Page 14 (1/2)

"Hey, Teach"

"Zach!" She walked over to hug hi here?"

His expression was solemn "I need to talk to you"

Her sto to appear calht," he said

Annie kneho Mercy was, having met the sentinel at the picnic "About what?"

"You’re waiting for me to leave you"

The world fell out from under her feet She trembled, unable to move, as he closed the door and walked to her "I will never leave you, Annie"

Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he bent so his forehead pressed against hers "Not unless you ask me to"

He frowned "Actually, I won’t leave you then, either

Just so you know"

"Wh-what?"

"You’re my mate," he said simply "You’re in my blood, in my heart, in my soul To walk away from you would cut me to pieces"

The rooo, let her lean against her desk

"Mate?" she whispered

"Yes" His face grew bleak "It’s a lifeti, but I’ht about this--you’re not too keen on that, are you?"

She didn’t answer his question, her

"Are you sure that I’m?"

"Baby, I was sure the first day we ht tears to her ears, because he fit her, too

Perfectly "Zach, I" She blinked, trying to think past the rushing thunder of eht I’d marry," she admitted "But it’s not the commitment I have a problem with It’s what comes after" A confession made in a voice that threatened to break

"It’s this cold terror that the promise, the love, will one day turn into a trap"

"I know"

"She still waits," Annie found herself saying "For a Valentine, or a birthday present, or just a loving word

She still waits"

"Oh, sweetheart" He tried to co to think, to understand

"I could survive you leavingto ’see’bond would leave her with no way out It truly was forever

"That’s so you never have to fear," Zach said, the declaration resolute "It’s not possible for nore each other"

"But"

"No buts," he said, slashing out a hand "I will never stop seeing you, never stop loving you Mates can’t shut each other out"

Part of her wanted to grab that proo But another part of her, the part that had been trapped first by injury, then a mother’s fear, was hesitant Was she ready to take this chance on the faith of a ive up the freedoht a lifetime to attain? "I’m so afraid, Zach"

"Ah, Annie Don’t you know? My cat is devoted to you If you asked me to crawl, I’d crawl"

It shattered her, the way he’d just ripped open his heart and laid it at her feet Treainst his lips "I would never ask that"

"Neither would I" His lips ainst her touch "Trust me"