Page 97 of Moonlight & Mayhem

His body jerked. “Get away,” he shouted. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she knew that she couldn’t leave him.

“No,” she said.

“It's happening,” he warned.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

“The transfer.” Moon looked down. Black veins were spreading beneath his chest toward her hands. “Let go,” he growled.

“No,” she said.

“Moonlight,” he warned.

“I can fix this,” she insisted.

“You don't know that,” he said.

“Yes, I do.” She didn't, but she knew one thing—she wasn't leaving him.

Mayhem grabbed her wrists. “Please.” Moon froze because Mayhem never said please. His eyes met hers. “I won't let it take you.”

Her heart broke. “You still don't understand.”

“Understand what?” he asked.

Moon leaned closer. “My mother wasn't destroyed by a mate bond.” He shook. “She was destroyed by a man who didn't deserve one.” Mayhem stared at her. “You aren't him.”

“Moon—” Mayhem breathed.

“You never asked me to leave Dark Chaos,” she said.

“No,” he agreed.

“You never asked me to put Silverfang first,” she whispered.

“Never,” he promised.

“You never asked me to become less so you could become more,” she said.

His expression shattered. “No.”

Moon touched his face. “My mother taught me to fear the wrong thing.” His eyes filled. “The bond wasn't the problem.”

“Moonlight,” he said.

“The choice was.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “And I'm choosing you.” Mayhem stopped breathing, and Moon kissed him. The bond exploded. It wasn’t complete—not yet, but it was fully open. His wolf hit hers. Mate. Her wolf answered. Mine. Moon felt everything—his pain, his fear, and his love. God, he loved her so much it hurt. The night root surged toward her and Moon felt it enter the bond—cold, black, and hungry. She almost pulled away, but then she remembered her mother's message. Trust the black wolf.

Moon stopped fighting Mayhem's wolf. Instead, she let him in. The darkness hit the bond, and his wolf attacked it. Mayhem screamed against her mouth, but Moon held on. The night root twisted and retreated—not into Moon, but away from her, because it couldn't survive inside the bond. Morrigan had been wrong, or the elders had lied. The mate bond wasn't the pathway; it was the cure.

“Moon!” Mayhem collapsed against her. The black veins began disappearing fast in his neck, his chest, his arms, and his hands. They were gone, and all Moon could do was stare at him.

“Mayhem?” He sucked in a breath, and his eyes opened. “Holy shit.” Moon laughed, cried, and then kissed him again.

Mayhem wrapped both arms around her. “You cured me.”

“We all cured you,” she said.

“I like my version better.” A deafening crack split the night, and the ground shook.