Chapter 91

Nathan POV

I stood in the conference room, watching as Claire dealt the final blow against her enemies.

The terms of surrender were simple:

Each leader present needed to agree to immediately end all communication with the rogues they hired to attack the Royal pack, and ambush the Royal Alpha.

They also needed to agree to being escorted individually back to their pack, where those packs would be informed of their crimes.

Leaving whatever justice the pack decided to hand out entirely in that pack’s hands.

The reactions in the room were strong, with most of the leaders jumping to their feet and making a break for the door.

Trying to run away like the cowards that they were.

But a mix of my own enforcers and Royal enforcers blocked their way, forcing them back inside.

And all the while Claire stood patiently, waiting for them to realize it was over.

They had lost.

And she had won.

Seeing her like that, surrounded by enemies but being so brave, forcing them to surrender, made me feel so proud of her.

This wasn’t the shy, timid Omega I’d met all those years ago.

This was a princess, a leader, doing what she had to do to protect her people.

And it ignited something inside of me.

Something that had been simmering hotter and hotter.

Love for my mate was one thing. I’d always felt that where Claire was concerned. She was my fated partner, and one who I would love until the day I died.

But this - this was a raging longing to hold her, to be near her, to keep her safe from harm.

Enemies, my wolf growled, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of protectiveness.

Protect our mate.

Breathing deep, I did my best to calm him.

Claire was safe, she was right in front of me.

No one was going to harm her.

They’d have to get through me first, if they even dared to try.

Still, it took everything I had to stand back and let Claire handle the terms of surrender.

While also marveling at how well she did it, laying out the terms firmly, staying calm when the group erupted into shouts and snarling threats.

“Omega bitch!” growled one Alpha. “Who do you think you are??”

“How dare you?!” cried a Luna. “We’ll have your head for this!”

But Claire just smiled coolly. “The only head you should be worrying about is your own, Luna Danelle.”

I’d known Claire for years, and I thought I knew the strength it took to raise a child, to be a nanny, and to have lived in our pack as a wolfless Omega, facing mistreatment on a daily basis.

And still, the strength it took to stand there and face the people who arranged for the attacks on her pack, and her father, impressed me incredibly.

This was more than a princess standing in front of me.

This was a Luna protecting her pack.

And I felt like a fool for never seeing it before.

Eventually, after the terms of surrender were at last agreed upon and everyone else left the room, Claire sagged back against her chair in relief.

“Oh my god, I thought that would go on forever,” she said, her voice muffled as she scrubbed her face with her hands.

Then she dropped them and sighed, closing her eyes. “But it’s over. It’s finally over. We did it.”

I shook my head, still nearly trembling with the protectiveness and pride swelling inside of me.

“You did it, Claire,” I said, my voice low and rough with emotion.

She opened her eyes and smiled over at me as I walked closer. Then jumped up out of her seat, straight into my arms.

“No, we did it! My people will finally have peace, and I couldn’t have done it without you.

“I mean it,” she said, pulling back enough to look up at me, her warm smile shining up at me. “Thank you, Nathan.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at her, happy to share this moment of celebration with her.

But my smile faded as we gazed into each other’s eyes. The moment of celebration became something else, something that deepened and grew in intensity.

Unable to stop myself, feeling drawn deeper and deeper into her eyes, I lowered my head until my mouth was just inches from hers.

I watched her eyes darken, heard her small shaky breath.

I waited for a long breathless moment, afraid she would draw away from me.

But she didn’t.

So I lowered my head those last few inches, and touched my lips to hers in a kiss as soft and light as whisper.

One of us trembled. I wasn’t sure who.

I sank deeper into the kiss, deeper into Claire, everything else in the room fading away until her smell, the feel of her in my arms, the taste of her lips was a raging flood in my system.

Yes, my wolf growled. At last. Our mate.

He all but howled with delight inside of me when Claire sighed softly and all but melted against me. She answered my kiss, taking it deeper, pulling me closer into her arms.

It lasted only a moment.

And yet, it also lasted for an eternity.

And then, just like that, it was over.

Claire pulled away, breaking the kiss, leaving my arms.

Leaving me feeling colder without her in them.

“I…We can’t…” hands shaking, Claire wrapped her arms around herself.

More than a little shaken myself, I stared at her dumbly while my wolf and my entire system struggled to regain its balance.

That kiss had communicated so much between us.

So why had she stopped? And why was she saying no?

“I don’t understand,” I said, taking a step toward her, my hands reaching for her again.

“I know you want to be with me,” I continued. “I know you felt what just happened between us. Be honest, Claire.”

She took a step back, shaking her head. “It’s true, I felt that. I felt it deeply, Nathan,” she said, staring up at me, her eyes full of sorrow and pain.

“But…this just isn’t the right time for us. I’m sorry. Truly, I am.”

Stunned, speechless, I watched helplessly as Claire, my love, my fated mate, walked away from me yet again.

While I could still feel the warm press of her lips against mine. While I could still smell her on my clothes.

I watched as she shouldered the command that had come to her when her father fell into a coma, issuing orders to the waiting group of enforcers.

She walked out of my arms and resumed the role of leader it seemed she’d been born to fulfill, organizing the confinement and transportation of her enemies back to their packs.

No, this wasn’t the shy, scared little wolfless I had fallen in love with all those years ago.

This wasn’t the timid Omega who avoided other people’s eyes and barely spoke above a whisper.

This was a woman who knew how to lead, knew how to be in charge, and knew how to get what she wanted.

And I was determined to win her back.

At any cost.