by Dannika Dark
“I have nothing to hide,” he said.
“What were your other two wishes?”
It took him a moment to recall what I was referring to and then he smiled surreptitiously. “I have them. Both,” he said, squeezing his left arm around me.
“You said you would lay down your life for me, Thunder. Will you do the same for your child?”
“Our child. I told you I’m not a man of soft words, but through my actions you will both know how deep my love runs.”
“You don’t think we’re too strong for each other?”
Lorenzo rubbed noses with me. “Without fuel, there’s no fire. You’re the mother of my child, Ivy. Only a woman as strong as you could take on that role. I hear I’m a handful.”
I laughed softly. “I would have to agree with that.”
“Ah, but I made my own bed,” he said with a lift of his brows.
“Oh? And this means?”
“It means I listen to everything you say, even when you don’t think I’m paying attention. I don’t want to let you go.”
“Are you saying I’m the bed you have to lie in?”
A crease appeared between his brows and his eyes filled with worry. “It means I don’t let a packmate make up my own bed, and I won’t allow another man to mate with the woman I love. I’m not letting you go. An old fool taught a young alpha that you can’t have love and loyalty, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let my uncle’s mistakes rule my life any longer.”
How could I not adore this man? He didn’t need to tell me in words, or even with a bouquet of flowers. Jericho had written a song for Izzy and Austin had written a note for Lexi. I respected the man who stood before me—a proud man with love in his eyes as well as his intentions. Lorenzo’s love would shine through in moments like these. The heart of a man is revealed by not just what he’s willing to give, but what he’s willing to give up.
“Four days,” I whispered against his lips.
“What’s that?”
“That’s how long it took me to learn that I could love a man like you. Not all the way, but just a little bit.”
“And now?”
Trouble stuck his nose between us and Lorenzo impatiently nudged him away.
I laughed and pinched Lorenzo’s chin. “Now I love you all the way, as deep as my heart will love. Were you going to take me home on this horse?”
“Hell no. Not in your condition. Caleb is down the road with the horse trailer.”
I hadn’t taken notice until that moment how nicely he was dressed. He wore a beige knit shirt with long sleeves, and his bronzed chest showed from the wide V-neck.
I brushed my fingers across his collarbone. “You feel good in my arms.”
Lorenzo kissed my forehead. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Kiss me and I’ll decide.”
He planted a warm kiss against my mouth and one sweep of his tongue did me in. I melted against him, lost in his arms and in his breath. My wolf sang, and a feeling of completeness filled me in a way I’d never known. Small, jagged pieces of my life began to fit together. I kissed his upper lip gently and he moaned against my mouth, his hands splayed across my back, pulling me in tight.
“I should probably tell Austin.”
He glanced back at the house. “I have a feeling Cole has figured it out, but I’ll speak with him.”
“You’ll be respectful.”
Lorenzo winked and took my left hand. “I’ll be on my best behavior. Cross my heart.”
I caught his pace and he slowed to meet mine. Lorenzo held my arm and let me use him to steady my balance.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Do you still have my red shirt?” he asked, keeping his eyes on Austin through the thinning fog.
Trouble followed behind us, and I laughed when he poked his head in the middle.
“I wear it every night.”
“I like that you want something of mine close to your body,” he said, pulling me closer to him.
“I won’t need it when we go home. I’ll have you wrapped around my body.”
He chuckled softly. “Or at the very least, your finger.”
Most of the Weston pack had drifted inside with the exception of Austin, Denver, Maizy, and Lexi.
“Would it be all right if Maizy pets your horse?”
“Your horse,” he corrected. “Tell you what, nashoba. While you’re inside packing your things, I’ll take her for a ride around the property. Trouble may not put up with me, but he’s gentle with children. The ones in my pack have already ridden him.”
“That should go over well with Denver. He’s not fond of you.”
“Young wolves like him rarely are. I’ll take him on a pony ride too if he kicks up a fuss,” Lorenzo said.
I loved his dry sense of humor. I squeezed his arm, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
Maybe it wasn’t a traditional happy ending, but I knew in my heart that Lorenzo was my life mate. This was a man who would move mountains for his family and pack—a man I wanted at my side. He let me lean on him for support, but Lorenzo didn’t carry me. I wasn’t a weak link in the chain, and he would always stand by my side. The love I now saw in his eyes was undeniable—a spark that had slowly emerged from the dark irises and pulsed with emotion.
I laced my fingers in his and took a final glance over my shoulder at my horse before looking up at Lorenzo.
“What is it?” He glanced down at me with concern in his eyes.
“Trouble seems to like following you.”
He smiled with closed lips and kissed the top of my head. “I hope we have a girl.”
I arched my brow in surprise. “Don’t you want a boy? There’s still a chance we could have an alpha who will one day follow in his father’s footsteps.”
“Any child is a blessing, but a girl would honor me if she turned out like her mother. And if you wouldn’t mind…”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to give her my grandmother’s name.”
“I’d like that,” I quickly said, smiling up at him.
Lorenzo smirked and pushed Trouble away when he tried to put his head between us again. “You didn’t even ask her name. What if it’s Bertha or Pablo?”
“Then I suppose you’ll be beating up a lot of people. In a strange way, your grandmother brought us together, so I’d like that.”
We neared the porch and Austin leaned over the railing, realizing what conversation was coming next. Trouble galloped toward the end of the porch and raised his head so Maizy could pet him. She giggled and stuck her hands through the slats of the railing, rubbing his smooth coat.
“So?” I asked, slowing my pace and turning to face him.
“So what?”
I patted his chest lightly. “You won’t get away with teasing me for long, Thunder. You’ll find there are some things I’m impatient about. So what was your grandmother’s name?”
Lorenzo looked down at me proudly, the wind kicking up his straight hair and blowing it away from his face. He lifted my hand and placed it across his heart, giving me a wink. And there it was—that twinkle in his eye. His love shining through. I felt his heart beating against my hand, a new rhythm of life that returned an emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time. A single word fell from his lips.
“Hope.”
Acknowledgments:
This book is dedicated those who have given life, and those who have opened their doors and their hearts to it. I would also like to dedicate this book to all my Mageri series fans, and you know why.
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Note: All my fantasy stories are written in the
same universe. Same Breeds, same rules, and may contain character crossovers/appearances.
THE MAGERI SERIES is an exciting urban fantasy romance following the journey of a young woman's claim to immortality, and her own identity. Dark, unique, passionate, and full of unpredictable twists, the Mageri series provides an original spin to an old concept.
THE SEVEN SERIES is a light paranormal romance that portrays Shifters living in secret in the modern world. A blend of humor, heartwarming romance, drama, and real-life issues. This series is for those who believe in family, second chances, and finding that person who completes you. Cliffhanger-free.
Sometimes ordinary people are destined for extraordinary lives.
Buy books by Dannika Dark
Books by Dannika Dark:
THE MAGERI SERIES
Sterling
Twist
Impulse
Gravity
Shine
NOVELLAS
Closer
THE SEVEN SERIES
Seven Years
Six Months
Five Weeks
Four Days
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