“I will protect you.I will cherish you.I swear I will earn your trust.And I’ll spend my whole life loving you until you never doubt it again.”
Her breathing quickens.
I lift her hands to my lips.
“I know this is fast, and I didn’t plan it to be, but with everything that happened today I have to tell you my Alpha is demanding we do this sooner rather than later.”
“You mean I have no time to think about it?”She scoffs.
“Daria, I know it’s unfair—what I’m asking you.This leap of faith I’m practically begging you to take.But I’m asking you to trust me.To trust the way you feel, because you do feel it don’t you?”
Her whiskey-eyes go wide and her lips part, but she isn’t moving away.She isn’t slapping me across the face and telling me I’m nuts.
No, my brave girl is leaning in, and then she does the most miraculous thing.
She nods.
And I feel it down to my marrow.
“Okay, say I believe all this, and you are now asking to claim me as your mate.”
“Yeah?”
She searches my face for a long time.
“What if I say no?”
“I'll still spend the rest of my life grateful I met you.”
“What if I need time?”
“I'd give you all of it if I could.”
“What if I never understand this world?”
“Then I'll walk beside you until you do.”
She smiles through her tears.
“You make it sound very easy.”
“It won't be.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Because every instinct inside me wants to keep you close.Wants to make sure you're safe.Wants to remind the entire world that you're mine.And I can promise you that I will respect you.I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.And I will love you until the end of time.”
She laughs.
“Holy shit, Rand.That's a little caveman, but also ridiculously sweet.”
“You think so?”
Hope starts blooming inside of me.
Dangerous.
