Nathan's POV
I laughed properly this ti, even as my heart squeezed at the idea of her panicking alone.
"I'm sorry," I said, still smiling. "The mont I stepped my foot here, my wolf went crazy. He howled and dragged straight to you. I knew it had to be you. It could never be anyone else."
Her expression softened. Tears still clung to her lashes. But behind the tears… there was happiness.
Real happiness.
She leaned down and kissed .
It wasn't slow. It wasn't gentle. It was passionate.
Her lips crashed into mine, her hands cupping my face, her body pressing close like she was trying to make sure I wouldn't disappear.
I kissed her back instantly, my hand sliding to her waist, holding her like she was the only steady thing in my world. My heart raced so loud I could feel it in my ears.
She tasted like salt from her tears and sothing sweet underneath.
Warmth spread through my body, from my chest to my fingers, to my toes, to my wolf howling in triumph.
MATE. OUR MATE. OURS.
I wrapped my arms tighter around her, and, with a small push from my ability, I shifted us gently so we were no longer flat on the ground. In one smooth motion, I stood up with her still in my arms, one hand under her thighs, the other around her back, lifting her off the grass.
She gasped softly, her arms instinctively going around my neck.
When we finally pulled back from the kiss, she was breathing hard. Her lips were swollen and pink, her eyes shining like stars.
"Hailee…" I whispered, leaning my forehead against hers.
I inhaled again, letting her scent fill my lungs completely.
Gods.
She slled like nutg and honey… but there was sothing else too. Sothing warm, soft, and faint, yet impossible to miss.
The scent of her special scent. A scent only I could perceive.
Hailee swallowed, searching my face. "What about now?" she asked quietly. "What happens to us now?"
The last ti she asked that question, I had no answer.
I was scared. Scared of losing her. Scared of the risk. Scared of making the wrong choice.
But now…
Now I had no doubt.
Now she was my mate.
I shifted her gently so her feet touched the ground again, but I didn't let go of her waist. I held her close, my hands firm, my eyes locked on hers.
"Now…" I said softly, "you are mine."
Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting.
"Mine to love," I continued, my voice low but steady. "Mine to protect. Mine to cherish. Mine to stand beside. Mine to grow old with."
Emotion filled her eyes so fast I thought she might fall apart in my arms.
I leaned closer, my forehead resting against hers again.
"And I," I whispered, "am yours. Your mate. Your shield. Your idiot. Your stubborn fool. Whatever you want to be… I am yours."
A tear slid down her cheek.
She let out a soft, broken laugh. "Idiot suits you."
I smiled.
"I know."
She took a shaky breath. "Nathan… I'm scared."
"I know," I said softly. " too."
"What if sothing happens to the baby? What if Callum—"
I shook my head quickly and pulled her closer, my arms tightening.
"Hailee, listen to ," I said firmly. "We will figure everything out. The healer's warning, the mark, the baby, Callum… all of it. But we won't figure it out by running from what we feel."
Her eyes searched mine.
I lifted a hand and placed it gently over her stomach.
"This baby," I said quietly, "is innocent. And I will protect both of you with everything I am. I don't care what it costs . Your life… your happiness… your safety… will always co first."
Her lower lip trembled.
"Last ti," I continued, my voice dropping, "I thought the best way to protect you was to let you go. To push you away. To accept that you would belong to soone else if that ant you'd live."
My throat tightened.
"I was ready to break my own heart if it ant you would live long enough to love another man."
Her fingers curled in my shirt.
"But now," I whispered, "I know better. The moon goddess didn't bind you to just to take you away. She made you my mate because we're ant to face everything together. Not apart."
She stared at quietly, tears falling freely now.
I wiped them away slowly.
"So what happens to us now, Hailee?" I asked, flipping the question back to her.
She swallowed and whispered, "We fight together."
I smiled.
"Exactly."
I kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose.
"You, , Oscar, the baby, your wolf, my wolf," I said softly. "We're a team now. Anyone who wants to stand against us will just have to face all of that."
She let out a small laugh, even as tears kept falling.
My wolf purred inside , satisfied… finally calm.
I pulled her into my chest one more ti and just held her.
The garden was quiet around us. The house in mourning behind us. The future still ssy and unclear ahead of us. But one thing was certain… I will protect Hailee with my last breath. I will love her with my life and never make her regret choosing .
"Nathan." Hailee whispered.
"Yes, dear," I responded, still stroking her back.
"I broke things off with Dane… he understood, and we made peace. Who is left is Callum, but I'm scared."
I sucked in a deep breath. I understood her fear. Callum won't let go of Hailee so easily like Dane.
"Don't worry, we will sort it out together," I assured her.
Hailee took a deep breath, nodded, and held tightly.
"Hailee?" I murmured.
"Hmm?" she humd against my chest.
"I love you," I said simply.
She tightened her arms around .
"I love you too," she whispered. "My mate."
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