Page 51 of A Love Bite

The worry in her eyes softens, and I feel a surge of relief. I want her to feel safe, to know that no matter what happens, I’ll be there to face it with her.

“Eat your breakfast,” I say, nodding toward her plate. “You’ll need your strength if you’re going to keep up with me today.”

She laughs again, the sound filling the room and chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt. As we eat, I watch her, committing every smile, every laugh to memory. She’s my mate, my future, and I’ll fight with everything I have to make sure she stays safe and happy.

No rival pack, no danger, nothing will come between us. Not now, not ever.

After we finish breakfast, Alex leans back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. I watch her, intrigued. She clearly has something else on her mind.

Finally, she looks at me, her eyes steady but soft. “We’re basically married by werewolf standards, right?”

“Yes.”

“Courtesy of the love bite.”

I burst out laughing. “Yes, because of the love bite.”

“Well… down the road… when all of this is settled—if it everdoessettle—I might want… I don’t know… a baby or two.”

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning. My chest swells with something fierce and warm, a combination of love, pride, and a deep sense of rightness. The thought of Alex, my mate, as the mother of my children? There’s nothing I want more.

I take her hand in mine and hold it tightly. “Alex,” I say, my voice firm but full of warmth, “if that’s what you want, then I’m all for it. Nothing would make me happier.”

Her lips curl into a small, almost shy smile. “Really? I mean, I know things are complicated right now, but?—”

“But nothing,” I cut in, my tone unwavering. “When the time comes, we’ll make it happen. You and me, building a family together? That sounds perfect.”

She blushes slightly.

I can already picture it, a little one running around, maybe with her eyes and my stubbornness or the other way around. It’s a future I never thought I’d let myself want, but with Alex, it feels inevitable. Right.

“I didn’t know how you’d feel about it,” she admits, looking down at her plate. “With everything going on, I wasn’t sure if it was something you’d even consider.”

I gently lift her chin so she’s looking at me again. “Alex, you’re my mate. My future. I’ll consider anything as long as it’s with you. A family? Kids? That’s the kind of life I want with you. Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure it’s safe for us to have that someday.”

Her eyes shine with emotion, and she squeezes my hand. “You mean it?”

“With everything I’ve got,” I reply, leaning across the table to kiss her softly. “We’ve got a lot to handle right now, but when it’s all over, when we’re finally settled? Yeah, Alex, I want that too.”

She smiles and kisses me again, and I feel like the luckiest guy alive. The thought of a family with her and a future where we can have a little peace and a little normalcy… I will do anything and everything to make sure it happens.

Alex kisses me again, this time more insistently, and suddenly, I have a new goal.

To make love to her in every possible place and room possible.

Epilogue

Cory

Ever since lastweek when I was attacked by a werewolf from that rival pack that’s been sniffing around, I’ve been on edge. The encounter left me with more than just physical wounds; it shook me to my core. The constant sense of danger, the feeling of being watched, and the lingering pain from the attack have kept me in a heightened state of alertness.

But there’s something else that’s been bothering me, something I can’t quite shake. A scent—a woman’s scent—has been driving me crazy. I have no idea who she is, but the scent is intoxicating, filling my thoughts and haunting my senses. I’ve tried to track it down, to find her, but so far, I’ve had no luck. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air.

I’m sitting at Luna’s Moon, nursing a drink and trying to relax, but it’s no use. My mind keeps wandering back to that scent. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, hoping to catch a whiff of it again, but it’s not there. It’s maddening.

“Cory, you okay?” Jake asks, sliding into the seat next to me. His concern is evident, and I appreciate it, but I can’t help feeling restless.

“Yeah, just… trying to get my head straight,” I reply, taking a sip of my drink. “Still on edge after that attack.”