Asking For Trouble (8 page)

“Do you have to marry someone from your pack?”

Orion shook his head. “I can marry whomever I choose. I
can’t think of a Beta in recent memory who has chosen a human partner, but I
can’t see anyone objecting. Not now, anyway, with an Omega as Lupina.” He must
have seen her confusion. “The Lupina is the Alpha’s mate. For the Sundown Pack,
that’s Alyra, who used to be an Omega. That’s the lowest tier in pack
hierarchy. Our pack has accepted her. My mate will be accepted too.”
Determination radiated from him, making it clear he would not allow anything
less.

She twisted her fingers. “What kind of future can we have,
Orion?” Natalie didn’t resist when he leaned forward to take her hands between
his. “I don’t know what to do.”

“We’d have the same future as most mates, um, married
people. We’d spend our lives together, loving each other. There would be
children and happiness. I’m sure we’ll have tough times, like everyone else in
a committed relationship, but we’ll get through them.” He squeezed her hands.
“We’ll also have obligations to the pack. You’ll have a husband who can change
to a wolf and your children will probably do the same at puberty.” Orion’s
pitch lowered an octave. “You’ll also have a devoted mate, one who will never
stray.”

Natalie smiled at the pun. “How much like a wolf are you?”

“I’m as much wolf as I am human. In either state, I’m the
same person, with the same feelings.” He shrugged. “It’s more difficult to
control some impulses when I’m a wolf, like the urge to make love, but the
ability comes with age and practice. I am never going to turn feral and attack
anyone, and I won’t forget who I am.” He lifted a hand from hers to push the
hair off her face. “I will never forget whom I love. If you walk away, you’re
taking my heart with you. Eventually, I will have to find a mate and have
children, but it will be a shallow union. The wolf in me mates for life, even
if the human side of me knows relationships don’t always work.”

His honesty and open vulnerability were her undoing. Natalie
looked into his dark eyes and melted. There were still questions, and there
would be details to work out, but all seemed inconsequential in comparison to a
life spent without Orion. How could she consign either of them to live a
half-life with a broken heart by leaving? “I love you, Orion.” She touched his
cheek. “I don’t care about anything else. We can work it out.”

“Are you sure?” He leaned closer, his gaze drilling into
hers. “Right now, I can maybe let you walk away without it killing me. If you
accept me for a while and then find out you can’t be my mate, I won’t survive
you walking out. This is your one chance to leave.”

“I know.” Natalie slid out of the chair and onto his lap,
forcing him back. She straddled his thighs. “I don’t want to leave.” Cupping
his face, she pressed her lips to his for a long kiss. When she broke the kiss,
she rested her forehead against his. “I love you. I can’t imagine my life
without you. You might be able to watch me leave, but I don’t think I could
survive walking away from you.”

Orion’s eyes revealed cautious hope. “Do you really think
you can make a life with me?”

“Definitely. Any kind of life with you has to be better than
the one I’d endure without you.” She kissed him again. “I was lucky to find
you, Orion, and I’m not going to let this one little thing come between us,”
she said saucily.

He chuckled, making his chest rumble. “If you keep wiggling
your bottom like that, something else is going to come between us.”

Natalie reached down to touch his stiffening cock. “I’m
counting on it, love.”

Also by Kit Tunstall

A Christmas Phantasie

A Matter Of Honor

Ablaze

Blood Lines 1: Blood Oath

Blood Lines 2: Blood Challenge

Blood Lines 3: Blood Bond

Blood Lines 4: Blood Price

By Invitation Only

Dark Dreams

Eye of Destiny

Heart Of Midnight

Lions and Tigers and Bears
anthology

Pawn

Phantasie

Playing His Game

Sundown Pack 1: Only Love

Sundown Pack 2:Fortune’s Fool

Wrong Groom

Also see Kit’s story at
Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com):

Beloved Forever

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multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or
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