Page 127 of Ruthless Alpha Beast

“I like you,” I say.

She nudges me. “Hey, you’re not so bad yourself either, Jasper.”

I shake my head. “No, Tara. Ilikeyou. I really like you, like I’ve never liked anyone else before. Fuck, I mean, yeah, I love you, like an Alpha loves his wife, or a human loves another human. I want to be with you, actually, for real.”

I’m never tongue-tied. I’ve also never expressed how I feel with such transparency, such fumbling humanity like this—but when it comes to Tara, all bets are off.

She stares at me, wide-eyed, and in a rare moment… She’s speechless.

Her lips part, but no sound comes out. She’s breathing softly, looking at me in shock.

Suddenly, dread washes over me.

She might reject me. She might not be ready, or maybe she’s changed her mind. It’s been an intense night, and perhaps my timing could have been better.

But it had to be said.

I couldn’t keep it in any longer, especially not when nothing is guaranteed. Life is fragile.

And so even if she rejects me, pushes for the divorce, and decides to live with the witches or anywhere else, I’ll have to accept it.

All I want is for Tara to be happy. She deserves anything she wants.

“You really love me?” She whispers.

“Fuck, Tara. Maybe it doesn’t make sense, but I do.”

Her lips tremble into a small smile, and then she laughs—a small, shaky sound that breaks me.

“You idiot,” she says, her eyes glassy. “Why didn’t you tell me that sooner!”

I blink, “Why? Does it make you want to leave? I get it if it's uncomfortable for you.”

It’s like I’ve been ripped wide open; never have I been this vulnerable to anyone. I’m practically standing with my wolf tail between my legs.

“Jasper, do you think that I nearly got myself killedtwice, for fun? I... of course, I love you too.”

My chest feels like it might burst, relief, joy, and disbelief flooding through me all at once.

Before I can second-guess it, I reach for her hand.

“Will you stay?”

The sunlight spills gold across her face, and I savor this moment as best I can.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” she says. “I’m still the Alpha’s wife.”

I kiss her cheek. “That’s right. Say it again.”

Epilogue - Tara

Two months later

“Well, look at this,” Danielle grins, “All the Alphas, happy and wived up.”

We sit together on the grass, me, Jasper, Sawyer, Lacey, Ellis, and Danielle.

“They’ve all been wived up for a while now, Danielle,” Lacey sighs, tilting her head back to gaze up at the pink afternoon sky.