by Susan Bliler
Some of the anger left Mira’s face. Glancing at the door, she muttered, “I can’t leave here with you, Tallius. I’m Beta. I have obligations here.”
In a blink he closed the space between them and grabbed Mira’s hands. Startled, her chin lifted.
“You have no fucking idea how much those words give me hope.”
Her face twisted in confusion and made Tallius chuckle. “You just admitted that you don’t want to go with me because of your duties here. You didn’t deny that there’s something between us. You said you don’t want to abandon your obligations. You didn’t say that you didn’t want me.”
She tried to pull her hands back from his, but he wasn’t having it.
“Uh-uh.” Quick as lightning, he released her hands and pulled her hard into his body. Arms circling her waist, he held her tight as he dipped his head, brushing his nose against hers. “Mira, I love you. And I need you. I want you with me, no matter how I have to make that happen.” Pulling back, he ignored the shock on her face as he gazed at her intently. “You don’t have to do the sacrificing. If you don’t want to come with me, I’ll leave the WG for you. I’ll come here, become a Fury.”
Mira’s mouth fell open as her eyes rounded.
“Or we can break off and go it alone. I don’t fucking care where we end up as long as we end up together.”
“Tallius,” Mira breathed.
But from the look on her face, he knew she was overthinking things. In her head, she was running the gamut of reasons why they wouldn’t work. Right now her head was swirling with all the reasons they shouldn’t be together. Tallius intended to lay waste to every single one of those fucking thoughts.
“All I can ever be is sorry for the role I played in the decimation of your pack. But I’m begging you . . .” Releasing her waist, he caught her hand again and dropped to a knee in front of her. Craning his head back so he could keep eye contact, he repeated, “I’m begging you, Mira. Choose me. Give me a chance to spend my life proving to you that . . .”
His words tapered off, and lowering his head, he angled his face away from her before huffing, “Fuck! I was gonna ask you to let me prove to you that I’m not the monster you believe me to be.” Lifting his face back to hers, he swallowed hard and gave his head a sad shake. “But I am a monster. I guess I’m asking to be your monster. I’ll keep you safe, Mira. I’ll protect you all my days. Please! I can’t let you slip through my fingers. I just can’t. You make me feel alive. You make me feel. You’re my air.” Lifting her hands, he kissed the back of her knuckles. “I can’t fucking breathe without you.”
When he looked up, Mira’s eyes were shimmering with tears. And he could see it, the war she was waging within. She wanted him too, but she had ideas in her head of who she was going to be and he knew that person she saw wasn’t bonded to him.
“I know you can feel it.” Lowering her hands, he pressed the palm of one to his chest. “You feel that? It only ever beats that hard for you. And it’s yours. I’m yours. I’ll do whatever you want, Mira. I’ll be what you want me to be. I’ll come here and be an enforcer. I won’t seek rank. I’d be happy under you.”
A tear leaked from the corner of Mira’s eye as she whispered, “But you won’t be happy under Aydin.”
Tallius’s eyes flashed with something hard. “I’ll make it work. I promise.”
Mira stayed silent, and Tallius felt fear hit hard. “Mira?”
Finally, she muttered, “Since the FourClaws, I’ve never really felt like I’ve belonged anywhere. I bullied my way to Beta here, but honestly it hasn’t ever felt right.” She blinked and more tears fell. “It’d probably be the same at the Fortress. I’ve been floating. All this time, I’ve just been floating. I don’t fit, Tallius. I don’t fit anywhere. And I can’t torture you by asking you to be by my side here. And I’m worried it’d be the same with the WG.”
Rising to his full height, Tallius held up his hands. “Wait. Just wait a minute before you go thinking about all the reasons this can’t work, and answer one question.”
Mira blinked up at him.
“Do you want me, Mira?”
Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she made to look away, but he caught her chin and forced her eyes up to his. “Answer me that one question and answer it honestly.”
