All her life, Hope has been different. Her mother was captured by hunters who impregnated her then experimented on her while she was pregnant. It wasn’t until Hope shifted for the first time that she and others truly understood what the hunters had done. Hope is a true hybrid, embodying traits of both animals. Rather than having one dominant gene and one animal to shift into, Hope shifts into an animal that is part wolf and part bear. Because she’s different, Hope has always been bullied by other wolves.

Levi is the half-brother of Guardian Grace. He was a toddler when Grace confronted and killed their father in a battle of dominance. Thankfully, Grace and her mate, Eli, took Levi and his mother into their pack, where Levi has grown up.

Hope and Levi have naturally been drawn to each other as misfits within their pack. They’ve grown up as friends, but as they’ve gotten older, they’ve felt a different sort of relationship blossoming between them.

When Hope turns eighteen, she recognizes Levi as her mate. Levi is thrilled, having loved Hope for years. But Hope doesn’t feel worthy of Levi and refuses to accept him as her mate. He convinces her not to reject him, but when he pushes her too hard, Hope flees, leaving Levi destitute and desperate to find her.

Levi searches everywhere for Hope unable find her until help comes from an unexpected place. When he finally finds Hope again, can Levi convince her that she was meant for him? Will Hope be able to trust Levi with the secret that caused her to run in the first place? Can the two of them come together, two misfits, fitting together to make something perfect? Find out in this Guardians Spin-off.

Prologue: Hybrid

Hope

It's always exciting when a new Alpha takes over a pack. Nearly a year ago one of our allies, Alpha Richard, took over Shadow Falls pack from Alpha Liam. In a few months, Alpha Emerson will take over this pack, Safe Haven, from Alpha Eli and Guardian Grace. Then, about six months later, Alpha Cohen, another ally, will take over his pack, Canyon Ridge, from his father, Alpha Rik.

Alpha Eli and Guardian Grace have been wonderful as our leaders, but I know that Alpha Emerson is ready to take over his position as Alpha of the pack. He is a stoic Alpha, always ready to take on the responsibilities that the pack requires as their Alpha. He doesn’t laugh as much as Alpha Richard or Alpha Cohen, but I know that he will be an incredible Alpha to our pack and continue the legacy that his parents started.

Our three packs are not only connected by borders, but we’re also connected by the Guardians who live in each of the packs. Luna Cara was the first Guardian to be born of two Guardians. Luna Angel and Luna Grace are Guardians who have wolves that were blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

The Guardian line flows through the female line. Guardians are the strongest, most powerful wolves in any pack. They make their mates stronger, which is why they were forced into mate bonds with their Alphas for centuries. The generation before me was the first generation where Guardians found their fated mates and in creating true mate bonds, the Guardian line has begun to pass from the mothers to their daughters.

Alpha Eli and Luna Grace have three children, Emlyn, Emerson, and Riley. Both Emlyn and Riley are Guardians, and I’d be surprised if they weren’t mated to the Alphas in our allied packs. While the male children of the Guardians don’t have the strength and gifts of their mothers and sisters, they are stronger than most Alphas. Even though they aren’t stronger than the Guardians, it makes sense that a strong woman would need a strong man as her mate.

I know all about being a strong woman. Before I was conceived, my mother was captured by hunters and scientists who wanted to find ways to destroy the werewolf population. My mother was experimented on, impregnated through in vitro fertilization with an unknown male's sperm. Then, they experimented on her while she was pregnant with me. The result is that I’m a true hybrid. Unlike other hybrid shifters who have a dominant gene and develop into only one type of hybrid, I am both. We didn’t know what I was until I turned ten and had my first shift. It was then that we realized that I am part wolf and part bear. I am unique, which is to say, I am a freak. There is no one like me in the world because people like me aren’t created in nature, we’re only created in laboratories.

When my mother escaped from the scientists' laboratory, she found my step-father, a wolfless Alpha named Carlos who was the Beta of Safe Haven pack. He immediately recognized my mother as his mate. When she accepted him, he took me in as his own. He didn’t care that I wasn't his biological child or that I was created in a laboratory.

