Page 117 of Hunter

“Rafe…” Willa sighed, guilt twisting through her. “I’ve seen some pretty bad injuries before, but he was…”

“I know what you’re going to say, and I hear ya. With the amount of silver they loaded him with, he should have died. The blood of an ancient can help. But it should have been quick.”

“Where are they?”

“He won’t say. He won’t even answer my damn phone calls. Keeps sending fucking texts.”

“Send nudes?” she laughed.

“Exactly. Sends me memes. Stupid shit like that. He’s stalling.”

“I haven’t heard from my brother either.” A sad smile formed on her lips. “I know he’s alive. Somewhere.”

“He is alive. And some day he’s going to show up here in Yellowstone and I’m going to kick his ass.”

“He’d better come back. Or I’m going to go look for him, you know, right?”

Hunter sighed. “Unfortunately, yes, my beautiful but stubborn queen. But if you do, you won’t go alone. Because you have a mate who cares about you very much.”

“We are meant for each other, aren’t we?” she laughed.

“We are. Now I was thinking, a proper date. We’ve got the champs.” He nodded at the table. “Food.”

“A hot bath, which I’m so ready to use.” She smiled.

“A bed.” He winked. “We’re camping.”

“Glamping.” She laughed.

“Maybe. Just a little.” Hunter closed the distance.

“It’s perfect,” she said. Her stomach fluttered as her sexy-as-sin Alpha took her hand in his.

“You’re perfect.” He held his glass in the air. “To my beautiful mate.”

“To a hundred, no, a thousand dates,” she countered.

“A lifetime.”

With a clink of their glasses, they sipped the champagne. Willa’s heart pounded in her chest as her gaze painted over his muscular body, candlelight flickering over his tanned skin. As he smiled, her focus was drawn to his strong lips and her pussy flooded in arousal, anticipating what they’d do to her.

A knowing smile crossed his face, his eyes lit in amusement. “Do you know what I love about you?”

Love. Her heart tightened at the sound of the word. It had been an emotion she’d tried so very hard to ignore, yet one she’d yearned to hear from her mate.

“I love you,” she blurted out, unable to stop the words. She spun around on her heels and bit her lip. Shit. You’ve only known him for a few weeks. What are you doing?

She startled as his strong arm curled around her waist, the warmth of his firm chest along her back spiking her arousal. Her body tingled in awareness, his lips brushing her shoulder. Oh Goddess.

“Did you just say what I think you said?” His lips brushed over her shoulder.

“I…I….” As his hand cupped her breast, she lost her train of thought. “I don’t know what I said.”

“That’s funny, because I think,” he kissed her neck, “you said you love me.”

“What? You must have heard wrong,” she lied, a shiver dancing through her body.

“Really, huh? Because funny thing is that I love you.”