Page 114 of Monster. Me.

He takes a deep breath and speaks, with a certain solemnity

"Thank you for fighting for me, Marlow. You’re the only person in the entire world who has ever fought for me. I promise you that whatever life throws at us, I’ll fight for you too, always."

My heart trembles with happiness because I know, absolutely know, that what he’s saying is true. I can feel him now so clearly that it’s almost like reading his thoughts, and there’s a very specific reason for that: what he said at the airport.

I guess I already sensed it before, not fully consciously, but now I actually allow myself to believe it:

Yes, we’re fated mates.

I've spent a lot of hours mulling over this topic after everything that happened between us.

A key piece of information allowed me to finally solve the puzzle! He’s not a purple alpha after all, but a shifter like me.

It opened my eyes and unlocked a new way of looking at everything that’s happened between us, our strange pull, the fact that I was able to take away his pain, that I could instinctively find him in the forest, that I can almost read his emotions like an open book.

Finally, I let myself piece it all together, and I can’t reach any other conclusion.

The certainty fills me completely. My powerful longing, a deep belief in… us, despite all the obstacles. It all has an explanation.

Urban legends say that shifters can’t recognize each other as easily because, on a biological level, our genes are just too different. But our souls are still part of the same whole… and they slowly connect, slowly merge, overcoming the barrier of those differences, and weaving a Bond.

And, as another proof, Fenn Drax is practically reading my mind even now.

"Almost from the moment I touched you, and smelled your scent, even if diluted by a pheromone blocker, I knew it was you or no one," he whispers. "We're destined to be together by Fate, I just feel it."

I smile knowingly. "It wasn’t easy for me to come to this conclusion because of my false assumption about you being a purple alpha. So it all happened almost subconsciously. I rarely called it by name, but I felt it too, even when I wanted to leave the damned facility, I simply couldn't. I’ve never… experienced that kind of Pull toward anyone before. Like some powerful magnet was drawing us together. So yes, I do believe we are fated, Fenn."

A moment of silence passes, emotions hanging in the air, and then I have to say it.

"But even if we weren’t, I still want to give us a chance. I just have this odd but strong faith in us!"

Fenn tilts his head.

"It’s confusing, I admit. Normal AOs have the First Orgasm when they make love and their soul merges; this is their confirmation, but as it seems, we shifters do not… which may be discouraging. Still, I just know, Marlow. I simply know."

There is another moment of silence.

"Fenn," I take a deep breath, "I also want to thank you. You fought for me too. Even after you had to realize I left with Rupert, it had to feel like a betrayal. But you refused to give up. I’m so grateful to you for chasing after me to that damn airport. I was devastated and so lost. And you stopped me from making the worst mistake of my life."

Fenn gently strokes the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Oh, Marlow, of course. I couldn’t let you go. I would follow you to the end of the world."

I hesitate for a moment. I want him to know that I’m expecting twins. That’s going to be pretty crazy… two children, and on top of that, they aren’t his. That’s a heavy burden for any relationship, maybe even a fated one.

Yet somehow Fenn knows exactly what I’m thinking, again. Could our Bond already be so strong? We haven’t even bitten each other’s glands yet, and still something is developing between us, an almost wordless understanding.

"Marlow, I will love your kid. I know that’s what worries you. But he’ll be part of you."

"They’re… twins, Fenn." I just blurt it out. "My feline shifter nature probably had something to do with that," I add, watching his face for any sign of discomfort, any grimace, but there’s nothing. He just takes it and accepts it immediately.

"Oh, baby, congratulations… that’s wonderful news. I know how much you wanted children, and this is your dream coming true. Nothing could be more important than that! And I’ll do everything to be the best father I can be for them. Blood doesn’t make a family. Love does."

I stare into his purple eyes. I can feel his sincerity, his happiness, and his complete embrace of me and the kids, and I know I have to be honest too.

"That’s true. Blood doesn’t make a family. There’s something I want to tell you. You could say I want to come clean."

And again, that magical, almost telepathic connection!