A Forbidden Mating (Unforgiven Country 2)

My father steps into the clearing, the three of us shifting back to our human form. Kendra is by my side instantly, giving me her jacket to cover up. Colt is right beside me, his hand on my waist, keeping me close, trying to pull me back behind him, to protect me even now.

The silence stretches.

“You’d risk your life for him?” my father asks in a hard voice.

I look at Colt, smiling, crying. “I’d die for my mate.” I look back at my father. “Surely you know the feeling? Didn’t you feel that way with Mother, before she died?” I see this pain flash over my father’s face, know that bringing up my mother was hard on him. But I need him to know, to remember, that a mate is worth everything.

A shifter who found their mate, but then had them taken away, is not something most survive. But my father did. He had to be strong, had to rule the pack and take care of his child.

I see the memories flash across his face, know that this was painful for him, but that he knows I am right.

“Remember how you felt for Mom. That’s the love I have for Colt, the connection. A mated shifter is unbreakable. You know this.”

He closes his eyes and nods. “And I tried to take you from that.” He opens his eyes. “I’m sorry,” my father says and cups my cheek. “I’m so sorry for forcing you. That wasn’t right of me, and seeing what you’d go through for your mate reminds me of that unbreakable bond.” He lets go of me. For a moment he says nothing, just stares at me, but then he looks around. “My daughter has found her mate and we have no right to change that.” He looks at Stark. “Let’s go.”

Stark looks at Colt, the intensity of his expression speaking volumes. He doesn’t want to leave, but the Alpha of his pack has spoken, and when that happens you listen.

They turn and leave, but I know my father won’t be gone for long. We’re family. I love him and he loves me. No matter what has happened, family is family.

Colt pulls me into an embrace immediately and I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heart beating, smelling the blood drying on his skin. His wounds will heal by tomorrow, and for that I’m thankful.

“Don’t ever do that again, mate,” he says softly. “I can’t lose you. I’ve only just found you.”

“I couldn’t let you get hurt. I can’t lose you either.”

He cups my face and leans down to kiss me. “Let’s go, mate.”

And those words are exactly what I need to hear.10Colt“I can’t believe it’s finally over,” Jasinda says with a sigh when we make it back to my cabin.

“That might be over, but we’re just beginning,” I remind her, coming up behind her, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her back into me, and nuzzling her neck.

“I can’t believe it, Colt. I never knew I could be so happy.”

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy, Jasinda.”

“You do make me happy. Just being with you like this brings me more joy than I ever knew was possible, Colt.”

“Wyatt and Kendra want to have a dinner formally welcoming you into our pack tomorrow. Are you up for that, mate?”

“I’d like that, Wyatt. I feel at home here. My place is here, by your side.”

I can’t wait another moment. I pick her up in my arms and carry her to the bed. I can feel my wolf panting with his pleasure. Always in times of great emotion the urge to shift is near. Just because it’s happiness doesn’t mean the urge is any less now. I allow just my hand to begin to change, my fingers sliding out into razor-sharp claws. I grin down at Jasinda. Her eyes are dilated and filled with heat and passion. Her lips have formed a perfect “o” in surprise. I lightly slide my claw down her shirt and then deepen it just enough to slice her bra open too.

“What if I really liked that shirt?” she mumbles.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” I laugh.

Before I can get to her pants, Jasinda is already undoing them, sliding them down her legs.

“I’m not giving you the chance to ruin my pants, Colt,” she laughs, shaking her head.

I let my claw retract and tamp my wolf back down. Then I slowly undress as my mate watches me.

“You’re beautiful.”

“Men aren’t beautiful,” I joke. “Besides, I’m staring at beauty,” I tell her, bending down to let my hand slide against her flat stomach and then up higher to squeeze her breast, loving the weight of it in my hand.

“That feels so good,” she murmurs.

I get on the bed, angling myself over her. I move my fingers between her legs, wanting to prepare her body for mine. When my fingers glide against the lips of her pussy, I realize she’s already dripping wet for me. I inhale deeply, taking the scent of her hunger into my lungs. My hand goes down to my cock and I position myself at her entrance, then let the tip of my cock slide through her slick depths to grind against her swollen clit.