When I shifted for the first time and began training, everyone realized very quickly that I was stronger than most wolves. Most of the pack members shied away from me, not comfortable with how different I am from other wolves. At school, I was frequently bullied, but never in front of the Guardians. They do not tolerate bullying of me or anyone. If anyone in our packs is caught bullying, they are disciplined or ejected from the pack. However, that didn’t stop other packs’ members from bullying me.

My step-father, the only father I’ve ever known, may not have a wolf, but he’s one of the strongest warriors in our pack, which is why Alpha Eli made him his Beta. He trained with me from an early age, helping me to learn restraint in fighting so I didn’t accidentally kill my opponent. He taught me how to effectively throw a punch if I actually DID want to kill my opponent. By the time I was in my teens, the only people who could or would spar with me were the ranked members in the packs, the Alphas, the Guardians, and my only true friend, Levi.

Levi is Guardian Grace’s half-brother. When Grace didn’t get her wolf as a child, her father banished her. Unwilling to let her young daughter leave the pack alone, Grace’s mother left with her, protecting her. However, her father ended up taking another mate, even though he never ended the mate bond with Grace’s mother. That relationship resulted in two things: Levi, and Grace’s mother’s death.

Levi was meant to be the Alpha of his father’s pack, until the day that Grace arrived and challenged their father, defeating him in a battle of strength. She gave the pack the option of joining her pack with Alpha Eli or going rogue. Thankfully, Levi’s mother had asked to join their pack.

He and I have grown up together, both of us misfits in our own way. He’s a strong Alpha, strong enough to be able to fight against me. He’s also kind and understanding enough that when I’m bullied, he not only stands up for me, but he’s there for me. He’s held me when I’ve cried and wiped the tears that no one else has seen.

I’ve been in love with Levi since I was a little girl. He’s the only one, other than my family and the children of the Guardians who truly accepts me for who I am.

However, I know that Levi isn’t for me. Even if the Moon Goddess were to put us together as two misfits, I could never chain him to someone like me. He’s an Alpha. He deserves to live his life and to have pups, pups that aren’t mutant children like the ones that I’m sure I would breed. No one knows what would happen if I were to have pups with a wolf, or children with a human, but I know I don’t want to find out. I don’t want my children to suffer the way I’ve suffered in my life, being bullied for being different.

And so, even though my birthday is coming up, even though Levi has already told me that he would love nothing more than to find out that I’m his mate, I already know that I can’t accept him.

He deserves so much more than someone like me.

: Birthday

Hope

Most wolves can’t wait for their eighteenth birthday. It’s the day when they can finally smell their mate, find the other half of their soul and become one.

I have no such expectations. I’ve been dreading my eighteenth birthday since I had my first shift at ten.

I’m not like the other wolves I live with. Being a true hybrid, I’m as much a bear as I am a wolf. That means I stand out like a sore thumb. While I work out harder than most wolves in any of our allied packs, my body is thicker and my muscles are larger than normal she-wolves. Most of them are tall and slender, and look like runway models with muscles. I, however, look like an Ultimate Fighting Champion, someone who could cage fight and be the last woman standing. My muscles are so large, I could almost pass for a man. I’ve been told my legs look like tree trunks, they’re so large. I’ve been told my arms look like legs attached in the wrong spot. Those would be the words of my bullies.

But they aren’t wrong. So no, I’m not at all interested in turning eighteen and potentially finding someone who calls me ‘mate’ only for them to turn around and reject me.

My biggest fear, though, is that my mate will be Levi, the only person outside of my family that I really love. He’s an Alpha male, a born leader and protector, and he’s also my best friend.

“Hope, it will okay. No matter what happens, you know we love you,” my mother says.

I do know that my family loves me. Carlos, my adopted father, has always loved me as if I was his own. Sometimes I wonder if he loves me so fiercely just so I know how much I’m loved. My sister, Faith, has always lived with me, so for her, I’m just Hope. But for almost everyone else, I’m the freak.

