He nodded, almost as if he was embarrassed to admit it.
“That shouldn’t have been my only reason, but it was all I was thinking about when it comes to you. How do I, as your man, protect you from this world? Then I met your mom…and my mind…has changed.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure of what that meant. Your mind changed because of my mom? What did she say? What did that mean about us going forward?
“I’ve become Alpha.”
My eyes widened as my mouth slowly fell open at the admission. I knew he told me if he ever did it, his priorities would change, and things would be different. He probably wouldn’t be at Drew Collins anymore and he realized some time ago, he didn’t want that. He enjoyed the quiet laid back life with me but given what I am, that probably wouldn’t be possible.
“That’s…a big change,” I said with a deep swallow. “You always said you didn’t want to do that…”
“Yeah…I know.” We were quiet like two strangers walking along at night on an empty dark street. “I don’t think your mom likes me,” he admitted. I found myself trying to grin back the tears because why did this sound like a breakup coming on?For crying out loud, I was literally gone a day…
“No…She’s just very protective over me,” I said as I looked down at my bare feet. “She’s always been that way and hasn’t really seen me in an actual relationship.”
“Nah,” shaking his head. “It’s not just that. She…I don’t want to be…”
He stopped himself when he saw the look in my eyes so instead, Namir took my hand in his to hold.
“You are mine in this life and next. I pledge my soul, my heart, my fang, my seeds only to you Maggie Grey. There is nobody else I want to be with, not now, not ever.”
I felt my shoulders slowly relax as I nodded because I heard thebut, at the end of his declaration.
“I learned some things about myself,” he went on as he brought my hands to his nose to smell. “I learned things about you, your upbringing and meeting your family…I want nothing more than to take you home, lock you away in our bedroom and never let you see the light as you lay beneath me, taking every…inch of my love, my heart, my aggression, and my affection. I want you by my side always and I always want to have eyes on you…but…. I don’t think that’s right. I want you to have space to be you, figure you out and learn everything there is to learn about navigating in this life. I don’t want to hover over you all the time but if and when you need me, I’m right here.”
I clamped my mouth shut to keep from showing my fangs. I turned my head to the side to silently cry because damn it, that was good! Namir stepped even closer as I looked back at him because everything I was going to attempt to say, he said it for me.
“Damn it, Namir.” I whimpered with a sniff. He grinned.
“That was good, wasn’t it? I wrote some of this down.”
“I can tell. The whole time I’m thinking,shit that’s good,” I said with sincerity in my voice. “Who came up with the words?” Namir sucked his teeth as he pushed my hands away and walked off. “I’m serious! Was it one of those lil skimpy track star girls that sit at the front in your class?”
“Mannn go head on somewhere, Maggie.”
I rushed up towards him, keeping up with his pace as we walked side by side.
“So you’re alpha now,” I said. “What does that make me? Am I just the human girlfriend on the side?”
“Noo…You’re…my mate…I pledged my allegiance and loyalty to you in front of everyone so technically we’re married according to my side of the family.”
“Oh? Ohhhh!” I suddenly let out. “So all of that…Maggie, I want you to learn about yourself and have space to be yourself blah blah blaaaah,” I mocked in a deep voice. “All of that was just a man talking to his damn wife anyway.”
“It’s different–––”
“You’re damn right it’s different. I want a real wedding. The ring. My family, a church or party and I want a honeymoon.”
“I hear you,” Namir said, trying to hide his smile. “I’ll give you all of that and more when you’re ready.”
“I can’t believe you…” I said with a shake of my head. “You just… Are we for life?”
“For life.”
“Ahhh hell nah,” I groaned with my hands in the air, playfully acting distressed. “I bet it was in some random woods just by a rec center or public park too.”
“Maggie?” He called out with his warning tone, letting me know I was teetering on his nerves, but I didn’t care. I’ll dance on them if I have to.
“I’m just trying to figure out how this works because you don’t want to marry me just to protect me but still did it anyway.” I sighed in sudden defeat. “What am I going to do with you, pup?”
