Accepting that, Roni didn’t struggle as Taryn did that weird healing thing—even though it freaked her out and fascinated her at the same time. As expected, Taryn’s legs gave out once she was done. Trey was there to catch her. Picking her up, he griped at her stubbornness as he began to leave the room. So she slapped him over the head.
Nick came over then, swallowing hard as he looked at Roni. “You risked your own life to keep Shaya safe. I don’t know whether to thank you or strangle you for risking yourself that way.”
Personally, Marcus was leaning toward the latter. He could understand Nick being torn, but the fact that she had risked her life wasn’t at all acceptable to Marcus, no matter who she had been trying to protect.
Nick took her hand in his. “Thank you. But make that the last time you ever do something like that.” Then he kissed her forehead. “We’ll leave you both to rest.” He ushered everyone out of the room.
Once the door closed behind them, Marcus nuzzled her. “Feel better?” He skimmed his hands over her, needing to touch her, to assure himself that she was alive.
Nodding, she cupped her throat. “It’s not hurting anymore. And the wooziness has gone.”
“Good.” Then he spanked her ass hard.
Jerking, she gasped. “Hey!”
“Don’t you ever, ever, do that again,” he growled. “Risking your life is not acceptable to me.”
A little startled by the fear emanating from him, she blinked. “I was protecting Shaya.”
He cupped her chin firmly, unable to keep his touch gentle while his emotions were so chaotic. “You almost died, Roni. I felt it happening, felt you slipping away. Do you have any idea how terrified I was?”
“I couldn’t let them have her.”
“And if I’d risked my life to save Taryn?”
She would have been furious and tempted to torture him, despite that she would have understood. “Point taken.”
“I understand that being an enforcer means doing what you have to do to protect your Alphas and your pack. I get that. But you’re mated now, which means they have to come second. That’s how it works.”
The hurt in his voice made her frown. “I wasn’t putting you second. But Shaya . . . It wasn’t about protecting my Alpha female, it was about protecting my pregnant sister-in-law and my niece or nephew. Shaya’s one of the very few people I care about. Besides, I knew you’d come. I was one hundred percent confident in you.”
Feeling her sincerity through the bond, he relaxed ever so slightly. His wolf curled back his upper lip, nowhere near placated. “Never again.” His hand slipped down to collar her neck. “I need you, sweetheart. Do you understand me? There’s no point in anything if I don’t have you.”
She rubbed her nose against his, the way he often did to her. “Never again.” His relief ran down the mating link. “Our bond’s fully formed now. When did that happen?”
“When I was resuscitating you.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I didn’t realize I was holding back. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I know.”
“I was scared of needing anyone, scared of having anyone need me.”
“I get it.”
“No, you don’t. You have no concept of how much I need you. It scares me.”
“Same here.” Needing someone went against every instinct she had developed, but Marcus was essential to her.
“Then don’t ever endanger your life like that again. You keep this ass safe for me.” He palmed it and gave it a light squeeze. “Okay?”
“Okay.” His mouth came down on hers, licking, nipping, and biting. Pulling back, he gave her one of those sensual smiles that did very interesting things to her body.
“I love you, Roni Axton.”
“And I love you, Marcus Fuller.” Watching as a familiar pained expression suddenly formed on his face, she said, “Seriously? Despite almost dying, you’re hungry?”
“I don’t know how to answer that question without irritating you.” His mate just rolled her eyes, making him smile again.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ONE MONTH LATER
Why do you hate me?” griped Marcus.
Roni barely resisted the urge to whack her mate over the head. “I just want a little taste.”
“So get your own.”
“You took the last slice.”
“There are other cakes.”
“But I don’t like them. I like chocolate cake.” When he just stared at her wearing a sulky expression, she sighed. “Let me put this another way. Do you enjoy sex?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll share with me, and you’ll like it.” She stabbed her spoon into the sponge cake and scooped out a piece.
If she’d been anyone else, he’d have gone for her throat. Hearing laughter, Marcus looked up as the newly mated Caleb and Kent dragged Gabe and Hope onto the makeshift dance floor where many were already dancing. Actually, Marcus wasn’t sure that what Rhett was doing could be described as dancing—he looked like he needed medical attention, which was most likely why all the enforcers stood to the side, watching in a kind of horrified fascination.
“I hadn’t expected Caleb and Kent to imprint.” Tonight was the couple’s mating ceremony, and all the Phoenix wolves had come to join the celebration, since Caleb was a childhood friend of Taryn’s.
Following his gaze, Roni nodded. “They look happy.” They were also trying to drag Ryan onto the dance floor. He stared at them until they stopped, which had all the other enforcers laughing. She had to admit that his stare was unsettling, but she happened to like the broody male and found him easy to be around. He spoke when he had something to say, which meant there was no small talk. He was very action-orientated and unafraid to get his hands dirty, which she could relate to.