Page 22 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

C lever. Mira wagged her tail in Lita’s mind. Lita’s heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.

It’s not like I don’t want him to. My head’s just a mess right now. I just wish I could know—

You can. Ask. Him.

And just take everything he says as the truth?

Why not? Is everyone a liar until they prove themselves innocent? Is that the type of person you are? I prefer my instincts, and they tell me we can trust our mate.

I don’t know.

Lita, you are a young woman. Are you really going to deny even a kiss? And for that matter, you aren’t a child. Why can’t you have a relationship with him? You don’t have to accept his mark yet. What’s the problem?

The problem? She had gotten so used to the idea that no one would ever want her.

This was completely foreign to her and if she became intimate with him, she was going to fall harder than she already had.

It would make the rejection that much harder.

And that was the center of it all. Deep down, she felt like she was going to be rejected.

That this moment of him wanting her was fleeting.

She didn’t want to be alone anymore. She didn’t want to be lonely.

The walls she’d built around herself were a dumb mental game of fake protection.

She’d lost. No matter what happened now, she was going to feel the loss of her mate.

She noticed his silver eyes soften. They were no longer dark and full of lust. He reached his hand out to cup her face.

“Lita, I’m sorry. I would never force or hurt you. Please forgive me.”

She was crying. What was wrong with her?

She never cried, and now it was as if Niagara Falls had been released.

She closed her eyes and stepped into his chest. His hands moved to wrap around her naked body, holding her flush against his torso.

She leaned her face against him, breathing in his scent, trying to relax herself.

She felt his arms rub over her bare back, something that must have been difficult for an unmated male.

He was holding his naked fated mate, but right now, he was only interested in comforting her.

He thought he’d upset her … but it wasn’t him.

“It isn’t you. It’s me. I’m sorry, Asher. I-I-I’m scared.” She hated saying it out loud. Growing up, she never realized how much her pack had messed with her head. Now it was clear just how much.

“Lita, I’m here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“What if you aren’t?! What if this can’t work? I don’t want to accept this. I’m afraid the bond is going to destroy me. Will I be able to believe in this? And … will I be able to recover if you reject me? I don’t want—”

“Lita!” This time his voice was stern. “I’m not going to reject you.

I don’t care if you’re part frog or troll.

Whatever you are is mine.” He grabbed her chin and tilted it up, staring into her wet eyes.

“Lita, don’t you think I feel the same thing?

If you don’t accept our bond, what will I do?

If you reject me, how can I lead my pack?

Don’t you know that I’m in love with you?

This bond is more than just fate … I feel things with you that I never knew were possible.

I can sometimes feel your emotions inside me.

I can’t explain it or understand how, but I do.

This connection is bigger than a normal bond.

I’m certain of it. But Lita … I love you as a person.

There isn’t anything about you that I dislike …

well, maybe that you don’t think you’re worthy of love.

But I’m going to fix that. You’re going to know how much I adore you.

Every day together, my personal quest will be to show you my love.

And when the sun goes down, I’ll pleasure you until you collapse from exhaustion. ”

“You will care.”

“I didn’t care about Mira’s size, did I? I want you to trust me, and I will prove it to you with my actions.”

“What if I’m dangerous to the pack?” She felt tears streaming down her face as he brushed them away with his thumb, a small smile resting on his lips.

“I’d choose you over the pack. If you’re a werewolf eater, then I’ll take you somewhere in solitude. Where you can feast on me.” He smirked, wiggling his brows.

“My whole pack is afraid of me. Shouldn’t that tell you something?”

“That isn’t your pack anymore. Black Ice is your pack.

” He raised his brows at her. She needed to get in the mindset that this was home.

Most mates naturally accepted their new home and life, but Lita was struggling with it.

Honestly, it pissed him off. Her father was the alpha, and he should have demanded better.

The shit that happened to her never would have happened in his pack.

“And what it tells me is that your pack was given too many liberties. Your father should have demanded their respect.”

“My father doesn’t lead that way. And I don’t want their respect that way either.” She stuck her chin up with determination.

“Baby, we’re animals. The weak-minded need a strong leader to guide them. Otherwise, they fall apart and let fear take over. I promise you, their fear of you was misplaced. And as the alpha, it was your father’s job to guide them and show them their fear was misplaced.”

“What if I told you I was part witch?”

“Then I’d tell you I have a broomstick for you to ride.” He smirked. “Are you?”

“I’m not sure, but I think so. And my pack hated me because of it.” He squeezed her tighter, squishing her breasts against his chest.

“The Red Grove Pack are known to be … purists. They think if you take anything other than a wolf as your mate, it’s an abomination.

It’s ridiculous. No one thinks that way.

There is no room for that mindset.” He smiled as he stared into her wet eyes.

“Was that it? Your big secret?” He watched as she nodded her head.

“I want you. I’m not going to reject you.

You’d have to tell me you’re a man … but even then, I don’t think I’d reject you.

I told you, you’re it for me. I accept our bond. Will you?”

She reached up, grabbing her necklace. “This is the reason I don’t heal as fast. It suppresses my magic.

I don’t know how I’ll react when I take it off.

Tonight, after the party, I’ll remove it.

Removing this necklace means I can never go back to the Red Grove Pack.

It will lose its power.” She wet her lips as she furrowed her brows.

There was no way of knowing if he wanted her for her or if he still loved Felicia, but if he still wanted her even with her secret, then she didn’t want to fight the bond.

She hated to admit it, but she needed this man.

“When I remove my necklace tonight … if you still want me, then I will accept your mark and be your luna.”

“Then tonight, you’ll be moving your things to my room.”

His body was tense against hers, his chest heaving and the heat radiating off of him.

She could feel his hard arousal pressing against her through the fabric of his pants, a clear indication of his desire for her.

She could see the struggle in his eyes as he restrained himself, wanting to give in but trying to hold back out of respect for her boundaries.

“Lita—I’d better go. We have a big evening ahead of us. ”

He started to step away, but she placed her hand on his arm.

She quickly rose up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his.

Soft electric tingles erupted from the touch, shooting down her spine.

The kiss was soft and sweet. She lowered herself and gave him a small smile.

“Thank you, Asher … for not pressuring me and for not making me feel bad about myself.”

“Thank you for giving me a chance. I will get to spend my entire life loving you … thank you for that gift. Kristen will bring in the dress you chose last night. It will be on the bed when you come out of the shower. We have a decent drive ahead of us, so we’ll be leaving in just a couple of hours.

” He kissed the top of her head, turning around toward the door.

She stood there, watching him as he left the room.

Her mind was swimming with emotions and thoughts.

Was he too good to be true? Was it okay to be happy?

She had found her mate, and he wanted her.

He knew her secret and didn’t care. She was going to have a real family.

If he did have feelings for Felicia, then maybe they weren’t strong.

He said he loved her, and she was going to try to believe that.

Even if he wanted her for the strength of the pack …

as long as love was there too, it was fine.

She felt the tears begin to fall again, and this time she let them flow freely. All the pain and hurt from her past was flowing out. They were healing tears, releasing the pain to embrace her new future … to embrace love.