Page 88 of Protected Promise

I leaned away from him grinning, but still I rolled my eyes. “I suppose I will just have to try and endure it then. You should probably say it again just to make sure I heard you right.”

He chuckled. “I love you.” He kissed my forehead. “I love you.” He kissed my left cheek. “I love you.” He kissed my right cheek. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” He planted sloppy kisses all over my face until I was giggling and pushing him away.

“Fine, I think I got it now.” I ran my hand through his hair overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness. If this wasn’t what love was supposed to feel like, then I was truly clueless in the love department. What I knew for certain was that I had scored big time in the mate department and there was absolutely no one else I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “I love you, too, Landon.”

*****

As the next few days progressed, I was struggling to regain my strength. I was suffering from some mild convulsions and terrible migraines. My body ached all over and I had a tremble in my hands. I spent time in both my skin and my fur trying to recover, but I felt as if I were growing weaker by the day.

Even though I still wasn’t feeling great, I was going stir crazy from lying in bed. Landon had left to check on the Pack. I was told he stayed by my side the entire time I was down, only conducting minimal business from my bedside. Tobi had told me she was only allowed to stay with me a couple of times when he was needed elsewhere and even then, it was only briefly.

It warmed my heart to know how much he had cared and protected me during a time I was most vulnerable.

I’d certainly seen some of that first hand as he hovered over me ensuring I had the best care possible during my recovery.

Tobi rolled her eyes and groaned. “You look like a love sick puppy dog, it’s pathetic.”

I shrugged. “I can’t help it.”

“You almost died Kaitlyn. You shouldn’t be so happy.”

This time it was my turn to roll my eyes. “Jackson will be back soon,” I reassured her.

“I know, Monday cannot possibly come fast enough.”

“What’s Monday?” Landon asked as he walked in on our conversation.

“Jackson comes home,” I reminded him.

“Oh right. That’s why you’re moping around here?” He asked Tobi.

“Do you want me to take your mate away for a week so you can see how it feels?”

He chuckled. “Not a chance. I can’t stand to walk into the kitchen down the hall and get myself a cup of coffee, let alone an entire week.”

Alphas didn’t usually admit to their vulnerabilities like that. It worried me a little. What if someone came to challenge him too? What if they tried to use me to get to him? Was I weakening my mate?

“Whoa, gorgeous. What’s going on in that head of yours?” Landon said and Tobi turned to look at me too.

“Nothing,” I lied.

Tobi snorted. “Really? You know he can probably feel all your emotions by now which is why his warning alarm went off in the first place, but I don’t need to be bonded to you to know that was a complete lie.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Come on, out with it,” Tobi insisted.

I sighed. “I’m just worried that someone is going to try to challenge you too, and that they could use me to get to you. I make you weaker,” I said voicing my fears.

Tobi laughed. “No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do. You heard him just now.”

She considered it while Landon watched in utter confusion.

“What are you talking about?” he blurted out.

“No, she’s right. You were so protective of her while she was down. You didn’t even like me coming in here. Your attention was divided and your focus on her… as it should be,” she insisted.