Chapter 18 #2
Ripplan's eyes never left Arlo. "That true?"
"She's confused."
"I asked you a question." Ripplan's voice dropped even lower. "Were you trying to force her to leave?"
Arlo straightened, trying to look confident, trying to look like he wasn't terrified. "Look, I don't know what she's told you, but Tammy and I have a relationship. A history. This doesn't concern you."
"She's my mate." Ripplan took another step forward. "That makes it very much my concern."
I felt something warm and bright explode in my chest at those words. My mate.
Arlo laughed, a nervous, brittle sound. "Your mate? What the hell does that even mean? You think because you're some... some Orc that you can just claim her?"
"I can." Ripplan was close enough now that Arlo had to tilt his head back to look at him. "And I have. She's mine. And if you ever touch her again, if you come near her, if you so much as think about her..." He leaned down, his face inches from Arlo's. "I will kill you. Do you understand me?"
"You can't..." Arlo's voice was shaking now. "You can't just threaten me."
"It's not a threat." Ripplan's smile was all teeth and tusks. "It's a promise. If I ever see you in Colorado again, if I hear that you've contacted her, if you do anything to make her feel unsafe..." He paused. "I will hunt you down, and I will end you. Slowly."
The color drained from Arlo's face.
"Now get the fuck out of my town."
Arlo tried to hold his ground. Tried to maintain some shred of dignity. I saw him open his mouth, saw him try to think of something to say.
Ripplan growled.
It was a sound I had never heard from him before, low and rumbling, rising from deep in his chest. It wasn't human. It was primal, predatory, the sound of something ancient and dangerous that had no place in a civilized world.
The growl reverberated through the alley and seemed to vibrate in my bones.
Then a dark stain spread across the front of Arlo's khakis.
He had pissed himself.
Arlo looked down, saw what had happened, and something broke in him. He made a strangled sound, half sob and half whimper, and ran.
He stumbled past Ripplan, nearly falling, and sprinted toward his rental car. The engine started with a roar. Tires squealed as he peeled out of the parking spot and disappeared down the street.
Silence fell over the alley.
I stood there, my heart racing and my hands shaking slightly with leftover adrenaline.
Ripplan turned to me. The rage was gone from his face, replaced by concern. "Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm..." I took a breath. "I'm okay."
He crossed the distance between us in two strides and pulled me into his arms. I felt his heart hammering against my cheek, felt the tension in his muscles, the way his hands shook slightly as they pressed against my back.
"I'm okay," I said again, softer this time.
"When Walker told me he was here..." Ripplan's voice was rough. "When I realized you were alone..."
"You found me." I pulled back just enough to look up at him. "You found me, and I'm safe."
He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones. "I will always find you. Always keep you safe."
"You called me your mate," I said quietly, hope warring with trepidation in my chest.
His eyes searched mine. "Yes."
"You said it twice." I reminded him. "Twice."
"I did." A corner of his mouth twitched like he was debating a smile.
"Is that..." I swallowed. "Is that what I am? What we are?"
"Yes." No hesitation. No doubt. "You're my mate, Tammy. You have been since..." He paused. "Since I woke up with your taste on my tongue and knew I'd never want anyone else."
My throat tightened. "You never said anything."
"I'm saying it now." His forehead pressed against mine. "You're mine. I'm yours. That's how it works." He pulled back slightly. "Do you have a problem with that?"
I started laughing. I couldn't help it. The absurdity of the question, the intensity of the past few minutes, the relief flooding through me, it all bubbled up and spilled out.
"A problem?" I shook my head. "Not at all."
"Good." He kissed me then, hard and possessive and claiming. I felt it all the way to my toes.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathless.
"I love you," I said. The words came out easily, naturally, like they had been waiting for this exact moment. I gestured vaguely. "I know it's not the romantic fantasy I used to imagine. No candlelit dinners or grand gestures or anything like that, but..."
"Tammy."
"But it's perfect. You're perfect. This is perfect. And I just..."
He kissed me again, softer this time. "I love you too."
I felt tears prick my eyes. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He smiled, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his whole face. "Thought that was obvious."
"Sometimes a girl likes to hear it."
"Then I'll say it more." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I love you. You're my mate. And I'm never letting you go."
I leaned into him, breathing in his scent of leather and pine and something uniquely him. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."
We stood there in the alley for a long moment, just holding each other. The adrenaline was fading now, replaced by something warm and solid and real.
This wasn't the fairy tale I had imagined when I had driven to Colorado all those weeks ago. It wasn't the sweet, romantic courtship my friends had found with their Orc mates.
It was rougher. Fiercer. More complicated.
But it was ours.
And it was absolutely perfect.