I could see Bailey’s eyes watching me as I told her I loved her, they flashed darker for a moment, and I caught sight of her canine teeth, taking me by surprise… was Akira deciding she wanted to mark me too? Was she even well enough? Strong enough after everything?
‘Maybe us marking her did make her stronger?’ Zion suggested. I guess that could be true. The nurse said she couldn’t say for sure if it would, but here she was ready to mark me despite the fact her wolf had to have been weak trying to heal her.
“I love you too, Asher.” Bailey whispered, and those were now the most wonderful words I had heard. Words I hadn't even realized I had been desperate to hear.
I offered her my neck without a moment's hesitation. I wanted to have her mark upon me. I wanted this matebond complete. She was the one meant to come into my life and fix me, I am sure of that. Her arriving in our pack had not been a coincidence. Fate had intervened in a different way... No, I had not been blessed with her as a fated mate, but second-chance mates were rare; yet the connection I felt to Bailey was something else. Like a soulmate. She brought me peace. Contentment. She made me whole again. In a way I never thought could be possible after losing Isla.
And as I felt her teeth sink into my neck, that shudder of pleasure rippled through my body, bringing tears to my eyes as I felt the completed matebond snap into place. She was mine. Bailey was officially mine. And I was hers. I felt goosebumps spread across my body as she traced her tongue across the new mark I now wore, before I moved back slightly to look at my new mate. I smiled down at her, fighting the tears. “You do not know how happy you have made me.” I whispered.
“I think I may have some idea, especially when I feel just as happy.” She teased, reaching up to gently stroke where she had just marked me. “I can’t believe I have a mate!” she exclaimed excitedly.
“I just wish we hadn’t waited so long!” I told her, and she smirked.
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