Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(103)
Katherine could feel her heart pounding – threatening to leap right out of her chest – as she let his answer sink in. She thought of Bastian’s scent – of the way the man smelled to her. Like the strong pine trees of the forest. Like the freshness of rain somehow combined with the appealing smokiness of a campfire. Like the musky smell of sweat and hard work – like man.
“We’re mates, aren’t we? Destined mates?” The words tumbled out of Katherine’s mouth without thought. “Why else would Cain come after me? It’s why you bit me and why… it’s why I feel this way toward you.”
Katherine realized that if she was wrong, Bastian’s rejection would but swift and harsh, but she couldn’t bring herself to take back the words – they rang of truth.
She knew she was right when Bastian gently grasped her hands in his, stroking her fingers with the pads of his. “Yes,” he admitted in a near whisper, before abruptly pressing the back of her hands to his forehead like some desperate beggar, but imploring her for forgiveness instead of money or food. “I’m so sorry, Katherine. I should have told you right away, but I was terrified. After watching what happened to my parents – seeing my father waste away in front of me after my mom was killed – I didn’t want a mate. I thought of it as more of a curse than anything. To have my soul tied so intimately to someone else’s that my very life depended on hers and vice versa – it wasn’t something that I wanted to deal with.”
Katherine jerked her hands out of Bastian’s grip. She understood, but the words still hurt. Bastian didn’t want a mate. Especially not a destined mate. And really, who would? The concept sounded romantic at first, but her heart had essentially been enslaved to his and his to hers the moment they’d met – before they’d even really knew each other.
“I’m sorry that my very existence is such a burden to you.” As much as she understood, Katherine couldn’t stop the bitter words from escaping.
“No!” Bastian venomously denied. “No!” He lowered his voice. “Let me finish. I won’t deny that I thought of our connection – of you – as a hindrance in the beginning. As misguided as it was, I was on a mission to hunt down my parents killers when our paths crossed. It was bad enough that I was endangering my entire pack by pursuing these men, I didn’t want to have to worry about you too – some girl I didn’t even know. But don’t you see? I was so ignorant – so wrong. You’re not just some girl. You’re smart, and kind, and so damn brave. I’ve been such a fool, trying to protect the both of us from this bond. But Katherine, as much as I’ve tried to fight them, my feelings for you have only grown stronger. I… I love you.”
So many emotions – a little bit of trepidation, but mostly jubilance and validation – swelled at Bastian’s unexpected confession. Katherine could have sworn her palpitating heart was so overjoyed that it stopped for a moment, but her response was tumbling past her lips a moment later so it must have kept beating. “I… I think I love you too.”
Bastian’s answering smile was magnificent. “I can work with that.”
Katherine couldn’t help but stare as the skin around Bastian’s eyes crinkled and the adorable dimple on his right cheek made an appearance. He looked so happy – a stark contrast to how he’d appeared when he first came into the room. And gazing at him, Katherine knew. She knew that despite the trouble she always seemed to stumble into and despite the heavy responsibilities Bastian faced by becoming head alpha, somehow everything would work out. They would navigate what it meant to be destined mates together.
Bastian gently cupped either side of Katherine’s face. “Can I kiss you?”
Katherine smiled at the question, but instead of answering with words, pressed her lips to his. And as their mouths moved lovingly against each other’s, Katherine knew that she could handle anything that came her way as long as he always there to smile at her like that and kiss her like this.
THE END