Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(13)

He smiled then. “I know. You’re strong, Em. That’s one of the things I like about you.”

She sighed, her heart breaking. “I’m not the same person, meaning I won’t stand by and ruin something for you.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

She pulled away, unable to tell him the words she needed to with him touching her. She stood, wringing her hands in front of her. “I don’t think I can be with you. Not when you have the chance to mate with someone else. I won’t take that chance of a lifetime away from you.”

Hurt splashed across Noah’s face, and he stood as well. “What are you saying, Em?”

Her heart quivered, her wolf howling. Oh how she wanted this man. Her wolf craved him. Something in her heart warmed at the thought of him, but she couldn’t be so cruel as to ruin his chance at happiness.

Noah growled low. “Emeline. You’re wrong.”

“I’m not. You need to be with your mate.”

“Emeline, baby, you’re my mate.”

Her wolf howled in triumph, and something buried deep unlocked within her. She blinked into Noah’s gold-rimmed eyes before her knees went weak and her vision blackened, her body falling to the floor.





Chapter Six


Noah caught her before she hit her head against the table and held her close.

Well, f*ck.

That hadn’t been the reaction he’d been hoping for when he told her they were mates.

In fact, that wasn’t one of any of the reactions he’d thought of.

He’d imagined smiling, kissing, or even screaming. Maybe a few hits if she was really upset and or a shake of her head if she couldn’t believe it.

Not passing out.

He cradled her to his body and made his way to his room. He could have left her on the couch, but he wanted to make sure she had space.

Hell, he wanted her in his room, his bed. Even if it was just until she recuperated and ran out of his life forever, he wanted her head on his pillow, her hair splayed around her like a halo.

He set her down on the bed, careful not to jostle her. He checked her pulse and eyes and knew she’d only fainted and wasn’t in any real danger. Even so, if she didn’t wake up soon, he’d call Hannah. Not that he necessarily wanted to explain that Emeline had passed out because he’d mentioned they were mates.

Yeah, not the best reaction.

At all.

He sat down next to her, brushing her hair from her face. Hell, he didn’t know what to do. He knew he wanted her for the rest of their lives. He wanted to form the mating bond, connect their souls, and follow their path to a future.

None of that mattered though. Not when he wasn’t sure why she’d reacted like that or if she even felt him as hers in the first place.

Fuck.

Everything was slipping through his fingers, and if he didn’t find a way to reach out and grab his future, everything would be lost.

Emeline shifted on the bed, her eyelids fluttering open.

Noah sucked in a breath then hovered over her, cupping her face

“Em,” he whispered.

“Noah? Why am I lying down?” she asked, her voice soft and so damn sexy.

“You passed out in the living room.” He brushed his thumb over her lips, unable to keep from touching her.

“Where am I?”

“My bedroom,” he rasped out.

She sat up quickly, slamming her head into his jaw. He shot to his feet, running a hand over his face as he blinked away stars.

“Crap, I’m sorry,” Emeline said, rubbing her head.

He shook his head then sat back down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m fine. It takes more than that to knock a few teeth loose. How’s your head?”

“I’ll be fine.” She closed her eyes then popped them back open. “Mate? You said I’m your mate?”

Noah swallowed hard then nodded. “You’re mine, Emeline. I’ve known since the first time I saw you. That mating urge clicked, and I had to fight off my instincts to just claim you and call you my own.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Wolves, right?”

Tears filled her eyes, and Noah broke.

No.

No. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t be letting him down. Damn it.

Fate didn’t work this way.

It couldn’t work this way.

Her hand crept up to between her breasts over her heart. “Noah…I…”

He put his fingers over her lips. “No, don’t say I’m not yours. I am. You know it. You might not be able to feel me as your mate, but…but that could be because you’re an elder and things work differently. You’re mine, Em. Just like I’m yours. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to move in here, be my mate, my love. I want to watch the world age around us as we work together for the Pack. I want to watch you grow round with our child. I want it all. I don’t care if fate screwed up and made it different for us. I want you as mine, Emeline.”

She pulled away, tears flowing freely now. “Noah. I feel you.”

He let out a breath, his body shaking. “Really?”

She nodded. “Really. I couldn’t before. Or maybe I did and I didn’t know what it meant. My wolf wanted you, I knew, but I didn’t know how much she wanted you.” She smiled. “How much I want you.”