He groans, thrusting against me. I stroke him until he’s fully hard, and a deep groan tumbles from his mouth. Then, with alaugh, I dart out of bed. He chases after me. Trying to outrun a shifter is pretty much useless, but I make it about halfway across the cabin before he slams into me.
I yelp, laughing so hard I tumble onto the ultra-plush rug we bought in town. We are right next to the Christmas tree with all its pretty twinkling lights. A warm glow is cast over us, making everything look magical. And just like that, Thorne yanks me to him while I kick my pajamas off. He pulls my face to his, and right as our lips meet, I line up the head of his cock to my hole. We spend all morning making love and laughing under the beautiful glow of the shimmering lights.
Hours later, we get off the phone with my mother. Just as we predicted, she was over the moon. She interrogated Thorne quickly, but once she discovered how dependable he was, she eagerly wanted to get off the phone so she could start calling all our relatives to tell them the good news.
Now, we just needed to call Thorne’s alpha dad and omega papa. “Thorne,” I whisper, reaching for his phone before he can tap call. “I’m really nervous.”
“Don’t be; my parents are wonderful. And like I said, they will be just as thrilled as your mother.”
“I mean, I hope so, but Thorne, I’m serious. What if they don’t like me? I’m not classically pretty, and I don’t really know how to cook anything. I’m not very organized and—”
“Shush, omega mine. You’re beautiful. I can teach you how to cook, and we can learn how to be organized together. We are fated mates, soulmates. Meant to be. My parents and my Pride will accept you because I do. And they will love you because I do.”
“You love me?”
Thorne places a tender kiss on my forehead. “I do. And if, for some crazy reason, they don’t accept you, then we’ll make a new home. You, me, and our future babies.”
I gasp. “Thorne, I can’t take you away from your home.”
“You don’t get it, sweet omega. Youaremy home. Always.”
Tears fill my eyes. “You’re always so damn romantic,” I say, feeling choked up.
He chuckles, tugging me onto his lap. Despite my weight, I’m still small compared to him. “Now here, omega mine. I have the perfect gift for you to open before you meet my parents.”
I bounce eagerly on his lap. “What is it?”
His striking brown eyes sparkle under all the twinkling lights. “Consider it a good luck charm.”
I unwrap the tiny box and pull out a keychain. No, not just any keychain.Mykeychain. “Oh my gosh! Flare!” He found my little lion and has kept it this whole time. Happiness unlike anything I’ve ever felt before blooms in my heart. I pull Thorne into a tight hug, breathing in his sweet cedar scent.
“Thank you, Thorne. I love you, too.”
Chapter thirteen
Hayden
Telling my mother that I would be moving in with my fated mate so soon after meeting him was a lot easier than I could have imagined. Apparently, Mom met several couples throughout her life who were fated, and she knew how quickly these feelings could develop. Nora, on the other hand? She’s having a hard time processing.
It’s been a little over two weeks since Thorne and I left the cabin, and I’m starting to go a little stir crazy with how much I miss him. We decided—well, more like I insisted that he go back to his town to take care of his Pride and check on the businesses. The two of us were on vacation for three weeks. Three amazing weeks at our cabin. But he had responsibilities, and I couldn’t imagine him taking more time away from the Pride while I packed and said my goodbyes to my friends and family.
“That was the last box. The rest is in storage,” Nora says, before tugging me into a fierce hug. “Goddess, I’m going to miss you, Hayden. Why the hell do you have to move? Why can’t that alpha come here?” She complains for the millionth time.
I chuckle, giving Nora one last squeeze before pulling away. “I already told you, he’s the alpha of his Pride.” Thank goodness Thorne let me spill that secret. I’m just glad that Nora believed me when I told her shifters were real. Apparently, her omega mom dated a shifter for a long time. “Thorne can’t just leave. And even if he could, I don’t want him to. How many times have we wished we lived in a small town? I’m tired of the city, Nora.”
“Screw small-town living, what about me?” she whines. I’m honestly surprised she isn’t stomping her foot.
My hand drops to my stomach protectively. I unconsciously rub it tenderly before she catches the movement. She arches a brow, and my face heats as she eyes me curiously. “No fucking way!” she cheers. “You’re pregnant?”
I give her a sheepish smile and unzip my puffy coat. I’m not huge by any means, but I’m starting to show. “I guess that’s what happens when you’re human and mate with a lion. The pregnancies are a lot quicker than nine months.”
I already suspected I could be pregnant thanks to my very short heat, but when I got nauseous so quickly, I was a little worried. I called Thorne’s omega Papa, not wanting to scare Thorne. He confirmed that when paired with their fated, it’s common for an omega’s body to change or adapt to the shifter. He directed me to a local shifter doctor here in the city, and it looks like I had nothing to worry about. I’m a healthy pregnant omega. Goddess, I can’t wait to tell Thorne. I wanted to do it in person, and we agreed I would move in within a month, but I’m getting too eager to see him. Screw the month timeline. I want to see my alpha—now.
“Oh my goodness! No wonder you were craving pickles andHot Cheetosthe other day! I can’t believe you’re preggo before me!”
I grin. “Have you tried getting knotted for three days while in heat?” I ask.
“Oh, you naughty little omega.” She laughs.