“I know, Mom,” I say.

Thankfully, my family has always accepted the bear side of me. Where wolves love nothing more than being part of a pack and spending time together, bears are loners. More often than not, I’d rather be by myself than with the pack or a group of people. For my birthday, my family knew I wouldn’t want the big parties that most wolves want, so they’re taking me away for the weekend. For the first time in my life, I’m going to see the ocean. Part of me is terrified and part of me is excited. I think it’s the bear that’s excited. Bears like water more than wolves.

However, before we leave, Alpha Eli and Luna Grace made sure to come see me and wish me a happy birthday. Since Levi is Grace’s half-brother, she probably knows more about me than most people. She’s a wonderful Luna and her name fits her perfectly. The woman is grace personified. Alpha Eli isn’t like most Alphas. He’s quiet and reserved in a way that most wolves aren’t. My bear likes that about him and unlike many people who find him a bit overbearing, I find it comfortable to be in his presence. The only thing we don’t agree on is the sprites.

He can’t stand the sprites. Sprites are the equivalent of fairies, the good kind, but with an internal light that makes them look like they are shining from within. Their unfiltered chatter makes Alpha Eli crazy. Me, on the other hand, I love their pure spirit. More than once, they’ve found me in the forest crying over something a bully said or something someone said without thinking that was inadvertently cruel. Every time they find me, they snuggle their tiny bodies against mine, giving me comfort and letting me know I’m not alone. Since there’s not a mean bone in any sprite’s body, I accept their touch and affection and ignore their strange way of talking like they all share one mind and finish each other’s sentences.

Since my father is Alpha Eli’s Beta, they knew where we were going this weekend, so their gift to me was an upgraded room in our hotel, one that will overlook the ocean and have more space.

“Thank you so much, Luna Grace,” I say when she hugs me.

“You’re so welcome, sweetheart. I know you don’t like parties, but we’ll miss celebrating your birthday with you.”

“I’m sure she’ll be glad to get away from the constant chaos of the pack, Grace,” Alpha Eli says. “Have a good time, Hope. Enjoy your time away. I live for the day when I get to duck out of here for the weekend,” he whispers conspiratorially. Since we’re all shifters, everyone can hear him and since Alpha Emerson’s birthday is only a few months away, that ‘day’ will be here before he knows it.

Still, he grins at me like we’re sharing a secret joke. All the Guardians, their mates, and their children are wonderful to me. Our pack and our allied packs, The Shadow Falls Pack and The Canyon Ridge Pack, have never tolerated bullying of me or anyone. Our pack is called Safe Haven for a reason and that’s what it’s always been for me, a safe haven. It was school where I was bullied. That and any time one of the packs hosted an important event where other packs were invited, like Alpha Richard’s Alpha ceremony.

“Have a wonderful weekend. Take lots of pictures,” Luna Grace says.

“We will, don’t worry,” my father says.

I’m sad and a little disappointed when Levi doesn’t come to wish me happy birthday before I leave. One of the reasons I wanted to be away from the pack is that I’m terrified of finding my mate and having everyone watch as I’m rejected. The worst possible scenario would be if Levi is my mate and he rejected me. I’d lose the only friend I’ve ever had along with the only man I’ve ever loved.

Maybe it’s better that he stayed away.

We pack our things and head out of the pack. As my sister chatters with my parents, I stare out the window, watching as the scenery changes. The forest becomes thinner as we make our way to the coast. The trees begin to change, losing the look that I’m accustomed to and becoming different, but just as beautiful.

Then dad rolls down the window.

“WHOA!” Faith says. “What is that smell?”

“That is the salty scent of the ocean,” dad says, looking at me in the rearview mirror and winking at me. “What do you think, Hope?”

“I like it,” I say. The saltwater smells as much like home as the forest that surrounds our pack does.

