Page 91 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
Makir immediately tensed under my hands.
“That’s the bastard who sent you fleeing to Tern?” I growled. My biceps throbbed, and my knuckles itched with the need to pummel something.
“When you took on Reinik like that, in front of my parents…” He paused, overwhelmed. “It was everything. My parents knew of his abuse but blamed me for encouraging him while I was blinded by my heat. Bonic tried to banish him, but my father pulled out all the stops to protect his best friend.” He choked, tears turning his eyes liquid lavender. “I never imagined I’d find my true mate in fleeing.”
I gathered Makir into my arms, lifted him from the seat and walked toward the smooth tree trunk. After sliding my back down to its base, I tugged Makir into my lap.
My fingers untangled what remained of the braid in Makir’s mane. “So Reinik didn’t want to be your mate?”
“My eyes never turned for him.” He cupped my cheeks. “I’m so blanting lucky.”
Never had I been so thankful. “I’m the luckyone.”
His glassy eyes met mine before he continued. “I don’t feel empty anymore. Reinik took away everything. I thought I loved him. My parents were pleased with me for once. He was my dad’s best friend. And then he ripped it all away.” Tears streamed down his face. “I can’t have younglings anymore. He took that from me.”
The bond yanked so hard that I jolted. Happiness surged through our connection like a cresting tsunami.
“But I have so much more now. I have you. I don’t feel purposeless anymore.” Makir’s tail massaged the mating mark over my drumming heart. “I love you, Geo… Feel it.” His lips skated over mine. “Can you feel my love for you?”
The bond quaked and surged into a glorious ache. Impossible to imagine, the foreign emotion flooded through me, and I had no choice but to believe the love traveling through the bond was real. I’d learned that the key to becoming a strong alpha was knowing when to submit.
I swallowed hard and nodded. “I love you, little lion.” My eyes stung as I gathered Makir’s tears with my thumb. “I promise, I never wanted kids anyway. We’ll be the best damn uncles ever.”
30
Epilogue
“How could you get married without me?” Ginger exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air in disbelief. Charz and Pika were settled at my feet, and a cup of coffee sat in front of me in the home I now shared with Makir.
Makir had stars in his eyes as he spoke of his new nephew. “Believe me, Ginger, the whole trip was a disaster except for meeting Telya.” Smile lines creased the corners of his eyes. “Wasn’t he the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen, Geo?”
He rushed on before I could say, ‘yeah, he looks exactly like you.’ Would his designationbe omega too?
“Oh, and Ginger, Jast adores the sling you made for him. She’s the envy of all the new moms, and if you’re interested, you’re welcome to sell your wares on Lorne.”
Ginger smiled and tapped a long, lacquered nail against the polished table.
I cleared my throat and rubbed the mating mark over my heart. “So, the only good thing that happened while you were on Lorne was meeting your nephew?”
Makir pressed a long finger to his lip. “Well, Reinik’s ass-kicking and banishment comes to mind.” A deep chuckle made his tail swish. “And have I failed to mention that the grand omega blessed us in a soul-linking ceremony like no other?” His voice transformed from teasing to awed, and the lavender in his eyes turned liquid with love.
I leaned over to kiss Makir on the cheek. “There was that little thing.”
“You guys are nauseating.” Ginger groaned as she pieced together a few pieces of mantu hide in front of her, pins stuck between her lips.
Ginger was right. We couldn’t stop touching. The tether fizzed with the heady newness of our love, and the constant feedback loop of undisguised reciprocation made me needy.
“Ginger, just how many orders have you accepted?” My eyes swept over the huge pile of cut-out hides stacked on the table. “You can’t possibly sew all that before the next shuttle leaves, unless…”
She plucked a pin from her mouth and wove it between the layers of hide. “Now, don’t you go getting any big ideas.” She bit back a smile. “As much as I love designing costumes for horror movies, I can’t stand watching them, and there is a huge freaking horror show creature on this planet, Geo.” Her eyes widened comically, but underneath the humor, a glimmer of fear lurked in their depths.
Makir fiddled with one of Ginger’s patterns. “JayJay said we don’t have to worry for a while. Winter will send it deep underground where it’s warmer.”
Ginger rolled her eyes as I leaned into Makir for a real kiss. She cleared her throat as I reached for his zipper. “I’m going to pack my bags and stay at Jay—I mean, the archbuilder’s sono for the next couple of days so the two of you can have a bit of ahoneymoon.” She exhaled, sending her bangs flying off her forehead. “Though I’m not sure what’ll be worse—handling you two lovebirds or dealing with JayJay. I’ve seen teaspoons with more emotional depth.”
Makir pressed the translator behind his ear and jumped up, clapping. “Yes, a honeymoon. That’s what we need.” He waved goodbye to Ginger.
“Give JayJay a chance. He’s a good guy.” I hugged my best friend and left her in the kitchen, organizing her projects.
