After several hours of being poked and prodded, Alina was more than ready to be released from the Shifter clinic. New York was full of amazing facilities for the supernatural, and she was curious about them all.
But of this place? Not so much. She blinked slowly, coming out of the drug induced sleep and her inner she-Cat snarled angrily. She did not like being under the influence of anything, truth be told.
“Hey, easy,” a soothing voice crooned from beside her.
She knew that voice. Turning her head to the side, her gaze rested on a face more beloved than he would ever know. Eduardo was there, patched up now, judging from the bandages wrapped around his body.
“Were you shot, too?” she asked, worry filling her.
“Yeah, but it’s no big deal. It isn’t the first time,” he told her, brushing her hair back from her face with gentle strokes.
“Eddie, I thought he was going to—”
“Shhh, it’s alright now. I got you,” he murmured, kissing her head, and gathering her in his powerful arms.
Alina allowed herself a moment to simply rest in the security of Eddie’s warmth. She loved him so much and was so very tired of this push and pull they were stuck in.
“It’s all going to be okay,” he told her, and she sighed as he rocked her gently.
Alina wished with all her heart that he was telling the truth. That Eddie was finally ready to accept her love for what it was. She needed him. The fact she had marked him, and he had not returned the claiming bite, weighed heavily on her soul. Her Tigress was forlorn, thinking her mate did not want her.
But he came for us, she reminded the Cat.
He did not give up. Now we must wait for him to decide. Even if that means we must part.
“I want to go home,” she said, closing her eyes as she came to that hard decision.
Giving him the space he needed was going to be difficult, she knew. Alina’s heart constricted, and she bit back tears. She loved him. That said everything, didn’t it? But in loving him, she would have to set him free. Even if it killed her.
“Alright. Let me get the nurse,” Eddie said, kissing her forehead.
She pasted a polite smile on her face when he returned. Already dressed and packed with the few belongings she had, he shook his head as he walked in the room.
“Why didn’t you wait? I would have helped you,” he told her, taking her bag as the nurse followed him inside with a wheelchair.
“I don’t need that,” Alina grumbled, but she sat down anyway.
“It’s procedure,” the nurse said, wheeling her out.
“I have the car waiting for us in front,” Eddie told her as she signed the release forms.
She made to stand, but he was already there, lifting her up in his big, strong arms. Fuck. He was making it so difficult. Her Tigress growled mournfully, the beast not wanting to let him go. But what choice did she have?
“Are you hungry?” he asked, but Alina shook her head.
A few more attempts at small talk later, and she simply closed her eyes, feigning sleep. There was no way she could get through this if he kept being so nice to her. But Eddie was kind.
Sure, he could be gruff and blustery, but the big Grizzly was the most caring man she had ever met. In Russia, she had mostly been around the males of her ballet company. Felines and Ursids were fundamentally different creatures.
As Shifters, those differences leaked over into basic personality traits and behaviors, such as how they treated their females. Eddie was far more courteous and had better manners towards women than any male feline she had ever seen.
But his kindness was not reserved just for her. Sure, Alina liked that he was so good to Yasmin, Mama, and the other females at the Club. But a small part of her wished there was something special just for her.
Eddie wanted her physically, sure. He had proved that when they had made love together. But most men liked sex. She’d bitten him. Claimed him. And he had remained unmoved to return the bite. Maybe the Fates had it wrong, she wondered, feeling her heart breaking.
“We’re here,” Eddie whispered, concern lacing his voice.
He had pulled into the driveway, and Alina frowned as she noted her brother’s car was missing. Where was her family? She had been counting on them to act as a buffer.
Dammit. Before Eddie could move around the car to get her door, she opened it. There was no way she could handle him touching her. Not now, when her heart felt as fragile as spun glass.
“Alina!” he called her name, and she took off.
Running as fast as she could while injured, with tears blurring her vision, Alina gasped at the pain lancing through her. She did not even make it to the door before he caught her.
“What happened? What’s wrong? Alina, talk to me,” he begged, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her tight to his body.
“Please, it hurts,” she whispered, sobbing openly now.
“What hurts? Do you need to go back to the hospital?” he asked, panic lacing his voice.
“No,” she shook her head, pushing against his chest.
Eddie stopped walking, letting her slide down his body, but he did not release his hold on her waist.
“Alina, please. Tell me what is wrong?”
“First, um, thank you for rescuing me. It seems you are always doing that,” she said, with no small amount of self-deprecation.
Shrugging, she took a step back, and he dropped his arms. Fuck. It was cold without him. They were in the yard behind Konstantin’s compound, halfway between the main house and the guest one. Snow covered the landscape, making it appear as if it were dipped in frosting.
So pretty, she thought absently.
“Alina?”
“I am trying to be noble. I know you have had a difficult time accepting the Fates decision to throw us together. I am sorry I am not what you wanted as a mate, and I know I bit you without your permission. I am sorry, Eduardo, on both accounts.”
“Alina, what are you saying?” he asked, his voice cracking.
“You never wanted this. You never wanted me. It was obvious from the beginning, but I was stubborn and forced your hand. I am so sorry, Eddie.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me anymore?” he choked out.
“I will always want you, moy bogatyr, but I love you too much to keep you where you do not want to be. I just want you to be happy,” she whispered, her heart breaking.
“Thank the gods,” he growled, pulling her to him, and wrapping her tight in his arms. “Because I am only happy with you, mi fiera. I told you already, I love you. I fucked up, Alina. Hesitated when I should have fucking pounced, and I made you doubt me. I am so damn sorry. Please give me a chance to make it up to you, baby,” he begged.
“What are you saying?” Alina asked, gazing at him through tear-rimmed lashes.
“I love you. I want you. be mine. Mate,” he growled, eyes bleeding black with his Bear.
“Are you sure?” she asked, not daring to hope.
“Fuck yes, I am sure. Be mine, baby. Say yes.”
“YES!”