“Yeah?” she replied, unsure of what wasgoing through his mind.
“I need to know what exactly happened to youat your old clan,” he ordered, his eyes glowing with the presenceof his bear.
She wasn’t scared of the bear’s presence. Infact, she felt safer…more at ease, knowing the bear was protectiveof her. For once in her life, she finally had someone on her sideshe could trust.
“They touched me, but they didn’t…well,” shepaused to grit her teeth, “they didn’t take my virginity.”
Gunnar dropped to his knees as a loud breathwhooshed from his lungs. “Thank the gods.”
“I fought them,” she continued. Anna Clairedidn’t want to look weak. She wanted her possible mate to know shewas pure for him. “The night I ran away, he touched me all over,but he never did that. I fought as hard as I could, kicking him inhis…well, ya know.”
She felt tears prick at the backs of hereyes. She hated reliving that night, because she’d never been morescared than she was when he had taken a knife to her body. “He wasin too much pain to mate with me.”
“I’m…I’m so sorry this happened to you,” hechoked out.
Gunnar’s mating scent swirled around her,and it thickened in the air. She inhaled deep and dropped to herknees in front of him, so they were on an even level. “That time isover. I only told you so you wouldn’t think I didn’t want to bewith you.”
“But you’ve been so sad,” he said, lookinginto her eyes. His bear was close to the surface, and she could seehis eyes shifting from human to animal.
Anna Claire wanted to console them both, butshe didn’t know how…other than to touch him.
“I have been sad,” she agreed. “I wentthrough a lot. It wasn’t until our hibernation that I really putthings into perspective and dealt with what I’d been through. I’m alot stronger than you all give me credit for. My cousins, theycoddle me, and while I love them dearly, I really wish they’d letme get through this my way.”
“And what is your way?” he asked. She lovedhearing him talk. In the early days, when she’d first arrived, hisdeep baritone voice kept her steady. It rooted her in place justenough to not go into a downward spiral. She didn’t think she’dever be able to tell him exactly how much he’d helped her.
“I don’t let the past define who I am,” shestated, holding her head high. “Please, don’t mourn for me or whatwas done to me, Gunnar. I need you to help me celebrate beinghere…in your clan. I’m happy and safe with you, and that’s all I’veever wanted in life.”
“I promise to protect you until I no longerwalk this earth, and when we reunite in the heavens, I vow to guardyou for eternity.”
“You really are my mate,” she stated.
“I am,” he declared, rising to his feet.“Dinner is almost ready. We have all day tomorrow to discuss thissome more.”
Anna Claire hoped tomorrow would be the daythey finally made their mating official. It was well past time forher to move on with her life.
Chapter 4
Gunnar reached for the spoon handle andimmediately closed his fist. The beast inside him vibrated withneed from Anna Claire’s scent. Mating season was here, and he wasfighting his nature every moment of the day.
He’d found his mate; had even begun topossibly love her. Despite what she had told him, he still didn’tthink she was ready for a mating. The males were naturallyaggressive when it came to mating for the first time. The femaleswere built differently, and Anna Claire was no exception.
Every single time he thought of her tinybody, the image of finding her restrained in those woods wouldflash in his mind’s eye. That day would forever be etched in hisbrain. The thought of being aggressive with her during their firstmating scared him.
He’d called out for his brothers to cut herdown the moment her scent had hit him. Somehow, his bear hadimmediately known. Seeing the abused female that was meant to behis for life had changed him. No longer was he the rough and tumbleyoungest Morgan brother. Now, he was softer, more patient than he’dever been. Call it a growing up phase, but Gunnar saw thedifference in himself when he looked in the mirror.
For being in his mid-twenties, he lookedolder, felt wiser. Anna Claire had calmed him once she had healedfrom her physical injuries. They’d become close over the summer,and when it’d come time to build her a cabin, they’d both hesitatedwhen Drake had come to ask about her building plan. She’d shylyasked if she could stay with Gunnar during the hibernation, thendecide on her future in the spring.
Well, spring had arrived, and they’d finallyvoiced their knowledge about the mating. It was out in the opennow, and it was up to them to decide when to consummate it. She wasready…Gunnar wasn’t.
He wanted to make the mating special forher, but how special would any preparation be if he was just goingto mount her like a beast after all she’d been through?
Fuck!
Gods, he was so torn.
He plated her chicken and vegetables, takingthe dish over to the table. She looked up at him with a smile thattugged at his heart. It was the male’s responsibility to care andprovide for the females.
Tessa had come to them as a human andrefused to let the males provide for her. It’d caused severalarguments between her and Drake. In the end, Gunnar had kept hiskitchen until the elders joined them. He’d respectfully opened hishome to Martha, and during the first few weeks while they set uphousing for the new clan members, she’d traded days with him. Themoment they’d moved into the temporary housing, and then theirpermanent home, Gunnar had been back at the stove, preparing themeals for his family.
“This is so good,” Anna Claire hummed as shedug into her plate.
When Gunnar turned around, he saw his familygathered around the table. He’d been so deep in thought, he hadn’theard them come in.
