I found myself walking about in the garden the next day. Xavier had advised me against for we both knew that Calum wouldn't like me being out of the house. Frankly, I didn't care much about what he thought anymore. I was no longer afraid of his wrath anymore. He could yell and curse at me but I would continue to do what I wanted.

I passed the alcove that once held a ladder Lucas used to help get me back in my room after we had snuck out together. I peered inside to see if the ladder was still there. It wasn't. I let out a sigh of relief. I'm not sure I could've slept at night knowing Lucas had an accessible way of getting to my room.

I stopped by the lilacs at the far end of space. They were by far my favorite area of the garden. They had the nicest smell and were beautiful.

The sound of footsteps drew near, telling me that someone else was in the garden with me. I didn't have to turn to know who it was though. My senses told me that it was my mate.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked.

"Wherever my mate is, that's where I want to be."

I scoffed at his cheesy line. "That would be flattering if you didn't just say it to keep me from being mad at you."

"I meant it, Morgan. Just because I can't be with you twenty-four seven doesn't mean that I don't want to be with you."

"Well it seems that during the rare occasions I actually get to see you, it always ends in you yelling at me." Finally, I turned to face him. The thing I saw was the guilt harbored in his brown eyes. The next was a rose in his hand. He must've picked up while he was coming towards me.

"I'm sorry about the things I said the other day. Nothing that's happened is your fault. I only said those things because I snapped under all the stress this situation has caused me. You have no idea how worried I've been."

"I have no idea? Lucas wants to kill you and take me as his own mate but you don't think I'm worried about that at all?"

He looked at me confused, as if he had never considered this possibility. "But I've been taking care of it so that you don't have to worry."

I reached out to take his hand and led him to sit with me on a nearby bench.

"I know you've been doing your best to protect me but Lucas is still out there. Of course I'm worried because there's still a chance he could hurt you. Not to mention, it worries me how much you're overworking yourself. We should be partners, sharing this burden together."

"I had no idea you felt this way. I still think you should let me handle this for you."

"No. Someday I'm going be luna and we'll need work together. You can't do everything for me." I told him.

"You're right. I just want this whole thing to be over. You mean so much to me, Morgan. I'm afraid that somehow he'll get to you and I can't lose you. I just can't."

"I can't lose you either."

"I love you."

His words took me aback. It wasn't something I expected him to say, but I hadn't realized how much I wanted him to say those words until he said them.

"You do?"

"I've loved you for so long, I just haven't had the courage to say the words. I was scared you'd reject me because I obviously haven't been a great mate." He handed me the rose that he had held for so long.

"No, but you're doing the best you can and I love you for it."

His serious expression turned into one of joy at hearing me say those words. He leaned closer until his lips met mine.

"I can't ever be with Lucas." There was a growl in response to hearing that name. "I want to be yours."

"You are mine." Calum moved his mouth to my mark.

"No. I want to be yours in every way. Make me yours."

He pulled back after understanding what I was truly pleading for. "You want to complete the mating bond? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Together we stood and Calum placed his hand at the small of my back to lead me back to the house. My nerves tingled with anticipation of what was to come once we reached the bedroom.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Calum placed his hand on the doorknob.

Instead of replying, I answered by kissing him. My mouth never parted from his until my back hit the bed. I watched wordlessly as he pulled his shirt over his head. Seeing his sculpted chest in front of me only made me more eager to see what the rest of him looked like bare.

He helped me into a sitting position so that he could remove my shirt. I gave a slight pout as I was hoping his jeans would've been the next thing to go. As he reached behind me, his expert fingers unhooked the clasp of my bra. He'd never seen me so uncovered before. It made me wonder what he thought of the sight in front of him.

"You are so beautiful." His words were so in tune with my thoughts he could've been a mind reader. My relief at his words were short lived as he pulled my jeans and panties down in one go.

It seemed unfair that I be fully naked while he still hid some parts of himself from me. Unwilling to wait for him, I undid the belt of his jeans. He sucked in a breath as my fingers brushed against his erection. Soon enough, he was as unclothed as I was and we were both hot with desire.

He gently pushed me further onto the bed. I laid on my back as a finger entered my slick folds.

"Oh baby, you're so wet for me already."

"I need you inside me."

He pulled out his finger and I groaned at the loss of contact. I wasn't disappointed for long as he reached into the nightstand to grab a condom.

"Let me." I ripped open the foil and slid the condom onto him.

He grew harder as my hand wrapped around his length. Once it was on, he wasted no more time to know me in the most intimate way. I gasped as he finally entered me fully.

We started out in a slow rhythm, each of us wanting to savor the feel of this moment. When the time for climax loomed near, our movements became frantic and hurried.

"Come for me, baby."

I did just as he commanded and he followed suit soon after. He held me in his arms as my mind still tried to comprehend all that I felt for this man.

Being with my mate in such a way was more than I had ever dreamed of. I knew neither of us were each other's firsts, but we would definitely be each other's lasts.