Fierce (Wolf Ranch 5) - Page 58
My heart beat faster. “Until now?” I guessed.
He nodded. “This morning. The moment I found out you left. My wolf went nuts, and I spontaneously shifted for the first time in my life. And then again when you were in danger. Do you know why?”
My brain tried to connect dots, but I was missing too much information. “No?”
“You’re my mate.”
That word again. I’d heard him use it back at Mr. Claymore’s.
“What does that mean?”
“Wolves mate for life, doll. One partner until death. And the human part of them doesn’t pick that partner—their wolf does. A normal shifter would instantly recognize his mate by scent, but, see, I’d never shifted. I didn’t have the ability. I didn’t know you were my mate. All I knew was that we have mad chemistry. That I was happier when I was near you. That making you feel good became my calling.”
My breath caught. His words were a balm on my frayed nerves. They were everything I needed to hear. They were what he hadn’t said on that huge boulder. The secret he couldn’t reveal that gave away his true feelings.
“You see, my human side picked you and fell in love without even knowing you were mine. It was truly fate.”
A tear slipped out of the corner of my eye, and I let out a laugh as I brushed it away. He loved me. His wolf killed for me. “This is nuts.”
Levi squeezed my hand again. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But what you need to know is that I’m yours. I’m your man. Come thick or thin. I’ll never leave you, never stray, never cheat, never stop protecting and providing for you. And that’s not just a promise, it’s biology. It’s hard-wired into me as you saw with Dax. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t honor your wishes if you told me to stay away, but—”
I shook my head, fresh tears of gratitude pricking my eyes. “No. I don’t want you to stay away.”
“I’m sorry about what happened with Dax. I swear to you, I’m not dangerous. It was only because your life was in danger. A kill or be killed response to protect my mate.”
My head wobbled as I nodded. “I understand. I… honestly, I don’t think I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think I am, either,” he said, and yet, I felt the weight of his words. He didn’t take ending a life lightly. Just as he wouldn’t if he’d killed someone in the line of duty.
“Come to Montana,” he pleaded. “Bring your grandfather. There are enough people on the ranch to make sure he won’t wander off or hurt himself as his mental health deteriorates. He’d be totally safe. And if he needs more, Audrey’s a doctor and will help with whatever he needs.”
“But… we’re human,” I said. “I’m not a shifter. I don’t have a wolf inside me. Pops doesn’t either.” I frowned. “That I know of. God, now I’m going to wonder if everyone’s got a surprise wolf inside them.”
“Doll, you’d know about your grandfather,” he said, most likely trying to keep me going off on a mental tangent.
“Well, isn’t that a problem? That I’m human. You just said some hate outsiders, hate humans.”
“No,” Levi said. “Not in our pack. Marina and Audrey are human. Willow’s a half-breed like me. Clint’s mate, Becky, is human, as well. That means the babies, Lizzie and Lily are, too. We all take care of each other. It’s a good place.”
I gave a watery laugh because he was right. Wolf Ranch was a good place. “You make it sound idyllic.”
“Well, to me it was. That was where I landed after living with my grandparents and suppressing my wolf side. They took me in, gave me a job and a place in the pack. Made me part of the family. I love Wolf Ranch.” He brushed the backs of my thumb with his. “But if you needed to stay here, then I’d move. You’re more important than my pack. You’re my life.”
I covered my mouth with my free hand, shocked. “You’d give up your pack to live amongst humans? After what you went through with your grandparents?”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and I could tell the idea pained him. “To be with you? Yes. I can’t be away from you. It’s… impossible.”
“Oh, Levi.” I threw my arms around his neck and straddled his lap, dropping kisses across his broad face. “I would never ask that of you. I’ll… we’ll move to Montana.”
It was crazy and impulsive. To think I could quit my job, pack up my grandfather and move to another state after knowing a man for one week.
But I would.
Nothing had ever felt so right in my life. I didn’t need to talk myself into it. I didn’t need a wolf inside me to tell me Levi was my mate. I knew it was my fate. He was.
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