Nathan’s POV
Her breathing had finally steadied, but mine hadn’t. I held her close, my arm curved protectively over her waist, my face buried in her hair. Every part of —man and wolf—was restless, refusing to calm. My wolf paced just under the surface, snarling and possessive, the urge to sink my teeth into her neck pounding in my skull like a drum. I’d never fought him this hard before.
Why?
Why her? Why now?
I’d been with won before. I’d cared for so of them. But this... this was different. This was dangerous. My wolf didn’t just want her. He wanted to claim her—mark her, bind her to so no one could ever take her away.
I knew what that ant. And I wasn’t supposed to want it. Still, the thought of her scent on anyone else made my jaw clench, my grip on her tightening. She fit against so perfectly it almost hurt. Like she was ant to be here.
I pressed my lips to her temple, my voice low. "Hailee..."
She humd softly in response, not opening her eyes, but I could tell she was awake.
"I need to tell you sothing." My throat felt dry, the words heavier than they should’ve been.
She turned slightly in my arms, just enough to look at . The faint moonlight spilling in from the window caught her eyes, making them glisten.
"I want you..." I paused, the weight of what I was about to say hitting full force. "I want you to be my mate."
The words hung in the air between us, sharper than a blade and warr than fire. My wolf rumbled his approval, finally still for the first ti all night.
Her lips parted, her breath catching, but she didn’t speak. And in that silence, my heart thudded hard against my ribs.
I didn’t know if she understood the gravity of what I’d just said—or if she even wanted the sa thing. But I knew one thing: I wasn’t going to take it back. I wanted her... I wanted her to be my mate... I don’t care if I have a mate out there... I didn’t want anyone else apart from Hailee... I can’t imagine life with another lady and even my wolf was in approval.
Suddenly, she pulled away from my arms and sat beside while drawing the blanket over herself as she covered herself. My heart raced... For a mont, I just stared at her, my chest tightening.
She wouldn’t look at , her gaze stayed fixed on so invisible point ahead, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket so tightly her knuckles were white.
"Hailee..." I said softly, leaning forward, but she didn’t answer.
The silence between us was no longer warm—it was sharp, tense, suffocating.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You... you can’t an that, Nathan."
"I do," I said without hesitation. "I’ve never ant anything more."
Her head shook slowly, the faintest tremor running through her shoulders. "You don’t even know if I’m your mate. What if—"
"I don’t care," I cut in, my voice low, rough. "I don’t want anyone else. I don’t care if the Moon Goddess herself cos down and tells my so-called mate is out there waiting. I’m not leaving you."
That made her glance at , but it wasn’t relief I saw in her eyes—it was sothing else. Fear.
She swallowed hard, pulling the blanket tighter. "You don’t understand, Nathan. You don’t know what you’re saying. If you mark as your mate you will lose your mate forever and I can’t do that." She spat the words and tried to leave the bed, but I caught her arms, stopping her. She turned to face , her eyes weary.
"I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have said it... we just made love for the first ti and I shouldn’t be saying this. I’m sorry... please, I’m sorry... don’t go." I pleaded desperately, pulling her back into my arms. For a mont, I thought she would pull away, but thankfully she didn’t. Instead, she rested her head on my bare chest and wrapped her arms around . I sighed in relief, lying back down on the bed while my fingers traced lightly over the smooth skin of her back. My wolf howled in my head, but I ignored him, choosing instead to savor the feeling of Hailee in my arms. I didn’t know why she had suddenly wanted tonight, but it felt good knowing she had three options and she chose .
But even as I held her, my wolf wouldn’t let up. His growls echoed in my head, sharp and impatient, demanding I make her ours.
I forced him back again, tightening my hold around her as if that alone could keep her from slipping away.
She was quiet. Too quiet. Her breathing was steady, but I could feel the stiffness in her body, the way her fingers clung to my skin without truly relaxing.
"Hailee," I murmured, tilting my head so I could catch her gaze, but she kept her face pressed against my chest.
"Please, Nathan... don’t talk about it anymore tonight," she whispered, so soft I almost missed it. "Just... hold ."
It hurt, maybe she is refusing to be my mate because she still has feelings for the other two. But I nodded anyway, pressing a kiss into her hair. I didn’t want to push her, not when she’d just given a piece of herself I’d never thought I’d have.
We lay there in silence, my fingers tracing the delicate curve of her spine, her scent wrapping around like a drug. I could almost convince myself this was enough.
Almost.
Because the truth was, it wasn’t. Not for . Not for my wolf.
And as she slowly drifted toward sleep, her breathing finally deep and even, I made myself a silent promise. I will not lose her to another man.
My wolf prowled inside , ears flat, hackles raised—not in anger at her, but at the idea of anyone else’s hands on her, anyone else seeing her like I had tonight.
The thought made my vision darken.
I pressed my lips against her hair again, softer this ti, as if the gesture could imprint itself into her. "You’re mine," I breathed into the darkness. I didn’t care if she was awake to hear it or not. The words weren’t a question—they were a vow.
The Moon Goddess could take her rules and shove them. I’d lived by the pack’s laws my whole life, followed their orders, fought their battles. But this? This was different. She was different.
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