Hope

I spent the night pacing the length of the small room I was given in the packhouse. I went over every scenario, every possibility, and what way I was going to handle each one. One thing I knew for certain, I had to talk to Connor again before we left. If my assumption was correct, my whole life was going to change today. I’m not sure what time I finally dozed off, but when my eyes fluttered open, I shot up quickly out of bed. The sun was barely up, and my phone registered that it was barely eight in the morning. I put on clothes and exited my room quietly. I wandered around the pack house until I found the kitchen. There was a sweet looking older lady preparing breakfast for the pack and I cleared my throat to get her attention.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where Connor O’Leary’s room is?” She smiled sweetly and pointed up the stairs.

“First one at the top of the second floor. Easier for him to find, since he can’t see you know. But I doubt he will be up yet. He has a hard time knowing night from day and his sleep schedule is off because of it.”

I thanked her and headed up the stairs. I would just have to wake him up. If I was right, I’m sure he would want to know sooner rather than later. I came up to the door and stood for a moment before knocking. My breathing increased and I could feel my heart rate speed up. I took a deep breath and knocked a few times.

“Connor? It’s Hope. Kade’s sister.” I heard some movement in the room and a groan. I knocked again, harder this time. Patience has never been my virtue.

“Connor?”

“Hope?”

“Yeah it’s me.”

“Is there something wrong? I can hear your heartbeat all the way in here.” I rolled my eyes and huffed. Now I could add embarrassment to my insane anxiety.

“Nothing’s wrong. Can I come in?”

“Yeah, just a second, let me put on a shirt.”

I mumbled ‘I’d rather you didn’t’ under my breath but, judging by the chuckle on the other side of the door he heard it regardless.

“Well, come in then.”

I swung the door open and stepped in a foot and his scent hit me instantly. It swirled around me and enveloped my body like a soft blanket. I inhaled deeply to analyze the aroma. He smelled like a crackling campfire and freshly cut oak. My heartrate began to slow, and the tension began to flow from my body. I felt a click in my brain and my wolf howled in delight.

‘Mate, mate, mate’ She kept repeating to me.

“I knew it.” I whispered. It took longer for my scent to register with Connor, and I could tell the moment it did by his sharp intake of breath and the way his body, previously loose with sleep jerked to attention. His whole body snapped to face me, and he growled ‘Mate’ in my direction. I closed the door and walked up to him slowly, thanking the Moon Goddess he decided to leave his shirt off. The tattoo I had gotten a glimpse of last night was now on full display. He had an entire forest tattooed on his body, large trees with what looked to be a river flowing in between them. A wolf was sprawled over his chest and looked to be howling at a full moon that was placed just over his heart. I shifted my attention back to him where he was now sitting on the edge of the bed with his feet on the floor. He lifted one arm and held his hand out for me to take.

“Come here, sweetheart.” I took his hand and gasped at the delicious shockwaves traveling up my arm. He pulled me closer to him, so I was standing in between his legs. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I ran my fingers through his hair, noticing for the first time the bits of red streaked through the dark brown, and smiled when he growled in delight. He leaned his forehead down, so it was resting on my belly and wrapped his arms around my back.

“We should talk about this.” He whispered with his head still on my stomach. I nearly didn’t hear him. I was too focused on the sparks tingling through my arms as I caressed his back and continued my gentle assault through his hair.

“Ok. What should we talk about?” He took a deep breath and I watched as his shoulders slumped.

“I’ll understand if you reject me. No one wants a defective mate.” My heart nearly stopped from the pain of only imagining doing what he was saying. I couldn’t imagine the gut-wrenching pain I would feel if I actually rejected him. I put my arms around his neck and tightened while my eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m not going to reject you Connor. You’re meant for me. I don’t question the Goddess. She knew exactly what she was doing when she chose us to be together.” He chuckled sadly and tilted his head up to me. Even though he couldn’t see me, I still looked in his eyes, wondering if he would think I’m as beautiful as I think he is.

“Maybe she didn’t plan on me losing my sight. I can’t offer you anything. You’d be better off with someone else.” I shook my head, hoping he could somehow sense the movement.

“No.” I growled and climbed onto the bed, one knee on either side of him and held him close. I heard his heartrate speed up and his breathing increased. He was terrified of being rejected; I could feel it. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. We sat like this for a few minutes until Connor calmed himself with my scent. He began stroking my neck with his nose and leaving gentle kisses all along my jaw, causing goosebumps to stand up on my arms and my body to involuntarily shudder.

“What’s your middle name, Connor?” He got an adorably confused look on his face.

“Patrick. Why?” I leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear.

“I, Hope Natalie Danes, accept you, Connor Patrick O’Leary as my mate.” I felt a shiver go through his body and he tightened his arms around me.

“Hope….” I frowned at him.

“Do you not want me, Connor?” I knew this was a low blow, but I was past caring. All I wanted was this man.

“Fuck! Of course, I want you sweetheart. It’s just not fair to you. You deserve better than this, Hope. You deserve everything. Are you sure about this?” I put my cheek against his while I nodded, that way I knew he could feel the motion.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. We will figure everything else out later. Do you accept me, Connor?” He took a deep breath and rested his chin on my shoulder and answered, his voice thick with emotion.

“I, Connor Patrick O’Leary, accept you, Hope Natalie Danes, as my mate.” The sparks between us multiplied and I took immense pleasure in holding him. I rubbed my hands up and down his bare back and nuzzled my face in his neck.

“Why didn’t we feel the mate bond last night at the bar?” He asked me.

“Because today is my birthday.” He gave me a breathtaking smile and chuckled lightly.

“Well, happy birthday sweetheart.” I smiled back and laid my head on his shoulder and murmured back.

“I got exactly what I wanted.” I was just about to say something else when Kade opened our mind link.

‘There is a kid with a broken arm at the infirmary. They were wondering if you could come heal her quick before we head home.’

I couldn’t believe I forgot about my brother!

“Damn it. Kade just mind linked me, I have to go take care of something. I won’t be gone long. Please stay here and wait for me to come back ok? Please?” I implored him, holding his face in both of my hands.

“Of course, Hope. I’d wait for you forever.” I smiled, chuckled and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Well, aren’t you a charmer.” He laughed and rubbed his nose up against mine.

“Oh, you have no idea, sweetheart. Now go so you can hurry back to me.”

I reluctantly climbed off of him and bounded down the stairs to where my brother was waiting for me at the front door. I smiled at him and headed towards the pack hospital.

“Why are you so cheery this morning, little sister?” I gave him a mischievous smile.

“Because I found my mate!”