Page 38 of Alpha's Second Chance

“Eve. Of course I do. I thought we’d have a little time alone first.”

Ah. “Were you hoping for some celebratory sex?” I spotted the pink blush spreading across his face. “You are!”

Owen had the grace to look sheepish. “Can you blame me?”

“I think I can. You’re black and blue, and you’re feeling it today, even though you don’t want to admit it.” I stood on my tiptoes. I would never get tired of how good it felt to be smaller than my mate. My husband. “Alpha,” I said. “I promise you we’ll get to celebrate.”

He rubbed the back of his neck where it was still flushing bright red.

“But for now,” I said. “Let’s tell your team. You may think they don’t care, but I swear to you, they do. I saw them when we thought you might die.”

He caught my arm and wrapped his strong fingers around my wrist. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“No need to be sorry.”

“I wish you hadn’t had to see that.”

“I’m glad I did. I know they have your back when you’re out there.” Their calm competence had gotten us all through the night. I took his hand, and we stepped onto the porch.

“John!” I called out. “We have good news.” I nudged Owen, careful not to hit him in the ribs.

He cleared his throat before speaking to John. “I asked Eve to marry me in a human ceremony. She said yes. And she has agreed to be my mate.”

John beamed at his Alpha, then at me. “Congratulations!” he said. “Will you be going to Avon soon?”

“Maybe in a few weeks,” Owen said. “We’ll need to go back to Denver, and check on Eve’s house, and she’ll go back to work now that Bull’s taken care of.”

In that moment, I knew I didn’t want to delay our visit to Avon. It would only make it harder on both of us. “Thank you, John,” I said. I tugged at Owen’s hand, and we stepped off the porch into the yard. “I’m ready now,” I said.

I’d lived my life on my own terms for ten years. I’d faced a monster, and I’d been forced to kill other shifters to survive. In the middle of all of that, I’d found my mate again. I could absolutely handle my family and my clan.

“For what?”

“To go to Avon.”

Owen frowned. “There’s no rush.”

“I want to start our life together. That means seeing my family, talking to the clan.”

He rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “If you say you’re ready, then I trust you.” He pressed his lips against mine for a long second. “Eve. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Then, and now. Whatever happens in Avon won’t affect our life together, because I won’t let it. You are my mate, and I love you.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist tipped my head up to kiss him. “We’ll figure it out together,” I said. “We made it work after ten years apart, so we can do anything. You’re my mate, and my Alpha.”

“And you’re my Omega,” Owen said.

For the first time, I was thrilled to hear those words.

He’s mine, my bear insisted. My bear could rest easy -- I wasn’t going to let him go this time.

“I love you too,” I said. I couldn’t resist saying it one more time, “Let’s get going, Alpha.”