Page 92 of An Unending Claim

Peyton’s eyes fluttered and emerald green swirled with flecks of gold. They were filled with pain, and I pushed her hair back from her head before brushing a kiss over her temple. “It’s over, baby. You’re safe.”

She peered up at me for a few moments, and I saw the fear fade, but then she closed her eyes and didn’t wake back up.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

PEYTON

“Relax, Léo,” a familiar voice muttered softly.

Myka?

“Why isn’t she awake yet? It’s been well over twenty-four hours.” My dad’s voice sounded tired and worried.

“Because she went through a hell of a lot of trauma, and her body needs time to recover.”

Recover. The memories of Bane and Xavier, the cabin, the pain, then my panther taking over… it all came screaming back to me. No wonder I felt like utter shit. Then I remembered what had sent me into a tailspin and terror filled me. I pushed my eyelids up and looked around for the face that matched the voice of my doctor.

“Is”—my voice croaked, my throat dry as the desert—“is she okay?”

“Welcome back,” Myka said as she stepped into my line of vision. “Here.” She held a cup to my lips, but I could only take one sip before I had to ask again.

“Our cub?”

Myka smiled. “Perfectly healthy.” Her expression slipped a little when she added, “Although, honestly, Peyton, I don’t understand how. The blows to the stomach and the blood loss from the silver wounds, then collapsing from exhaustion and dehydration… I don’t know how she survived.”

I sighed, my body shaking from the flow of relief that whooshed through my body. That was when Nathan’s head popped up, his silver eyes glazed and tired. I realized he’d been asleep in the chair beside me with his head resting on the bed next to my leg. Pressure around my hand had me looking down to see that he’d also been clutching my hand in his slumber. It was such a simple, sweet thing, but it caused warmth to bloom in my chest.

“Hey,” I greeted him in a soft voice with a slight curve on my lips.

“Peyton,” he sighed. “Finally. What took you so fucking long?” The last part came out in a bark, and I raised an eyebrow, giving him an arch look. It took a beat, but then it sank in, and he winced. “Sorry. I’ve just been so worried. I… fuck, Peyton. I was just really worried.”

“I get it.”

“Do you?”

I met his gaze with a puzzled frown. “Yes,” I insisted. “I was worried about you, too. And our cub.”

Nathan looked like he wanted to say something, but then he glanced around and noticed my dad, Myka, and his parents in the room. I hadn’t noticed Beth and Michael before, but when I did, they smiled and came over to kiss my forehead.

“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Beth whispered. “We’ll give you two some time.” Then she ushered everyone out of the room and shut the door.

I had a lot I wanted to say to my mate, so I was grateful to Beth for picking up on my need to be alone with Nathan.

He pushed to his feet, and I waited to talk until he’d settled on the bed beside me, still holding my hand.

“I was so fucking scared, Peyton.” Nathan spoke first, and his words, along with the tremor in his deep, strong voice, formed a lump in my throat. “Do you understand? Really?” I nodded, but he kept going before I could answer. “You’re not just my true mate, baby. You are everything to me, you and our pup. I love you. I can’t lose you.” He paused and I waited, overwhelmed by what he’d admitted. Then he said the only other thing besides “I love you” that squeezed my heart and made me feel as though he’d just handed me the world. “Stay. Please.”

He’d asked, not demanded.

“That’s not fair,” I grumbled, holding back tears because crying was annoying.

“Pardon?” His head reared back in surprise.

The corners of my mouth tipped up. “You know I can’t resist when you say please.”

He stared at me for a moment, like he didn’t know quite how to react to what I’d said. Then he burst out laughing, making me grin and bask in the beauty that was Nathan when he was happy. When he calmed, he shook his head and smiled at me. Then he bent over and brushed a sweet kiss over my lips. “Please, tell me you love me, too.”

I raised my hands and cupped his face, loving the feel of his beard tickling my palms, before I ran my fingers through his tousled hair. “I love you.”