Chapter 34
Mate Bond Thingy
SOPHIE
Teddy’s marriage proposal far surpassed anything my younger self could have imagined when I was a lovesick teen crushing over one boy after another.
His words literally stole my breath away; I’ve never felt so cherished in all my life.
Even if I live to be as old and wrinkly as Granny Catbeam, I’ll never forget how my wounded werewolf poured out his heart and soul in front of my entire family.
I was so caught up in the moment that I neglected to give him my answer straightaway; Teddy’s brow furrowed, his posture stiffening as he waited for my reply. How could he have any doubts about my feelings for him?
Then I was crying and laughing as I told him yes! I scrambled around the table and carefully climbed into Teddy’s lap, ensuring I kissed away any concerns on his part. I was oblivious to the fact everyone was watching our drama play out until Olivia’s sweet voice grounded me once more.
When I reluctantly pulled back from Teddy’s warm lips, I held his face in my hands, watching as the golden flecks of his inner wolf flared across his deep blue irises.
His werewolf eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning into my soul and heating my blood until my face reddened, and my heart lit on fire.
In the span of a breath we were tethered, our mate bond sealed.
I am his… and he is mine. Teddy will protect me with his life, and I will do the same.
After my family leaves, with many hugs, congratulations, and a few pats on the back that cause Teddy to grimace in pain, we’re finally alone.
He takes my hand and leads me to the sagging brown sofa, where I nestle against his chest, thankful for my great-aunt Dragonfly, who managed to play matchmaker from beyond the grave.
Faerie aunties truly are a force to be reckoned with.
Teddy plays with a lock of my hair. “While you were in the kitchen washing up the dishes with your mom and Cassia, Nash offered me some shifts at the restaurant for the rest of the season.”
I chuckle. “Cassia and Mom probably need the extra help, given all the new customers you’ve attracted to the café.”
“What new customers?” he asks.
“Did you forget all those women giggling and batting their eyelashes at you?”
Teddy smirks. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
“Not at all. I merely want to fly into a murderous rage every time one of them flirts with you.”
We both laugh, and then Teddy cups my cheek with his injured hand. “You, and only you, are my mate, my hope, and my future. Don’t you realize there will never be anyone else but you?”
My heart drums harder than the surf pounding the shore during a tempest; how do I even respond to such a romantic declaration, except to say yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
As it turns out, Teddy doesn’t expect me to say anything at all.
He brushes his lips against mine, and then he kisses me, slowly and tenderly, until we’re both breathless.
Each day Teddy heals a bit more; by the end of the week his pain is mostly gone, and he no longer needs my help changing his dressings.
Even though I’m happy to have him stay in the cottage a little longer, Teddy insists on returning to his flat, probably because he wants to prove to my father he’s a man of his word—which makes me swoon for him even more.
By the end of the second week following his fight with Rafe, Teddy is back at work, splitting his time between shifts at the café and working as my kitchen helper at the bakery.
The plate glass window has been replaced, and we’re ramping up to reopen this weekend.
I’m teaching Teddy how to check my pastries and cookies for doneness, pulling them from the oven before they burn.
His favorite job is taste-testing everything I bake; so far he hasn’t found a dessert yet he doesn’t love.
But there’s one topic we both avoid. I can tell Teddy is still uneasy about Rafe; sometimes his sea-blue eyes narrow and lose their focus, as if he’s trying to sense his whereabouts.
Even Jake, with all his resources, has no idea where Rafe has gone.
Meanwhile, I refuse to let my own concerns spoil what Teddy and I are building together.
I’m finally in love with the right man, and I won’t let a creep like Rafaellus MacTire come between us.