“Both. It makes me wonder if there’s something larger at work. I know it sounds crazy, but look at Romano and Zoey having the Miracle Grow, the way we can enhance each other’s gifts, Kalinda and Silva.”
“I’d say we’ve gotten stronger.”
“Maybe, but it makes me think there may be something huge coming. Sort of like the action movies, you know? Heroes show up when there is a greater evil out there.”
Pasquale was quiet as he stepped into her space. “Today has taught me one thing, for sure.” His hot palm slipped along her jaw, lifting her gaze to his.
“What is that?”
“I watched a man almost lose his mate today, without having said all the things he wished. Without having a chance to see the life they’d live. I don’t want to be that man. I’d rather have what we could be than dream of what will never be.”
She sucked in a breath, letting him pull her against his hard frame. His fingers danced over her skin, a prayer, memorization. She leaned in, soaking in what she could.
“The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful creature ever formed. I thought you’d make any man happy to have you. And then I knew you were mine to have. And I was afraid, Giuliana. Afraid of what that would mean. Afraid of the cage it would put us both in. I’ve been terrified all my life because of my father.”
Pasquale pulled her closer. “I never knew when he’d call for my death or when he’d realized how much Fabiana meant to me and use her against me. I never knew when he’d force me to fight him, or if I’d win.”
“You’re stronger than him.”
“It’s hard, at times, to see that when you’re scared of the very thing that could break you. My Alpha power would rip my people apart, and they deserved more.”
“And now?”
His lips were close to hers, a breath away and yet so far. She wanted them on her, wanted to feel his touch without caring about what could happen.
“And now, mate, I’m not afraid anymore. I will have you. I will claim you. Because you are worth more than anything I could ever fear, except losing you.”
His mouth crashed against hers, sealing her fate. They were a storm, battering each other, pushing and pulling. Pasquale touched her everywhere—groping her breasts, her hips, the curve of her ass—and lifted her against the hardness between his legs.
Mine!
Giuliana didn’t even pay attention to which of their wolves cried out. Either way, the answer was a resounding yes. She didn’t want to run anymore; she didn’t want to escape. Giuliana wanted to be caught by the one man strong enough to make her love the chase as much as the capture.
The one man meant to truly be her Alpha.
She wanted him to give her all the things she’d never thought she’d have.
A mate.
Happiness.
Belonging.
With Pasquale by her side, she knew she’d never be ignored again or have anyone put her safety above the idea she had a brain. He’d shown that when he fought by her side to get Silva and Kalinda back. She didn’t doubt he would continue to be there for her.
She sucked his full bottom lip into her mouth, moaning her need. He slammed her back against his front door long enough to force it open, and then they were tumbling inside. Fuck getting to his bed. She wanted him here and now.
She bucked, fighting him, knowing he’d answer the challenge.
He didn’t disappoint.
He slapped her ass in warning. “Simmer down.”
As if.
Her feet pressed into the backs of his knees, sending them tumbling to the floor together. He growled, but she wasn’t afraid. He let her fight. He encouraged it. He wanted her to show her strength, and it was freeing. So freeing.
“Needy, Alpha mate.”
