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“I don’t want you to give up who you are.

All I want you to do is to allow me into your life — the part nobody else even knows exists.

You don’t include anybody else in your private private-life.

Sure, you have family. But they only know what they need to know.

The rest you keep to yourself. You operate on a need to know basis.

If nobody needs to know, they don’t. Right? ”

Hellen flashed a brief smile. “More or less.”

“Here’s the thing… I need to know. I need to know what you’re thinking.

I need to know what you’re planning. I need to know what you’re feeling.

I need to know what you want. I need to know what you don’t want.

AT ALL TIMES. And you’re going to know the same about me.

Because the only way two stubborn, extremely independent individuals can make mate status work for them is to celebrate the things they respect and admire about each other.

And you know why we respect and admire those things about each other?

Because we see the very same traits we value about ourselves, within each other.

I don’t want to take away anything about you.

I just want to be a part of it. I’m not changing anything about me, either. I just want you to be a part of it.”

“I’d like that,” Hellen said.

“I would, too. But I don’t want to do this again. Do you realize if I hadn’t been in the water behind you, that guard would have taken you out. He was right on top of you.”

“I got too cocky.”

“Yeah, you did. If you’d trusted me with your plans, I could have helped you plan better. I knew the layout of their operation. I eventually planned to go back at some point and take it out myself. And if you were hellbent on going now, I could have at least helped you.”

“You’d have followed.”

“Damn right I’d have followed. Just like you would follow me if you knew I was headed off to try to face something of that level alone.

Thing is, though, we’re both strong. We’re both capable.

We’d have probably come out on top. But you have to trust me, Hellen.

I can’t put in the time and energy to build a life with someone who’s not willing to do the same. ”

“I do. And I’m learning to trust more.”

Lucien simply watched her.

“Do you trust me?”

“Lord help me, I do. There’s nobody else I’d want on my side in any circumstance.”

Hellen smiled, though her eyes still glistened with recent tears. “Really?”

“Really.”

“You’re not trying to get me out of your system?”

“No. Turns out that would be worse than death.”

“I thought you’d left for good.”

“I just needed to cool down. If we’d spoken when I was as angry as I was, it would not have turned out well. I’m not sure you know, but I have an anger issue. With age I’ve learned to lay low until I calm down rather than killing things — if at all possible.”

Hellen laughed.

Lucien smiled, loving the sound her laughter. When she stopped, he looked directly into her eyes. “Are we okay? Can we make this work?”

“Until death?”

He shook his head slowly. “Longer.”

Hellen nodded, and her tears started again. Then she was rushing toward him, her arms open wide.

He opened his arms and caught her, holding her tight, kissing her face as she clung to him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. Just no more secrets. No more manipulation. No more half-truths.”

“I promise.”

“I love you, Hell.”

“I love you, too, Lucien.”

“Never thought I’d be mated to a she-Wolf, strong as I am.”

Hellen pulled her head back enough to look into his eyes. “I’m not sorry, though. I don’t think anybody else could handle me.”

“Same, cher. Nobody else could handle me. We’re stuck with each other, I think.”

“I do need to know one thing, though.”

“What’s that?”

“Why’d you leave your clothes in the water?”

“When I came back up on shore they weren’t there. I was anxious to get back here and make things right so I just remained in my Gator form and hiked over here.”

“Who’s going to clean all this mud up?” Hellen asked.

“You are,” Lucien said.

“I don’t think so,” Hellen said.

“Oh, come on. You can do it. I’m tired. I was out all night,” Lucien said.

“So was I. Didn’t get home until dawn then sat on the sofa staring into the yard until Emmalyn called.”

“Why were you staring into the yard?”

“Wondering how I’d find the strength to function without you. I need you, Lucien.”

He grinned, his beauty reminding her once again how lucky she was to be his mate. “I need you too, my Hell.”

“Want to go take a shower?” she asked.

“More than anything,” he said, setting her on her feet.

“Hey, you didn’t wince when you caught me. You’re feeling better,” she said, taking his hand and leading him to their bathroom.

“Yeah. I shifted last night to get in the water and it wasn’t as bad as it has been, then right outside the door there, there was hardly any pain at all.”

“I’m glad. I’ve been worried about you.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big strong Gator,” he teased, leaning toward her to nip her shoulder.

Hellen squealed and bolted ahead of him.

“Oh, now I love a chase. You better mean it when you run from me,” he said, his voice deep and low.

She turned around and her Wolf’s eyes shone through hers, thoroughly enticed by his words.

“I’ll count to five.”

“Really?” she asked.

“One…”

Hellen’s eyes widened and she darted past him, back down the hallway and out through the back sliding glass door. Just as she got onto the back porch she heard his voice call out clearly.

“Two!”

She shifted as she ran, leaving her clothes on the ground where they landed as she ran out of them.

“Three!” Lucien called, stepping out onto the cement.

He strode across to the clothes she’d left behind and grinned to himself as he picked them up and held them to his nose, inhaling the heady scent of his aroused mate.

“Damn, I love this woman,” he said, inhaling her scent once more before he dropped her clothes, lifted his nose into the air and promptly picked up her trail.

“I’m coming, cher!”