My wolf rumbles his agreement.We’ll keep our mate safe.
The meeting runs longer than I like, but eventually, the strategy is set, shifts are assigned, and contingency plans are confirmed.
Christian claps my shoulder when we finally disperse.“Hang on to the good.”
“I plan to.”
I smile as I drive home, imagining waking my mate up in a creative, sexy way.That plan is sidelined when I walk in and see Roxie at the kitchen table, curled up with tea and a book Fern must have lent her.The second I walk into the room, she looks up.
And smiles.
God, I could live on that.
“How’d it go?”she asks.
I cross the room and kiss her, slow and reassuring.“We’re fine.But there’s been movement up north.Nothing close, nothing immediate, but enough that I need you to be careful.”
Her brows lift slightly.“How careful?”
I sit beside her, taking her hand.“I don’t want you out there alone.If you go anywhere, I want you with me, or with Fern and Jameson.At least until things settle.”
She blinks.
Then her jaw sets.“So… supervised.”
I wince.“Protected.”
She exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose.“Abe?—”
“I know,” I say softly.“It feels like rules.Limits.Like everything you ran from.”
Her eyes flick to mine.
I hold her gaze.“But this isn’t me controlling you,” I continue quietly.“This is me keeping you safe.Because if anything touched you again?—”
My wolf bristles.Never again.
She studies me for a long moment.It’s not anger I see.It’s conflict.
“I just… wanted my life to be mine,” she says softly.
“It still is,” I promise.“I won’t cage you.I don’t cage what I love.You have my word.”
Her breath stutters slightly at that word.
Love.
Yeah, that one’s not going back in the box.
Her tension lingers, that edge of frustration and desire for freedom balanced against fear and love and trust.
So, I do the only thing I know how to do.
I soften it.
I slide my hands to her waist, tugging her gently closer.
“Let me make it up to you,” I murmur, brushing my lips across her temple.