After my first shift, mom and dad talked to me about getting my DNA done to see what kind of bear I was. It’s possible that my biological father was an Alpha bear, but my mother was mostly concerned about being able to raise me in an environment where I would feel comfortable. She didn’t need to worry, both bears and wolves love the forest, but the DNA tests were interesting and that’s what sparked their suggestion to come to the ocean this weekend.

My bear is a polar bear, a bear that loves the water, a bear that can swim for miles, a bear that lives near the ocean.

When we arrive at the hotel, I feel drawn to the water. I can barely wait to get checked in before we all get changed and go down to the beach.

“Hope, be careful. The ocean isn’t like the rivers back home. It can have much stronger currents.”

“Amber, she’s part bear, a bear that is used to being in the water. Let her stretch her legs. Let her see how her bear responds,” my father says. He’s always the voice of reason when my mother tries to be too protective of me.

“I’ll be okay, mom,” I say, practically desperate to get in the water.

As soon as I dive under the water, blocking out the rest of the world, I feel at peace. The water against my body feels right, like I was made to be here just as much as I was made to be in the forest.

When I come back up to the surface, I can see my mother and father looking anxious.

“I’m fine!” I say, before diving back under the waves and swimming like I was made for this. I guess I was.

It’s hours later when my mother and father call me to get out of the water.

“Hope! We’re going to be late for our dinner reservation. Come on, we have to go get ready,” Mom says.

I slowly make my way out of the ocean. When I look, my fingers are wrinkled from being in the water too long.

“Don’t worry, kiddo. We’ll come back tomorrow. We have all day,” Dad says.

“Thanks Dad,” I say as we walk back inside.

The suite Alpha and Luna gifted me is huge, so there is plenty of room for all of us to shower. I put on a pantsuit and meet my family in the living room of the suite.

“Are we ready?” Dad asks.

“Let’s do it!” I say.

We’re having dinner in the hotel restaurant tonight, so we go downstairs and let them know we’re here for our reservation. Since there are five of us, we’re seated at a table that seats six.

The waiter comes over and asks who is having the birthday. My family all points at me, making me grin. I can relax here, since I don’t have to worry about anyone teasing me or rejecting me.

My parents have ordered a bottle of wine and the rest of us have ordered sodas, when I smell him. I’d know his scent anywhere.

I look up and see him standing across the restaurant with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Where Luna Grace’s scent is cherry blossoms, Levi’s is cherrywood. It’s a stronger, more masculine scent compared to his half-sister’s, and I’ve always loved the way he smells.

“What …?”

I look at my parents and based on the smile on their faces, I know they planned this.

“He’s your best friend, sweetheart,” Mom says. “He wanted to be here to celebrate with you.”

Levi walks across the room, his eyes never leaving mine. I stand, unable to stay seated in his presence.

“Happy Birthday, Hope,” he says, handing me the flowers.

“Levi, what are you doing here?” I ask.

“You didn’t think I was going to let you have your most important birthday without me, did you?”

Levi is always so confident, so self-assured. It’s the Alpha in him. But at the moment, I can tell he’s worried that I’ll send him away, that I’ll tell him I don’t want him here.

“I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for the flowers,” I say, taking the bouquet from him.

“You’re welcome,” he says, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek.

Damn, he smells even better than normal. And that terrifies me.

Qadira, my beast, begins a rumbling sound in my chest. Levi smiles, knowing that it’s her version of a purr. She is VERY happy he’s here. She adores Levi and his wolf, Malcolm.

“Happy Birthday to you too, Qadira,” Levi says, his voice deepening as Malcolm pushes forward.

“Will you join us for dinner?” I ask him.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

: Arrival

Levi

“You’re letting Hope’s birthday go by without being with her?” my sister Grace asks me.

“Do you not know me at all, Grace?” I ask.

“They left an hour ago,” she says.

“I had to wait to get her present,” I say, lifting up the bag from the jeweler where I had her necklace made.

“Do I get to see it?” she asks.

I pull the box out of the bag and open it.

