"Anything."
"No more lies. Even if the truth is hard or scary or you think I can't handle it." His grip tightened on my hand. "I can handle you being a shifter. But no more lies."
"I promise." I pulled him closer, relief flooding through me when he came willingly. "No more lies or secrets. You want to know something about shifters, about me, you ask and I'll tell you."
"Even the weird stuff?"
"Especially that."
He laughed. "Okay. So there is weird stuff. I can work with that."
I wrapped my arms around him, and he melted into the embrace. His scent was calming with the fear and hurt fading. Maybe this was how forgiveness smelled.
"One more thing, if you agree to be my mate, I have to mark you."
He asked how that worked and I explained my wolf would scratch him.
"Okay but can we leave that for the future."
I agreed though my wolf wanted it done yesterday.
"For the record," he said against my chest, "the wolf thing is actually kind of cool."
"Yeah?"
"But I have questions. Though right now…" He pulled back to look at me. "Kiss me?"
I didn't need to be asked twice. I cupped his face and kissed him, pouring everything I couldn't say into it. I experienced relief that he was still here, still mine, and still willing to try.
When we pulled apart, he was smiling. "We should probably get out of these woods before your friend comes back."
"Good idea."
We walked back to the cars hand in hand, and I felt lighter than I had in weeks. The burden I'd been carrying had been lifted.
We reached my truck, and I turned to face Parker. In the dappled forest light, he looked beautiful. He was rumpled and confused but he was still here despite everything.
"Thank you," I said. "For not running away. For giving me another chance."
"Thank you for being honest. Finally." But he was smiling slightly.
"Parker." The words stuck in my throat, but I forced them out. "I love you. I should have said that earlier. I love you, andI'm sorry I hurt you, and I promise I'll spend every day making it up to you."
His eyes went bright with tears. "Say that again."
"I love you."
"I love you too." His voice was barely more than a whisper. "Gods help me, but I do."
I closed the distance between us and kissed him. Really kissed him, not the quick press of lips from before but deep and desperate and full of everything I'd been holding back. He made a small sound and grabbed onto my shoulders, kissing me back just as fiercely.
When we finally pulled apart, both breathing hard, he was smiling.
"We're going to figure this out," he said. "Together."
I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close, and the world tilted back so everything was as it should be.
Parker pulled back slightly. "So, tell me about this shifter stuff. What do I need to know?"
