own heart,” he said as he slid her back into her seat and strapped her in like a two year old. Ashley wasn’t offended by the action. In fact, she was quite the opposite.
10
Despite the knowledge that Bane was indeed after h er, Ashley was surprisingly alright. The tension of not knowing was gone. Bryce was holding her hand as they drove the feel of him sent rivulets of pure energy coursing through her. Mate fever was definitely not mythical. It was real.
“Uncle Drew said he’d have security in place. Do you think that Dan and Julian will know I’m there? It’s the first place they will look.”
“ Let them look. No wife of mine is going to have to live in fear. If I have to eliminate the entire Bane pack, I will do it.”
“ Your wife, huh?”
“ I’m sorry in getting ahead of myself.”
“ It’s alright. I kind of like the sound of it.”
“ A true mating is forever. You do know that, right?” Ashley felt him squeeze her hand tighter.
“I do know that , Bryce. Relax. We will be fine.”
“ You’re the one who was hurt, and you’re telling me to relax?”
“ I’m better now that I’ve shifted.”
“Ash , what tests did they have to run?”
Ashley thought for a moment. She could make something up. The truth would just hurt him or, even worse, drive him away. She didn’t want to start a lifetime with this man with any secrets. So taking a deep breath she said.” They did a pregnancy test.”
“ Shit,” Bryce barked. “He...”
“I don’t know , Bryce. I was so out of it, the pain the fear. I just don’t know.”
“ And the test?”
“ It was negative.”
“ Ashley, none of this was your fault. If you hadn’t killed him, I swear to you right now, I would. Any children you have will be mine. No one will ever hurt you that way again.”
Ashley’s eyes filled with tears. Had this been a male born to the Bane pack, she was sure that even with the mate fever he would have blamed her. Bryce Woodland was too good for her, and she vowed right then and there to make him never regret his kind words. She would be worthy of him, strong and supportive like her aunt and mother.
“ Thank you,” she squeaked as soon as she could talk.
“ So, about what I said before…”
“Which part?”
“The part about you being my wife. Are you up to being the Alpha’s wife when the time comes?”
“ I’m up for anything that keeps me with you.”
“ I won’t ask you to do more than you’re ready for,” Bryce said softly as they pulled into the compound. “If you need time, I’ll be there for you.”
The water works started again . Ashley couldn’t help it. This man was just too good to be true, and he was hers. “We’ll take it slow Bryce, but I’m not waiting. I want it all.”
“You have it. Let’s go in. I’m sure the family is worried.” Bryce came around the cab of the SUV and opened the door for Ashley. He wished he could lead her right to his room and lock the door. Helping her down, he looked at the woman that now meant everything to him. She looked beautiful, even with a tear stained face. Her eyes flashed an emotion he could only equate with love. The dull vacant look was almost gone. His girl was strong. Even after all she had been through, she was letting him in. “Are you okay?” he whispered as he took her hand and headed for the door.
“I’m fine , Bryce. A little overwhelmed, but fine.”
Ashley’s A unt Julie ran out as soon as she saw the truck pull in. It was clear that Ashley had been crying. It was also a shock to see her niece’s hand was being held by Bryce.
“Ashley , honey, are you alright?” she said rushing toward them.”
“ I’m alright, Auntie. Just worried.”
“Drew told me about your call . Come in and get settled,” she said putting her arm around her niece to lend support. “Bryce, your family is here. We are all in the great room. They would all like to hear
10
Despite the knowledge that Bane was indeed after h er, Ashley was surprisingly alright. The tension of not knowing was gone. Bryce was holding her hand as they drove the feel of him sent rivulets of pure energy coursing through her. Mate fever was definitely not mythical. It was real.
“Uncle Drew said he’d have security in place. Do you think that Dan and Julian will know I’m there? It’s the first place they will look.”
“ Let them look. No wife of mine is going to have to live in fear. If I have to eliminate the entire Bane pack, I will do it.”
“ Your wife, huh?”
“ I’m sorry in getting ahead of myself.”
“ It’s alright. I kind of like the sound of it.”
“ A true mating is forever. You do know that, right?” Ashley felt him squeeze her hand tighter.
“I do know that , Bryce. Relax. We will be fine.”
“ You’re the one who was hurt, and you’re telling me to relax?”
“ I’m better now that I’ve shifted.”
“Ash , what tests did they have to run?”
Ashley thought for a moment. She could make something up. The truth would just hurt him or, even worse, drive him away. She didn’t want to start a lifetime with this man with any secrets. So taking a deep breath she said.” They did a pregnancy test.”
“ Shit,” Bryce barked. “He...”
“I don’t know , Bryce. I was so out of it, the pain the fear. I just don’t know.”
“ And the test?”
“ It was negative.”
“ Ashley, none of this was your fault. If you hadn’t killed him, I swear to you right now, I would. Any children you have will be mine. No one will ever hurt you that way again.”
Ashley’s eyes filled with tears. Had this been a male born to the Bane pack, she was sure that even with the mate fever he would have blamed her. Bryce Woodland was too good for her, and she vowed right then and there to make him never regret his kind words. She would be worthy of him, strong and supportive like her aunt and mother.
“ Thank you,” she squeaked as soon as she could talk.
“ So, about what I said before…”
“Which part?”
“The part about you being my wife. Are you up to being the Alpha’s wife when the time comes?”
“ I’m up for anything that keeps me with you.”
“ I won’t ask you to do more than you’re ready for,” Bryce said softly as they pulled into the compound. “If you need time, I’ll be there for you.”
The water works started again . Ashley couldn’t help it. This man was just too good to be true, and he was hers. “We’ll take it slow Bryce, but I’m not waiting. I want it all.”
“You have it. Let’s go in. I’m sure the family is worried.” Bryce came around the cab of the SUV and opened the door for Ashley. He wished he could lead her right to his room and lock the door. Helping her down, he looked at the woman that now meant everything to him. She looked beautiful, even with a tear stained face. Her eyes flashed an emotion he could only equate with love. The dull vacant look was almost gone. His girl was strong. Even after all she had been through, she was letting him in. “Are you okay?” he whispered as he took her hand and headed for the door.
“I’m fine , Bryce. A little overwhelmed, but fine.”
Ashley’s A unt Julie ran out as soon as she saw the truck pull in. It was clear that Ashley had been crying. It was also a shock to see her niece’s hand was being held by Bryce.
“Ashley , honey, are you alright?” she said rushing toward them.”
“ I’m alright, Auntie. Just worried.”
“Drew told me about your call . Come in and get settled,” she said putting her arm around her niece to lend support. “Bryce, your family is here. We are all in the great room. They would all like to hear
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