’d met Nathan and he’d turned my world upside down. I’d never needed or desired love.

As I stared into his beautiful silver eyes, I knew love would be the only thing strong enough to curb my restlessness. A love so deep that my soul was anchored with Nathan’s.

That knowledge was more terrifying than nearly dying at the hands of a serial killer, more than the threat of being torn to pieces by a rogue wolf, more than anything I could imagine. Because if I ever lost him, I wasn’t sure if I’d survive.

But would it be worth the time we had together?

If Nathan loved me, I believed it would.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

PEYTON

My mind was focused on hacking into the bank accounts of a warlord when my cell phone started vibrating. I didn’t actually notice it until it had buzzed itself right off my desk and into my lap.

I sighed and picked it up, then frowned when I didn’t recognize the number, although something about it was familiar. The list of people who knew my phone number could be counted on one hand, and I’d secured it myself, so I didn’t receive calls from telemarketers either. I was about to silence it when I realized why it had struck a chord with me; it was the KBO switchboard. They’d rerouted the call to my cell, which would only happen—I glanced at my desk phone. Sure enough, the light was blinking, indicating a missed call. Last I’d checked, Nathan was in a meeting down the hall, but it was possible he’d left… except he always let me know he was leaving and who would be babysitting me. That left one of my team members on another project, so I quickly answered.