Page 63 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

“I’m messy.”

“I frosted a cupcake that looked like a medical event.I don’t judge messy.”

My laugh is softer this time.More real.“I’m scared,” I whisper.“Still.Even after last night.Even after everything.”

His hand slides to my waist, grounding.“I know.”

“I don’t want Rowan.I need you to know that.”

“I know.”He winks, and I shake my head.

“I don’t want my old pack.I don’t want that life.I don’t want any of it.”

“I know that too.”

“But when Cole said maybe the bond wasn’t fully severed...”My throat tightens.“For a second, I felt like I was back there.Like fate could still take this away from me.Like maybe I don’t get to choose after all.”

Daniel’s jaw flexes before he leans down until his forehead rests against mine.

“Listen to me,” he says, voice low and rough.“No one gets to take me from you unless you send me away.”My breath catches, but he continues.“Not Rowan.Not your old pack.Not some half-dead bond he wants to resurrect because his pride is bruised.”His hand tightens on my waist.“I’m here because I want to be here.I want you because you’re Holly.Because you fight with ovens and threaten customers and laugh when I embarrass myself.Because you chose to let me in last night.Because you looked at me like I was something you wanted, not something useful.”

My heart cracks open another inch.“I do want you,” I whisper.

His eyes darken.“Good.”

“Not only because of the bond.”

“I would hope not.”

“And not only because of last night.”

“I’m sure it didn’t hurt my chances.”

“And maybe...”I swallow hard.“Maybe I want the claim soon.”

Everything in him changes.His wolf rises fast, hot, and bright.His pupils widen, his breath catches, and his fingers flex on my waist before he stills them.But he does not pounce.

Daniel just looks at me like I have handed him something sacred.

“Soon?”he asks.

I nod, cheeks burning.“Not today.”

“Okay.”

“Maybe after one more run.”

His smile is slow, reverent, and damn near devastating.“Then we run.”

My wolf presses against my skin, eager and certain.I should be terrified, and I am.But beneath the fear, there’s something stronger now.Want.

Daniel kisses me gently, and it should stay gentle, but it does not.

Maybe because I’m raw.Maybe because he’s warm.Maybe because Cole walked into my bakery and tried to turn me into a ghost, and Daniel stood beside me until I remembered I’m alive.

I deepen the kiss, fingers curling into his shirt, and Daniel groans but holds back.

“Touch me,” I whisper against his mouth.