Page 75 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

I hadn't forgiven him. But my body was sinking anyway. I bit down hard on his lip—punishing, vengeful.

This time I didn't push him away. I closed my eyes and let myself drown.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucifer

Her warmth, her scent, her heartbeat—all of it right here in my arms.

I felt every tremor running through her body. The lily and bay leaf wrapped around me, richer than memory, more real. My wolf let out a low whine deep inside, satisfaction surging from my bones, threatening to melt me from the inside out.

Five years.

Five years I'd thought about her every single day. Her scent. Her touch. How she felt in my arms.

And now she was here.

I didn't go all the way—I knew she wasn't ready to accept me yet—but my fingers tightened, drawing her closer. Her breath spilled across my neck, warm and quick. I lowered my head, released her lips, pressed my forehead to hers, and closed my eyes.

"Elena..."

She bit me hard, and it only made me want her more. I pulled back to look at her.

My wolf lay beside that warmth, tail swaying slowly behind him. He was purring with contentment, like a beast that had finally found home.

Mate.

We found our mate.

I kissed her forehead, then between her brows, then the tip of her nose. Her lashes fluttered. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to say something, then swallowed it back.

"Don't talk." My voice came out rough. "Just let me hold you."

She didn't move.

I buried my face in the curve of her neck and breathed deep. Lily and bay leaf flooded my lungs, mingling with my own scent. I felt her pulse jump beneath my lips, fast and urgent.

This was enough.

Even if she wouldn't forgive me yet. Even if she was still fighting this. She was in my arms. She hadn't pushed me away. Her body was responding to mine.

This was enough—

A phone rang.

Elena's body went rigid.

The ringtone kept going, sharp and piercing from inside her bag. She shoved me back hard. I stumbled a step, watched her bend down to grab her bag and fish out her phone.

She glanced at the screen. Her face changed.

"Hello?" She answered, voice shaking. "Anya?"

I stood there, watching her.

Her hair was messed up, lips swollen, cheeks flushed in a way that wasn't normal. She turned away from me, fingers clutching the phone tight.

"Mommy's coming home soon," she said, voice steadier now. "Be good for Amy, okay? Mommy will be there soon."