interference.”
“So that’s what Hunter sacrificed his life for?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, he died a hero.”
“Yes he did.”
Dylan was silent for a moment, mulling over his friend’s death. It reminded him of something else. A much more pressing matter.
“But your father, on the other hand. He was murdered. He deserves justice.”
“Yes, he does. I’m going to make Bishop pay for what he did.”
Dylan nodded. “Not just you. I’m going to help. You have my word on that.”
Aurora squeezed him tightly. “Thank you, Dylan. I feel so much better knowing that you’re in my corner.”
“So all this started because Bishop wanted you for his mate?”
“Yes. He thinks if I’m his mate, he’ll have a stronger claim to be leader of the Stone Bears. He wanted it so bad he was willing to force me into becoming his mate.”
A feeling of intense jealousy flooded through Dylan. A low, threatening growl rumbled in his chest. The thought of another man laying his hands on Aurora made him want to murder somebody. The destruction of the trees outside Dylan’s home would be nothing compared to what Dylan would do to any man who tried to hurt Aurora.
“He’ll pay for that. Trust me. But let me get this straight. Is that all it takes to be leader of your clan? To marry into the alpha line?”
“That’s basically how it works for the Stone Bears. At some point, I guess my ancestors thought they were more civilized. They figured it was a less bloody way to find a new leader.”
“So there’s no such thing as a challenge? No alphas ever try to fight it out?”
“Technically, anyone can challenge the alpha. But at the end of the day, if you don’t have the support of the people in the clan, it doesn’t matter. No one will follow you. I know it’s weird but that’s just the way it is.”
Dylan was quiet for second, trying to figure out how to bring up this next point. It was risky. He didn’t know if Aurora would agree to it, but it made perfect sense to Dylan. Hopefully it made sense to her as well.
“So, the way I see it, if Bishop is after you so he can take over as alpha by becoming your mate, we just need to find you another mate.”
Aurora stiffened against him, her body very still. Then she lifted herself up so she could look Dylan straight in the eyes.
“What are you saying, Dylan?”
“I’m saying, I want you to be my mate.”
Chapter 9
Rory’s mind reeled at Dylan’s suggestion. There was no doubt that she loved him. She had always loved him. Still, this was a big step.
In some ways, becoming mates was a lot like marriage, but it was also a lot more than that.
Taking a mate created a bond between two shifters. It was a bond that lasted for life. There was no divorce, no breaking up, and no separating without an incredible amount of pain.
Despite the gravity of Dylan’s question, Rory’s first reaction was to say yes. Of course it was. She loved this man and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Still, there was a nagging doubt shouting at her to slow down.
Dylan himself wasn’t the problem. The problem was the way he asked.
“Dylan, I don’t know if I can say yes.”
The light in Dylan’s eyes dimmed, and Rory could almost see his heart crumbling to pieces inside his chest.
“Why not? You don’t love me?”
Rory put his hand on his chest to soothe him, and she felt the pounding of his heart in her fingertips.
“It’s not that. I love you Dylan. Of course I do.”
“And I love you.”
Rory nodded. “I know you do. But if we’re going to take that next step, I have to know that we’re doing it because that’s what we want to do.”
“Why else would I be asking you? Of course I want to do it.”
“Right, but are you asking me now because that’s what you want, or are you asking me because it will
“So that’s what Hunter sacrificed his life for?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, he died a hero.”
“Yes he did.”
Dylan was silent for a moment, mulling over his friend’s death. It reminded him of something else. A much more pressing matter.
“But your father, on the other hand. He was murdered. He deserves justice.”
“Yes, he does. I’m going to make Bishop pay for what he did.”
Dylan nodded. “Not just you. I’m going to help. You have my word on that.”
Aurora squeezed him tightly. “Thank you, Dylan. I feel so much better knowing that you’re in my corner.”
“So all this started because Bishop wanted you for his mate?”
“Yes. He thinks if I’m his mate, he’ll have a stronger claim to be leader of the Stone Bears. He wanted it so bad he was willing to force me into becoming his mate.”
A feeling of intense jealousy flooded through Dylan. A low, threatening growl rumbled in his chest. The thought of another man laying his hands on Aurora made him want to murder somebody. The destruction of the trees outside Dylan’s home would be nothing compared to what Dylan would do to any man who tried to hurt Aurora.
“He’ll pay for that. Trust me. But let me get this straight. Is that all it takes to be leader of your clan? To marry into the alpha line?”
“That’s basically how it works for the Stone Bears. At some point, I guess my ancestors thought they were more civilized. They figured it was a less bloody way to find a new leader.”
“So there’s no such thing as a challenge? No alphas ever try to fight it out?”
“Technically, anyone can challenge the alpha. But at the end of the day, if you don’t have the support of the people in the clan, it doesn’t matter. No one will follow you. I know it’s weird but that’s just the way it is.”
Dylan was quiet for second, trying to figure out how to bring up this next point. It was risky. He didn’t know if Aurora would agree to it, but it made perfect sense to Dylan. Hopefully it made sense to her as well.
“So, the way I see it, if Bishop is after you so he can take over as alpha by becoming your mate, we just need to find you another mate.”
Aurora stiffened against him, her body very still. Then she lifted herself up so she could look Dylan straight in the eyes.
“What are you saying, Dylan?”
“I’m saying, I want you to be my mate.”
Chapter 9
Rory’s mind reeled at Dylan’s suggestion. There was no doubt that she loved him. She had always loved him. Still, this was a big step.
In some ways, becoming mates was a lot like marriage, but it was also a lot more than that.
Taking a mate created a bond between two shifters. It was a bond that lasted for life. There was no divorce, no breaking up, and no separating without an incredible amount of pain.
Despite the gravity of Dylan’s question, Rory’s first reaction was to say yes. Of course it was. She loved this man and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Still, there was a nagging doubt shouting at her to slow down.
Dylan himself wasn’t the problem. The problem was the way he asked.
“Dylan, I don’t know if I can say yes.”
The light in Dylan’s eyes dimmed, and Rory could almost see his heart crumbling to pieces inside his chest.
“Why not? You don’t love me?”
Rory put his hand on his chest to soothe him, and she felt the pounding of his heart in her fingertips.
“It’s not that. I love you Dylan. Of course I do.”
“And I love you.”
Rory nodded. “I know you do. But if we’re going to take that next step, I have to know that we’re doing it because that’s what we want to do.”
“Why else would I be asking you? Of course I want to do it.”
“Right, but are you asking me now because that’s what you want, or are you asking me because it will
Similar Books
