Chapter 23


    “So,” Dean said as we sat down on one of the couches in the small room. “What is it exactly you want


    to talk about?” He sounded almost nervous.


    Iughed quietly to myself. He was nervous? Dean had nothing to be nervous about.“Well, I told you I


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    really appreciate what you’ve been doing for me since I arrived and well, I wanted to let you know that


    I, uh, am ready to ept you as my mate,” I told him then quickly added, “And, I understand if you


    aren’t. We don’t really know much about each other, so it’s okay if you’re not sure or if you’re not


    ready.”


    When he didn’t say anything for a moment, my nerves ratcheted up, and I ran a head over my head.


    Maybe I was doing this wrong? Perhaps I misread things. When he finally asked, “You’re kidding right?”


    I stared back at him, not sure what he meant. He scooted over close to me, turning so he could face


    me. “Nic, you’re strong in so many ways, confident, caring, beautiful and I was never unsure about


    being your mate.”


    “Really?” I asked, kind of surprised. “Not even a little bit. You can be honest.”


    “Not even a little bit, and I’ve always been honest. I knew as soon as I woke up with dried blood on my


    face that I didn’t want to be with anyone else.”


    I narrowed my eyes at him. “You know how crazy that sounds right?”


    “Yep, and I don’t care. Look,” Dean said and took my hands in his. “You are amazing, and any guy


    would be lucky to have someone like you as their mate. To me, it was always if you wanted to be mine.


    I don’t know if you noticed, but a lot of people find me annoying. Even my friends think I’m an idiot.”


    “They do not.”


    “Yeah, they do,” Dean said with a shrug. “It’s always Dean, you’re an idiot, and such. They don’t mean


    to insult me or anything, but it’s what they think, and that’s okay.”


    “Well, I don’t believe you’re an idiot. I mean I may have said it, teasing you and that''s all. ”


    Arge smile spread across his face. “I know, and that’s what I still can’t understand. Maybe you hit


    yourself in the head or something,” he said.


    I shook my head at him and with a slow breath, I let the words and the magic they evoked spill from


    me. “I’m yours, Dean. Do you ept me?”


    Shock overtook his expression, and his jaw dropped. Again he didn’t say anything. “Nic, are you…”


    I nodded. “Do you ept me?”


    His shock turned to bewilderment. “Yes, Nic, I ept you. I’m your—”


    “You don’t have to say it,” I told him.


    “I want to. Plus, can’t leave things like this half done,” he said and winked at me. “I’m yours, Nic. Do


    you ept me.”


    I hadn’t imagined our conversation going quite like this. My heart pounded in my chest. “Yes, Dean, I


    ept you.” We both shuddered as the magic settled over us and cementing our bond.


    “So that happened,” Dean said, scooting closer to me.


    Iughed, still feeling nervous. “It did.”


    “Regrets?” he asked leaning closer


    “No,” I said, feeling my heart race even faster.


    He closed the distance between us and our lips met. My eyes closed on their own and I rested my


    hands against his chest. Dean wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer so that I was almost


    sitting in hisp. What started out as a soft and almost hesitant kiss turned into something deeper and


    more passionate, I guess is the word.


    My heart raced even faster than I thought was possible. Dean’s scent wrapped around me, his taste,


    like his scent had a fresh, citrus tang to it, and between the two I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, and


    strangely, I didn’t care. I wasn’t sure how it happened or when, but next thing I knew I wasying on the


    couch with Dean on top of me, kissing my neck and his hands under my shirt.


    I stiffened and felt my face flush. “Dean,” I said, the nervousness returning. He made a soft rumble and


    nuzzled my neck. “Dean,” I insisted and pushed on his shoulder, worry joining the nervousness.


    “Yeah?” he asked, pulling away from me. He swore when he looked down at me. Dean got up from me


    and helped me sit up. “I’m sorry, I just, I mean, I kind of went with it, but I didn’t mean...God, I’m sorry,”


    he said, sitting on the opposite end of the couch. His face was bright red.


    “It’s okay,” I said, feeling better now that I was sitting.