He waited, and when she finally shook her head sadly, it felt like he’d been kicked in the balls. Shocked, his hands dropped from her face. He swore his heart had stopped pounding with her admission, and when she pinched her eyes tightly closed and more tears fell, he knew all hope was lost. Least he thought it was until, still shaking her head, she breathed a nearly inaudible. “Yes.”
Unsure he’d heard her, he captured her chin again and lowered his head. Eyes intently focused on her mouth, he was almost afraid to ask, “What did you say?”
“Yes,” she answered more loudly. “But I don’t know how . . .”
Her words were cut off when Tallius dropped his lips to hers. Mouth sealing over hers, he devoured her protests and denials, because she’d just told him all he needed to know. Mira was his, and no matter what happened now, nothing would change that.
Chapter 22
Mira was so fucking happy that she could barely contain it, but still, doubt plagued her. How did they make this work? Where did they go? What did they do?
Pulling back from Tallius, she stared up at him and admitted honestly, “I don’t know how to do this. What do we do?”
“What do you wanna do?”
Glancing around the den, she admitted quietly, “I think . . .” Lifting her eyes to his, she finished, “I think my time here is done.”
The relief on Tallius’s face was evident, and had her feeling proud that she’d given him that.
“So to the Fortress?” he asked in a hopeful tone.
“We can try, but I’m not promising anything. I don’t fit anywere, Tally, I just don’t. I want you to be forewarned that I might not work there either.”
“Fair enough.” Hands on her hips, he gave her a squeeze. “We’ll take it slow. We’ll do whatever feels right. We won’t cement ourselves anyplace until you’re comfortable, I promise.”
Her heart gave a little squeeze that he’d do that for her. He’d be willing to go drift with her or set down roots someplace just because it felt right to her, and that meant more than anything in the world. She didn’t feel like she’d had any real family since Aunty Marnie died, but now, she had him!
Booted feet in the hallway were their only warning that Aydin and War were coming.
Jerking back, Mira put space between herself and Tallius, but he shook his head with a cocky, “Uh-uh.” Catching her hand in his, he stood with her, side by side, as they waited for their respective Alphas.
As soon as War and Aydin stepped into the room, their eyes went to Mira and Tallius’s interlaced fingers. War smiled approvingly, but Aydin’s face darkened.
“We’re . . .” Tallius began, but Mira squeezed his hand hard to silence him and then stepped forward.
She needed to be the one to do this. It was important to her that she didn’t get whisked off or run like a coward. No, if she was walking on Aydin and the Fury, then she’d be the one explaining the move.
“Alpha,” she began, eyes on Aydin, “first, I want to thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
Aydin’s face fell. He knew what was coming.
“You took me in, and you let me work my way up the ranks in a way that no one else would have let a female do. I can’t ever begin to thank you for that. You’re a good Alpha, Aydin, the best I’ve ever had.” She glanced at Tallius. “But I don’t fit here.” She sighed heavily. “I never have. We both know it. I’ve been trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and it’s not working.” Releasing Tallius’s hand, she stepped to Aydin and settled her hand on his shoulder. “I don’t fit here.”
“You could,” Aydin pleaded. “You could try. With me.”
“She’s leaving, asshole,” Tallius
barked. “Let her do it the way she wants. Let her go with dignity.”
Aydin’s cheeks grew ruddy, and Mira knew it was from both anger and loss. She was leaving a hole in the Fury pack. One that it’d be Aydin’s responsibility to fill.
“I’m sorry, Aydin. I’m sorry for abandoning you and the pack. I’m sorry for stepping up and taking a position I had no right taking. I knew I wasn’t meant to be here. I shouldn’t have wasted everyone’s time, least of all yours.”
Aydin gripped her elbow. “You were never a waste of time, Mira, not to me or the pack.” He frowned over her shoulder at Tallius. “And if things don’t work out or you ever wanna come back . . .”
“She isn’t coming back,” Tallius growled. “I’ve already claimed her, and I’m marking her tonight. It’s done. She’s mine!”