“Oh, Levi. It’s beautiful and perfect for Hope.”

“I think so. I hope she likes it.”

“She’ll love it. She’d love anything coming from you. What time are you leaving?” she asks.

I look at my watch. “I told Beta Carlos that I’d meet them at the restaurant. It’s at the hotel, so that will be easy. Dinner is at six, which gives me time to shower, change, pack, and still stop for flowers on my way.”

“Good luck, Levi,” she says, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “If things go the way you want them to, even if she doesn’t feel worthy of being mated to you, don’t let her reject you. She doesn’t have to accept you right away, it may take her time to understand that the Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, but as long as she doesn’t reject you, I think she’ll come around.”

My sister and Aunt Angel have the only two wolves, probably the last two wolves ever, who will be blessed by the Moon Goddess herself with a Guardian spirit. It makes them special, stronger, more powerful than normal wolves, and very often, they seem to see or know things that others don’t.

“Do you know something?” I ask her, watching her closely.

“I know Hope and I know you, my brother. Personally, I don’t think there is anyone else in this world who would be a better mate to Hope than you. I know how much you love her. I know you don’t care that she’s a hybrid. Just remember that she may need some time to accept that you are the most perfect man for her. If, of course, I’m right about you being her mate.”

“Well, her scent has certainly gotten stronger lately. I need to get going. Thanks again, Grace.”

“Anytime.”

I shower and pack, then begin making my way to the coastline. Part of the reason that Betas Carlos and Amber brought Hope to the beach was because of her scent. Yes, she has the scent of white spruce trees, a lovely, fresh, foresty scent. But she also smells like the ocean which we assume comes from her polar bear side. She smells like a combination of the ocean and the forest. I find her scent utterly intoxicating. I’ve always enjoyed her scent, but two years ago when I turned eighteen, her scent intensified and Malcolm started acting more possessive of Hope and Qadira, her wolf/bear hybrid. It was my first clue that she and I were mates. Since then, her scent has only become more tantalizing and mouth-watering to me and I have to catch myself so I don’t begin nuzzling her when we’re together. I don’t want to give her any reason to push me away.

I smile as I drive. I can’t wait to hear all about her first day at the beach. I hope that her bear enjoyed the salt water. Hopefully, she’ll let me stay so I can spend the day with her and her family tomorrow.

I stop near the hotel and pick up a bouquet of flowers. My girl isn’t a typical girl, so I don’t get roses. Instead, I get a bouquet that has all different flowers mixed into it.

When I get to the hotel, I mind link Beta Carlos, who lets me know they are already seated in the restaurant. I leave my things, including her necklace in the car and head straight to the restaurant.

I walk in the room and smell her scent immediately. Malcom begins purring softly. He loves her scent as much as I do.

When the waiter walks away from their table, I see her very sensitive nose begin to twitch. When her blue eyes meet mine, it nearly takes my breath away.

I’ve never understood how others could bully Hope. Yes, she’s not a full wolf. Yes, her scent is different than most wolves and she prefers being alone as much or more than being with the pack. But she’s stronger than most wolves, something the packs admire and appreciate. She’s kind, and gentle, especially knowing that she’s part bear. And she’s always been the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.

I hate that she thinks I wouldn’t be here for her birthday. I know why she wanted to go away. She’s worried about her mate rejecting her. As Malcolm begins pacing in my head, I know that her mate isn’t going to reject her, because I’m her mate. There’s no way I would ever reject such an incredible woman and there’s no way that any woman could smell better to me than she does.

When I kiss her cheek, Qadira begins her deep rumbling purr. The sound is one that can calm me in an instant, or make my body stand at attention ready to show Hope just how much I want her.

I smile and wish her a happy birthday as well, then wait to see if Hope will invite me to stay. If she doesn’t, I’ll give her her birthday present and leave. I won’t force myself into her weekend, but thankfully, she invites me to stay for dinner.

When I sit down across from her, I greet her family. They all knew I was coming, so they aren’t surprised to see me.

