AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I love you, Grant.”
“Same here, Sweetheart.”
Sweetheart. Now there was a word she never thought to hear again as long as she lived. She sighed, her heart full.
“So, are we returning to Agnes’s compound?”
“If it’s all right with you, I’ll have a human service pick up your things and bring them to the compound. That should serve you until tonight. But I need to be with my pack. Later, we can make a trip to your canal home. How does that sound?”
“It sounds perfect, as long as I’m with you.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
“I just realized how many things we’ll have to settle. Your canal home for one.”
The reality that she’d bonded herself to a wolf suddenly had new ramifications. “I love my home, Grant.” The thought of giving it up for good did not feel right.
“Hey. I don’t want you to think for one moment that I expect you to give up your house or your life in Revel just because we’re together. You’re more than just my woman. As much as I’d love to wrap you up and keep you locked in my bedroom—” He paused to kiss the top of her head, “I value all that you are. We’ll take this one step at a time.”
She looked up at him. “I get it now.”
“What?” He glanced down at her then back at the horizon to keep the dreamglide on track.
“Why I fell in love with you. Why Renee loved you like she did.”
His brows rose. She could see he was surprised. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. Care to be more specific?”
“You respect women. I mean you really do. You see us and not just how we might fit into your life.”
He frowned slightly. “I suppose I do, but I got that from my dad. He adored my mother and he always let her know how much he appreciated her. He often spoke about how so much of the burden of the world is put on the backs of women.” He chuckled softly. “I remember reading once about the Old West and how it was a cruel place until women started arriving. Women brought civilization. It was the same thing for me until you arrived. You’ve changed everything. The Meldorin Pack will no longer be savage. We’ll be able to do some good and that’s all about you.”
Natalie had never felt so honored. “It’s more about us, than about me, don’t you think? It’s us. What we are together that we could never be alone.”
At that, he drew the dreamglide to a stop so that they were hovering in the air somewhere above California. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
Natalie leaned into him and embraced as much of him as she could. Her heart was so full. She loved, and she was loved.
You mean the world to me, Natalie. Everything.
Tears stung her eyes. She remained holding him for a long time and he didn’t let go. There were so many different ways to bond. Physical connection in the form of a hug was definitely one of them.
When at last she drew back, she was surprised to find tears in his eyes. He chuckled and wiped them away with the heels of his palms. “I’m not usually like this but I’m overwhelmed with your presence in my life. I thought it would be years before I could challenge Kryder. Make no mistake, I’d sent a few prayers heavenward asking for help.”
She smiled and caressed his cheek. “Then Renee came.”
“She did, didn’t she?”
“If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been in the Graveyard to fire off that critical shot with my Glock.”
A smile replaced his tears. “You are so my kind of woman.”
“And you’re my kind of man.” She gestured with a sweep of her hand southeast. “We’d better get going or Ryan will start to worry.”
“You’ve figured him out,” he said, setting the dreamglide once more in motion, “Because that’s exactly what he’ll do. He’s been the best right-hand man a wolf could ask for.”
His choice of words made her smile.