His admission made her proud, him claiming her publicly made her heart constrict, but his promise of marking her . . . It sent a punch of lust shooting through Mira that had eager anticipation flooding her.
“If there’s something I can do to make the transition easier?” she offered, and then looked at Tallius then War.
It was War who stepped forward. “If you need a temporary Beta, I can send one of my best enforcers.”
Aydin dipped his head in a nod. “Thanks, but losing my current Beta to the WG only to have a WG step into her spot would look like I’ve lost control of my pack.” He looked at Mira and gave her a sad smile. “We’ll figure it out.” Pulling her into a hug, he squeezed her tightly. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Mira. I really do.”
Behind her, Tallius started growling, and it only grew louder the longer Aydin held her.
War smirked, “Best let her go now, Alpha Fury. I’m still hoping to walk outta here without any blood being shed today.”
Aydin released Mira and stepped back, but she caught his hand. “Thank you, Aydin. Thank you for everything!”
And just like that, she was walking out of her compound and driving out of Fury territory in a jacked-up truck, settled between her new Alpha and her . . . mate? The word bounced around in her head and made her nervous. Holy shit! She was going to be Tallius War God’s mate!
Staring straight ahead, she didn’t take in any of the scenery. Her mind was too full of the future, more specifically, Tallius’s vow to mark her tonight.
“You alright?”
Tallius’s question pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Yeah.” She blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Just thinking. This is a lot of change.”
“It’ll be fine,” he promised. “I don’t know how things were with the Fury, but at the Fortress, the WG are pretty laid back. You don’t need to worry about anything. I promise.”
Turning to smirk at him, she teased, “You’re always promising. Do you know that about yourself? You’re always promising to take care of me and protect me. To keep me safe and that everything’s gonna be alright.”
She could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t know that about himself.
On the other side of her, War said, “It’s how it’s supposed to be between mates.”
Staring at Tallius as War said the word mates had her blush coming back, and Tallius caught it.
Eyes narrowing on her, he squeezed the hand he was holding. “Mates, Mira. Own it. Your mine, and I sure as shit am yours. The mark is just a technicality now.”
Thinking about him sinking his teeth into her throat as he sunk his cock into her pussy had her womb clenching. Tallius’s eyes went dark and hooded as the scent of her arousal filled the cab of the truck.
“Jesus Christ,” War snarled, pulling the truck to the side of the road. “You couldn’t wait, Tallius!” Leaving the keys in the ignition, he jumped out. “I’ll meet you two back at the Fortress.” He slammed the door and stalked off into the forest while Tallius grinned unapologetically at Mira.
“Your bad!”
He nodded. “I know.” Easing her back across the bench seat, he asked, “You know what else I am?”
She couldn’t hide her grin. “Hmmm?”
“Done waiting.”
Ripping his shirt over his head, his abs bunched and flexed as his breathing turned ragged. Ripping open the front of his jeans, his expression went serious. “I’m sorry, pretty wolf, but I really can’t wait.”
Then his hands were everywhere. Mira’s shirt was up and off, and then her bra was too. Rough hands gripped the waistband of her leggings, and then they were at her knees. He crawled over her in a rush, and before she knew it, Tallius was sliding into her. His cock was rock hard and so thick that she gasped at the steely intrusion. He buried himself deep, and when he pulled back to slam into her again, she clawed his back. Already, she could feel the rake of his wicked incisors on her skin. He was going claim her here and now. The excitement of it had cream flooding her pussy and coating him as he pounded into her with shuttling thrusts. They’d only just started, but she was already so close. She knew he was too by the way his body was tensed.
“Mira,” he snarled.
On a gasp, her orgasm exploded inside her, shooting sparks of rapture through her nerves and causing her to cry out his name, “Tallius!”
While she was still engulfed in pleasure, he rammed into her with one last thrust and licked her throat before he sunk his teeth into her. It detonated a second orgasm that had Mira struggling for air. Body wracking, fingers clawed in his back, she could only ride out wave after wave of pleasure as it crashed over her.
