Julian sighs, a feeling of unease coming through the mate bond. Shocked, I reach out to the bond in my mind to understand why I can sense his emotions so clearly when the answer hits me before Julian can tell me himself.
“You marked me?” I shout, only to end up coughing from my dry throat.
Julian is quick to help me, rubbing my back until I can catch my breath and handing me a filled glass of water that I sip slowly, the cool liquid soothing my sore throat. A nurse had come in when a monitor started beeping in alarm, worried that something might have happened to me in my sleep, only to be relieved to see that I was awake. After checking my vitals and handing me some cough medicine, she left my room to continue her work, having Julian promise to keep an eye on me.
“Why would you mark me?” I ask once we are alone, the room filled with uneasy silence.
“I had to, to save your life,” Julian answers, running a hand through his disheveled hair and keeping his gaze on his lap. “I didn’t want to do it without your consent, but the drugs in the bullet had already started wreaking havoc in your body, and Dr. Grace tried everything. Only marking you and being by your side while you healed would help you survive,” he continues.
Closing my eyes, I let his words sink in, considering the situation we are in. I know that Julian will be in my life no matter what because he is Saben’s father. I know that I am going to give him his second chance and slowly build the mate bond between us. Inever thought that before we could discuss how we would make it work with me being the alpha of Haven Trail, I would end up with his mark on my neck.
“I understand you did it to save my life, and I am grateful for that, but I am still mad you took away my ability to decide whether I wanted to be marked or not,” I manage to say through my growing irritation and frustration. Julian takes my hand in his, and I open my eyes to find his green gaze on me, searching my face with a sincere smile.
“If it makes you feel any better, Saben told me to do it to save you,” Julian says, his voice a soft whisper.
I groan, running my free hand across my face. My son was okay with his father marking me because it meant I would live. Now I couldn’t be mad at Julian.
“So I guess I am stuck with you,” I sigh, resigning myself to my fate.
“Trust me, Hannah, you were always going to be stuck with me whether I marked you two days ago or two years from now,” Julian states, a hint of possessiveness filling his voice. “I was an idiot to have let you go five years ago without listening to you. I am not making that mistake again and letting you go a second time. You can be mad at me, scream at me, or hit me, but you will always be mine,” he declares, his green eyes burning with desire, possessiveness, and love. “I can wait until you are ready to mark me. I’ll wait for your decision on what we are going to do with our two packs, but I will never let you go.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, and the heart monitor picks it up. Julian thankfully ignores it as a blush creeps along mycheeks, and I wonder just what the hell I am going to do. I can feel through the mate bond that Julian meant every word he said, but what made me happy was knowing he wasn’t going to force me back to the royal pack. He respects me as an alpha, a leader of my own pack, and would wait for me to decide what to do as such. Tears well in my eyes and spill over, falling down my cheeks. His determined face morphs into a gentle smile as he wipes away my tears with a soft touch.
“Right now, you need to heal and get better. Grace says that having me here helps speed up the healing process, so I am not leaving your side tonight.” He sighs, standing from his chair.
Curious to see what he is about to do, Julian scoops me into his arms slowly so as not to jolt my body too hard before climbing into the hospital bed with me in his lap.
“What are you doing?” I ask, feeling the heat of his body wrap around mine, warming me.
“Cuddling with my mate to help her heal,” he answers, kissing the top of my head.
Sighing, I relax into his body, feeling the bond hum with happiness between us. I know Julian must feel everything I feel, from the uncertainty I have about being marked to the happiness of being held and accepted by him. I can sense his own happiness and relief that I am okay through the bond as well, but that’s it. I won’t be able to feel much more until I sink my teeth into his flesh and mark him as mine.
“How long have I been asleep?” I ask, feeling Julian run his fingers through my white hair.
“Two days,” he mutters with a yawn.
“Dr. Grace estimated you would be in a coma for seven days, but she doesn’t understand the healing power that comes with being mated to a royal wolf,” he continues, a hint of smugness in his voice.
I roll my eyes but don’t argue further, as Julian is right; being mated to a royal-blooded wolf means you become stronger, faster, and your abilities increase—including healing.
“Has Saben seen me in this state?” I continue to question, trying to fight the drowsiness caused by Julian’s warmth and his fingers running through my hair.
“He has. He curled up beside you last night to see if being near you would help heal you. I think it did, and it made him happy when I told him so.”
I smile at this, taking a deep breath and catching the small lingering scent of mango custard.
“He called me Papa.” The words are barely a whisper, but I hear them all the same. Shocked by this, I gently pull back to look up at Julian. His lips are set in a soft grin, and his head leans back against the pillows. I can tell just how happy those words make him, and I can’t help but feel happy as well. Saben accepted him as his father. Leaning back against Julian, I let out a soft sigh of relief and winced. I had moved around too much with my injuries and pushed myself too far.
“Why don’t you rest some more, Hannah? Curl up against me, and let’s take a nap together,” Julian suggests.
“Okay,” I whisper, content with this idea, and press myself closer to his body. His fingers continue to play with my hair, and other than the heart monitor beeping steadily, the room settles into a peaceful quiet.
65
Julian
Wrapping my arms around my sleeping Hannah, I take a deep breath and breathe in her scent. She is alive and safe. The hunters in Ottawa were wiped out, and the rogues and vampires were brought to safety. I know she is exhausted; I can sense it through the mate bond, and I am glad that she is getting her rest and focusing on healing.
