"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grace," I said. For the first time in my entire life, I felt nervous.
"You're gonna be good to my daughter," the old man demanded, pinning me with his steely gaze. If he were a wolf, he definitely would have been intimidating.
"You don't need to worry, sir; she's my world. I would sacrifice my own life to make sure she was taken care of." I squeezed Calli's hand before bringing it to my lips. "She is my everything."
"That's how it should be. Our mates should be number one. Forever. You have my blessing. Not that you need it—a mating bond is stronger than anything else. But all I want is for my Calliope to be happy." He turned from me and stared at Calli. "You happy, baby?"
"I have never been happier. He's wonderful, Daddy."
Hearing her say those words made me feel like I could fly.
"I'm just going to give you two a moment; I'll be right back," I said, leaving the room to fix as much for my mate as I could.
Chapter 9
Callie
"Well, he seems much more pleasant compared to the rumors," my dad said, smiling at me.
I couldn't help but notice the new wrinkles that circled his withered face as he smiled. I hated seeing him so worn out; my father had been the strongest person I knew my whole life. Now he was lying in the hospital bed, so frail and small.
"You better not cry again. I'm going to be fine,"
"I know you will, Daddy," I lied. I didn't know anything, and it was driving me mad.
"Mr. Grace, we will be moving you to the executive suite," a nurse said while standing at the door.
"No, we can't afford that," my father protested.
"Yes, you can," Arkin said, following the nurse into the room.
"I can't let you do this," I argued..
Arkin took both of my hands in his, bending down so that he could stare me straight in the eyes.
"You're my mate. That means that everything I have is yours. I have the money, so now, so do you."
"Thank you," I said, realizing that this man wasn't a beast but a prince—my prince, riding to my rescue. Arkin was more than I could ever want in a mate, and I knew he would make me beyond happy. "I'm not sure how I could ever repay you."
"Be my wife," he exclaimed. "I wish I had a ring and had prepared some grand gesture, but I love you. I will be a good husband. I want you, the pups, the house…everything. I promise I will spend the rest of my life making you happy and comfortable. Any burden you have, I will take as my load. I've been alone for a long time. I thought it was fine, but then I saw you. I knew that wasn't true. You are bliss, my sweet beauty." The words flew out of him, and then he shocked me by getting down on one knee. "Marry me. Let me love you the way you deserve."
My eyes clouded with tears, and before I knew it, they spilled down my face. I dropped to the floor, not caring who could see or how odd we must have looked.
"Yes," I said a little louder than I was intending. "I would like nothing more. You've been my savior, and I'm honored that you want me to be your wife. I love you."
"Oh my, this has to be the sweetest thing I have ever seen," the nurse said, causing a rush of dread to spike in my skin. I’d forgotten that she was there, and this woman wasn't a shifter. "Oh, honey, don't worry. My husband is a bear." She winked at me, and the relief flooded in before we all laughed.
Arkin stood and pulled me with him before lifting me into his arms and twirling me around the room. His laughter was the most powerful and beautiful thing I had ever heard in my entire life. He bent his head, bringing his lips to my ear and whispered, “I love you.”
After we spent a few hours at the hospital, the nurse and doctor reassured me that my dad was going to be comfortable and taken care of, and Arkin and I went home. The drive was quiet, neither one of us talking much. We just held on to each other's hand and watched the trees rush by us. I knew that my father wasn’t going to get miraculously better, and it broke my heart. I was just grateful for Arkin and everything he had done. All I could hope for was that my father be comfortable for whatever time he had remaining.
“How about a run?” Arkin asked once he parked the car.
I turned my head so that I could gaze at him. He was such a handsome man, and every moment with him, I felt my love for him strengthen.
“Sure. Let me just go and put on my sneakers.”
“No, baby, let’s shift.”
“Okay,” I said, wanting to feel the wind in my fur. My rabbit had been feeling caged for too long.
We both got out of the car. We staked out clothing in neat piles and placed them in the cab of the truck. I turned and saw Arkin staring at me.
“What?”
“Can’t a man just admire his woman?”
“Admire away.” I laughed, opening my arms and spinning for him.
“I would bend you over the hood of the car and have my way with you right now, but I think the run is what you really need,” he said before he began to shift. Once he finished shifting, I was taken aback with how beautiful he was. Silver and white fur with a large red streak at the same side of his scar. It was fascinating to me that the scar had become a part of his wolf somehow in an absolutely beautiful way. I bent down and patted his head as he nuzzled into me and licked my nose.
“Okay, okay. Give me a minute,” I said before I shifted and we began to run, with him slowing his pace to keep up with mine. Running from the pain of the past and to the promise of the future. Together.
Epilogue
Arkin – 5 Years Later
"What about a run," Calli asked me as we watched our sons playing in the yard. Both boys started shifting on their fourth birthday, their wolf clawing to get out.
"I don't think you'd be able to keep up at the moment," I said, rubbing her large belly. She was seven months pregnant and thoroughly stir crazy.
"I can walk while you all run."
"Yes, baby, a wolf is going to leave his mate unprotected in the woods…" I rolled my eyes at her.
"Linus will be with me." She pointed at the old dog who now could barely move.
I barked out a laugh, my head falling back. "Beauty, Linus can't even defend himself."
She pouted, crossing her arms under her chest. My eyes lingered on her full and sexy breasts.
"You know," I said, nuzzling her neck, "I can think of other ways to get some exercise."
She started to giggle before climbing onto my lap. "It's a deal, once William and Robbie go to bed."
We sat there as she curled up comfortably in my lap.
"I wish my dad had met them," she said wistfully as she watched our boys. William had died a few months before the boys were born. It had been a hard time, and for a while, I’d been scared that the stress would harm her and the babies, but Calli had proved to me once again how powerful her inner strength was.
I squeezed her to me, knowing how much she missed her father and longing to numb that pain for her. I’d learned some things only healed with time, and every day the pain was dulled, replaced by new memories. "Me too, baby."