When Tallius finally pulled his teeth from her throat and lapped at her wound, he whispered over and over, “Mine, mine, mine!”
And she was. She was his for now and for always.
Epilogue
Sitting in wooden chair at the empty kitchen table, Tallius’s hand rested between Mira’s knees where she sat across his lap. Nose-to-nose, they were smiling at each other. It was a rare day off for both of them. One he figured Nora had coaxed War into giving them since they were newlyweds. In pack life, it was hard to take time off, especially for pack Betas, but War made it work, and for that Tallius was grateful.
“What do you wanna do?” he asked. “Anything you want.” Lifting a hand he brushed a hair back from her cheek and then left his fingers lingering there, ghosting them over a freckle just beneath Mira’s eye. “The night is yours, pretty wolf.” He angled his head, and his eyes roved her face. “What’ll it be, baby? What do you wanna do tonight?”
Inhaling deeply, Mira rolled her eyes heavenward in a mock display of contemplation. Huffing, a smile wrecked her face like she couldn’t stop it. “Tonight, I wanna fall in love.”
Tallius’s body tensed. Her words sent a punch of desire straight to his groin with such intensity that it stole his breath. God, he loved this woman! He loved her more than he’d ever loved anything in his life. Inside, his wolf commanded that he tell her again, but cupping her face, he leaned back putting space between them. When he did, her mischievous smile faltered. He knew why. His look had to be so intense right now. He wanted her to know the severity with which he was about to make his declaration.
“I love you,” he rasped out around thickening vocal cords. “I love you so fucking much, Mira.” His voice broke on her name, and he had to take a minute to swallow down his emotion, which only rose again as tears filled her eyes and the scent of her happiness slammed into him. “I love you, pretty wolf, and I’m so fucking lucky to . . .”
He didn’t get the words out because Mira threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck, clinging to him as soft sobs wracked her soft little body. “Me too,” she breathed.
And those two little words had him soaring so fucking high. Closing his eyes, he absorbed all the love that was shining from her with blinding intensity. He hoped she felt his too.
They stayed that way a long time before he was finally able to pull back. Dashing a palm against his cheek to hide the evidence of his emotion, he grabbed Mira’s hand and stood, placing her on her feet.
“Where we going?” she asked excitedly, letting him lead her out of the kitchen, through the foyer, and past the entryway, where he snatched his keys off a hook by the door before leading her outside.
At his truck, he opened the passenger door and lifted her in before stilling with a beaming grin. “We’re going to fall in love, pretty wolf.” He jerked his chin at her lap. “Buckle up.”
Mira watched Tallius round the front of the truck. He never took his eyes off her as she blindly scooted to the middle of the bench seat and buckled in, staring right back at him. Flitter flies started an all-out brawl in her belly when he shot her a wink that had excitement sizzling over her skin like electricity. The things this man did to her with just one simple wink.
Tallius jerked his door open and hopped in beside her. He’d just twisted the keys in the ignition, roaring the truck to life, when a feminine curse drew their attention.
Out the windshield, Mira watched the dark-haired woman she only knew as Briar, storm toward the main gates. Two seconds later, Matese the Beast came barreling out of one of the towers and boomed, “Get back here!”
Briar didn’t even slow, and when Matese jogged to her and tossed her over his shoulder, Mira glanced at Tallius, but her attention went back to the scuffle when she heard Briar scream, “Put me the fuck down!”
Matese swatted her ass so hard that a loud crack filled the clearing, and Mira and Tallius both heard it inside the truck.
“Sh-should we do something?” Mira asked, mesmerized by the way Brair went eerily still. Her worry only lasted a minute though because ten seconds later Briar shifted and her wolf bit Matese in the back so hard the massive shifter dropped to his knees while Briar jerked from his hold and made a break for the gate.
Holding his bleeding back, Matese belted out, “Goddamn it! Goddamn it!” As he turned, his face was dark before his wolf exploded from him and raced after Briar.