    “Are you sure? I didn’t hurt you or anything did I?” Dean asked, ncing at me, but not meeting my


    eyes.


    “Dean,” I said, letting tone grow t and unimpressed.“If you hurt me I would’ve kicked your ass all


    through this room. I’m fine really. I-I’m just not ready to go, uhm, that far.” I could feel my own face


    warming up now.


    A hesitant grin spread across his lips, and he looked at me again, this time meeting my gaze. “Yeah, I


    guess you would, and I didn’t mean for it to go that far either. All I wanted to do was give you a kiss, like


    before. Maybe it was the effect of saying the words, or I don’t know, but I just got lost in it, and we’re


    mates so...”


    “Sorry, if I’ming off like some prude, but you know all this is new to me,” I said, a little embarrassed


    by it for some reason.


    Dean moved to sit next to me again. “To be honest, it is for me too.”


    “What do you mean. You just told me you’ve dated before.”


    He hunched his shoulders. “Yeah, but we, I, never ya know,” he said and shrugged.


    “Seriously? But you flirt with everything.”


    He gave me a lopsided grin. “Flirt, yes. Kiss, maybe, and anything more, no, not once.”


    Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “Why not?” I thought all guys strived to start putting notches in


    their bedposts so to speak as soon as they reached like fifteen.


    Again, he shrugged, still looking a little bashful. “They weren’t you,” he replied. “I always thought to wait


    for my mate would show her, you, what she meant to me. And now that you’re here, I’m honestly d I


    did. It’s something that will be only ours.”


    I wasn’t sure what to say, so I shook my head. “Dean, you’re…”


    “An idiot, I know,” he said, again giving me a half smile.


    “The one that’s amazing,” I finished. “And not an idiot at all.” I hugged him and took his hand in mine,


    “You’re wee, Beautiful,” Dean said and gave my hand a light squeeze.


    Dean walked me back to my room, and we shared a kiss before leaving. Over the next week, I found


    myself settling into a routine. I talked with Harry a few more times. He still wasn’t ready to fully bring me


    own board, but we discussed its future and the obstacles in its way to going from idea to an actual real


    thing. Jon was getting to know the enforcers through Kara and seemed to be making a ce for


    himself. Wesley usually joined me on my talks with Harry, and Sade, well, Sade was the only one who


    didn’t seem to be fully satisfied with life in Blue Crescent pack.


    It was what prompted me to ask Sade to meet with me outside on the patio in the back yard. For once it


    was a nice day, and I didn’t want to miss out by staying inside all day. Plus, it would be harder for


    others to eavesdrop on us.


    “You asked to meet with me?” Sade asked as she sat down at the table, a hint of worry in her


    expression.


    “We’ve been here about a half a month now,” I said, running my fingers over thettice work of the


    table. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I can really see myself having a life here. At least, for now.


    Things with Dean are great. Jon seems to be doing well also. He told me as soon as Lavonya finishes


    this semester ofw school she’ll be transferring to a school here. Brent pushed her application through


    and everything. So we’re all good, what about you?”


    Sade bit her lip. “I agreed with Wes, back when Dean told us what happened, that we should support


    you.”


    “I know, but admit it, at the time we were both sure we’d find a way and be back in Golden ins


    soon,” I said with augh. “Sade, you have all your family back in Kansas, and I know you have to be


    missing them. I’m not your alpha, and I can’t make you stay, and if you want to leave, I won’t take it


    personally. We’ll still be friends, and everything will be okay.”


    “You wouldn’t feel like I was betraying you like the pack did?”


    I shook my head. “You’re not supporting the douche. You’re going home - two very different things.”


    “Actually, I think before anyone makes any traveling ns…” Brent started, scaring both Sade and I.


    We both jumped with a girlish squeal, which I found particrly embarrassing. Brent grimaced from


    where he stood by the doorway with a familiar face - Marquice Fountain, the third most dominant wolf


    in my father’s pack. He worked with Wesley quite often. “Mr. Fountain here has some news from your


    father, Nicole.”


    “Most urgent,” Marquice added, nodding. “Your father needs your help, Nic.”