“Hey, Levi,” Faith, her younger sister says, grinning.

“Thanks for keeping my secret, Faith,” I say.

“She almost gave it away,” Beta Carlos says, teasing her.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Hope says.

“I can’t believe you thought I’d miss your birthday. Have I ever missed a birthday?” I ask her.

She smiles her sweet, embarrassed smile and shakes her head no.

The waiter comes over to take our order. I go last, already knowing that I’ll get some sort of steak. Once he’s gone, I focus my attention on Hope.

“Tell me about your day. Did Qadira like the water?” I ask her.

I watch as her face transforms into awe and wonder. It’s so rare to see Hope relaxed enough to just be herself that I find myself completely and totally captivated by her, listening to how much she enjoyed the water.

“Hopefully you’ll stay the night and join us at the beach tomorrow, Levi,” Beta Carlos says.

I look at Hope as the food arrives. She ordered seafood. It’s another thing that makes her different from a true wolf. Bears like seafood, especially fish, more than wolves do.

When the waiter leaves us again, I focus on Hope.

“That’s really up to Hope. It’s her birthday. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay.”

She frowns. “Well, you drove all this way. You can’t turn around and go back tonight.”

“I could, if you would prefer to have this weekend with just your family.”

She shrugs, blushing again. “I consider you my family.”

I take her hand and pull it to my lips, watching her sweet blush darken. “Then I’m staying.”

“Do you have a room, Levi?” Beta Carlos asks.

“No, I haven’t checked with the front desk to see if they have any availability,” I say.

“Oh, don’t worry. Your sister and Alpha Eli upgraded our room to a suite. If nothing else, you can sleep on the pull out couch. We have plenty of space.”

I look at Hope again.

“Of course. Stay with us. It really is a huge suite,” she says.

“Then it’s settled. I’d be happy to crash on your couch.”

: Late Night Walk

Hope

Levi is one of the few people who never seems to get tired of listening to me talk. And for some reason, I seem to talk much more when I’m around him.

Before I know it, dinner is done.

“Let me get my things from the car and then I’d love it if you’d walk on the beach with me,” Levi says.

I walk outside with him and wait while he gets his things. Then we go upstairs.

When we walk into the suite, Levi whistles low. “Wow. This is nice. My mother found her second chance mate, and he’s a wonderful man, thank the goddess. But he’s a warrior. He could never afford anything like this.”

“How is Paisley?” my mother asks.

“She’s good, Beta, really good. It took her a long time to accept that Nash was nothing like my father, as you know. But they’ve made a nice life for themselves. He’s really good to her and they’re both happy.”

“I’m so glad to hear that, Levi. Please tell her we said hello when you see her again.”

“I will Beta,” he says before turning to me. “Ready to show me the beach, Hope?”

“Sure, let’s go,” I say.

Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with Levi. I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t help myself. He’s an incredible man, an incredible Alpha. Honestly, he deserved to have his own pack. If his father hadn’t been such a horrible man, he might have had that option.

As we walk out of the room, Levi takes my hand.

“So, now that you’re nearly an adult, what do you plan to do with your life, Hope?” he asks me as we take the elevator downstairs.

“Well, I know that Alpha Xander will eventually take over the family business, but I thought I’d ask Alpha Liam if he needed any more wolves to work for Holstin Enterprises.”

“Is that so?” he growls softly. Levi works for Holstin Enterprises, too.

“Yes. There’s not a lot for me to do otherwise. It’s already been decided that Alpha Clint will take over as Alpha Emerson’s Beta when they come of age. Dad’s not even upset that he never had a son. Honestly, I think he’s happy being a girl dad.”

“He’s a very good girl dad,” Levi says as we walk out to the beach. “Wow, this is gorgeous and so peaceful.”

“I had such a great time today. Qadira didn’t want to get out of the water. She was in her element.”

“I’m so happy for you and for her. You both needed something, a place where you feel that you belong,” he says, as always understanding me better than I understand myself.

“Can I tell you something, something private?”

