Chapter 72 – Mate–1
–LIA’S POV–
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We spent the rest of the night arguing and laughing, simply enjoying each other’s company until I was too tired and wanted to sleep. It was a school night, after all. And I had to prepare myself to face Blake as well.
I lay awake in bed, tired but unable to fall asleep. Zane lay beside me, but I didn’t know if he knew I was awake. My body was extremely still, but my mind wouldn’t shut up.
I’d gotten so much new information tonight. There was so much to think about.
From everything Zane and Blake had told me before, it had seemed like werewolves had perfect relationships. They were created by the Goddess herself, so they had to be flawless.
But so were blood relations, and it was no secret that those were seldom perfect.
At the end of the day, everything came down to the kind of people tied in those bonds. Every man and woman—human or werewolf—was granted free will, and they could choose to do whatever they wanted with it.
“Is there something on your mind?” Zane finally asked, which meant he knew I was up.
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Chapter 72 – Mate–1
“How’d you know?”
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“Your heartbeat has been randomly fluctuating, and so had your breath. It’s obvious you aren’t asleep.”
“I could just be having a nightmare,” I pointed out.
“If you were, you wouldn’t have replied to my question.”
I smiled, opening my eyes and glancing at him. I turned towards him, pulling the blanket tighter against my body.
“All the things you’ve told me are running in my head,” I said honestly.
“I’m sorry,” Zane said, apologetic. “I didn’t mean to worry you by telling you all that.”
“You didn’t. I forced it out of you. And I’m not worried, just. thinking.”
“Stop thinking, love. None of it matters, I promise you. You’ve got a good mate. Hopefully, you will never feel the need to break our bond.”
I smiled. “I know that. But…” I trailed off, contemplating whether I wanted to say it or not.
“But?”
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Chapter 72 – Mate–1
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“Things go wrong sometimes, don’t they? It’s life, after all. It can’t be perfect.”
“That’s true. But even human couples stay together for life sometimes. For us, one is a werewolf feeling a supernatural
connection. I think I like our odds.”
I shivered. “I think I’m too young to make a life–long commitment at the moment.”
“And I think I’m too old to be playing games. I will marry you. one day, Lia Snow.”
I gasped. “You just… what was this? A reverse proposal? A statement? A declaration?”
“A declaration.” He nodded.
“You can’t just declare something like that. You need my
consent.”
“And I will have it.”
“You can’t know that,” I tried, but even I knew I sounded
ridiculous.
“But I do.” He shrugged. “Because I’m not gonna mess this up.”
“You shouldn’t be so overconfident,” I frowned, “it is bad luck.”
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Chapter 72 – Mate–1
“I write my own luck.”
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“That’s funny coming from a guy who gets told who to spend his life with.”
Zane narrowed his eyes with me. “Nice try, but you’ve almost accepted your fate too.”
“You wish. Don’t flatter yourself yel. You’re forgetting, I have two options even to my supposed fate.”
“Yeah, as if you’d choose him.”
“Anything could happen,” I teased.
“Go to sleep, Lia.”
I laughed. “Why? Am I getting on your nerves?”
“You’ll get on something else if you do not close your eyes this instant.”
“Okay, mom,” I muttered.
“I prefer ‘daddy”.”
“No, you don’t,” I replied, scrunching up my nose.
“Yeah, I don’t,” he admitted.
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Chapter 72–Matte–11
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Just like the previous day, Zane was gone when I woke up.
I quickly got dressed for suiul, had breakfast and left the house. But before I had tumed the corner, Zane’s car appeared beside me. He lowered his window.
“Get in.”
I frowned. “No. I can walk.”
“But you shouldn’t have to. Let me drive you to school, love.”
“I don’t… everyone will talk, Zane. I dont want so much
attention.”
Zane lowered his shades to narrow his eyes at me. “You don’t want Blake to see you came to school with me.“”
I sighed. “Maybe. Is that so wrong?”
“Yes, it is.” Zane replied. “Why are you trying to hide our relationship from him?”
I took a deep breath. “Because I don’t know how he’ll redt.”
“He doesn’t have any right to after what he did, Lia. He ramnaway while you were in trouble.”
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“He only left because you showed up, Zane. I’m sure he knew that you and your pack could protect me better than he could.”
“You’re making excuses for him.”
“Maybe I am, alright? I can’t help it. He protected me when no one did, not even you.”
“I thought we were over that,” Zane said with a frown. “You still haven’t forgiven me and my friends? Your heart is so big for everybody else. Please forgive us too.”
“I have forgiven you, Zane. But I am asking you to understand. that I cannot completely stop caring for Blake either. He means. something to me, if not a lot. And I know he’s gonna get mad when he sees us together.”
“So? What can he do if he gets mad?”
“He might lash out,” I said.
“Are you afraid of that?” Zane said incredulously, now stepping out of the car. I sighed as he gently took my arms. “You do not have to be afraid of anything when I am with you, Lia. I won’t let him lay a finger on you.”
“I know,” I replied, looking into his eyes. “I am not afraid of getting hurt. Or of him hurting me. I don’t think he’d do that.”
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Chapter 722–Wate:1
“Then?”
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“I don’t want thedooff you to get into an unnecessary fight. I know how pissed off are at him at the moment. And seeing us together willakkd him lose his mind too. If anything goes wrong, if either of ougget hurt, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
Zane released a slow breathstaring at me.
“Alright. We can go separately. BI hope you know that he’ll find out about our relationship anyway. It’s all over you.”
“What’s all over me?”
“My scent.”
I frowned, smelling myself. “No, it isn’t.“”
“You’re human, love. You can’t tell. But werewolves can. He’s gonna know when he sees you.”
“Then I’ll handle him, alright? Promise me youwort interfere. Just stay out of it, and I’ll figure something out. Thassure I have am effect on him. I’ll be able to calm him down.“.“”
“I canilt promise anything, but I’ll try.”
“That’s enough for me,” I replied. “Thank you.”
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Zane leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “My stubborn little mate. See you at school.”
“Bye.” I smiled.
“Bye.”