He turns and looks at me, his amber eyes flashing in the moonlight. “I hope you know I will always keep your secrets, Hope.”

I know he will because he always has.

“I want to try and find my biological father.”

Levi stops and turns to look at me. “That’s new. When did this come about?”

I shrug. “I’ve been thinking about it, wondering if he survived whatever they did to him to get his sperm, if he ever got away like mom and I did. I wonder if he wonders if somewhere he has a child but never knew where to find me.”

“You’re hoping to use Holstin Enterprises to find him,” he says.

“Yes, but I also need a job. I’m strong. There’s no reason I can’t be a body guard or even a construction worker.”

“And what if you find him?” he asks me as we start to walk again.

I shrug again. “I guess I see if he wants to know about me, if he wants to get to know me. I’m not looking for a father. I have Carlos for that, and he’s been an amazing father my entire life. But I just want to know if he’s alive and if he’s ever wondered about me.”

“I’ll help you, Hope. I’ll help you find him. You should tell your parents, though.”

“I don’t want to hurt Carlos. I don’t want him to think that I don’t love him as a father. He’s been an amazing father, better than I could have ever imagined since I’m not his biological child.”

“Carlos never cared about that,” Levi says.

“I know. That’s my point. He’s never treated me any differently than he’s treated Faith. He’s always raised us as if we’re both his biological daughters and I don’t want to hurt his feelings by letting him know that I want to find my biological father.”

I watch Levi as he looks out over the water. “I think, if you keep it a secret, it will hurt him more. He’s your father. You know him better than I do. But if it were me, I’d want you to be honest with me.”

He turns and looks at me, stroking his fingers over my cheek. “Just think about it, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, unable to say no to Levi.

Something in the air shifts between us. It’s happened before, but right now, the pull to him feels so much stronger than it ever has before.

“We should get back,” I say.

“What are you afraid of, Hope?” he asks, his voice soft. It sends a wave of electrified tingles through my body, making me shiver.

“I’m not afraid,” I say defiantly.

“No. No, you’re never afraid, are you?” he murmurs, his thumb gently caressing my cheek and jaw.

He’s wrong. I’m terrified of what will happen at midnight. I’m terrified that we might be mates and what that means, for him and for me.

“You know I love you, right Hope?”

“Levi …”

“You know that I’m hoping that tonight, Qadira and Malcolm will call each other mate and I’ll know that you’re truly mine forever.”

“Levi, don’t,” I say.

Rather than pull away, he leans forward, running his nose over my jaw to my ear.

“You know that there could never be any woman for me but you, Hope. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

“Levi, you deserve …”

“Don’t, Hope,” he says, putting his fingers over my lips. “Don’t tell me what I deserve. I deserve to have my goddess given mate. I deserve an opportunity to prove that I can be the man and mate that you want and need in this life. I deserve a chance, Hope.”

He holds my face in his hands, watching me. I didn’t even know what time it was, but Levi did. He knew it was almost midnight and as he holds my face, as our gazes are locked together, I feel it. I feel the mate bond connect.

Qadira pushes forward. “Mate.”

I watch Malcolm push forward, making Levi’s amber eyes turn dark brown. “Mate,” he growls. That one word is so possessive, such a powerful claim, that I gasp.

Levi takes that as an offer and his mouth crashes against mine. It’s not the first time he’s kissed me. He’s pressed his lips to mine gently in the past. But there is nothing gentle about this kiss. This kiss is meant to claim, meant to possess, meant to brand my body with his.

I whimper as my beast gives herself to the kiss, leaving me desperately clinging to Levi and trying to maintain some semblance of reality. But it’s no use. His lips are warm against mine and when his tongue slides into my mouth, his taste overwhelms me.

I growl, feeling Qadira answering Malcolm’s claim with her own, desperately wanting to possess this man and his wolf that we both love with every part of our being.

So, I let go, surrendering to Levi’s kiss with the full moon shining down on us and the soft sound of the ocean waves lapping against the shoreline.