23. Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

J asmine

The silence after Martinez's call stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words. Bold's arm tightens around me, pulling me closer to the warmth of his body. My fingers trace the edges of his bandage, a reminder of how close I came to losing him.

"You okay?" His voice rumbles through his chest, low and concerned.

Leaning closer, I tuck my head under his chin and breathe deeply. I order myself to move on from what happened in that garage as I replace the smell of wet cement in my nostrils with Bold's masculine scent.

After a few more deep breaths, I pay attention to my body. He discarded his bloody shirt down in the room where Courage stitched him up, so I let my fingertips travel the hard planes of his chest, then lodge in his hair. As if by magic, I'm transported here, to this room. I'm fully present with the male who just pledged his love to me.

"Am I okay? No. I'm terrific, love." I test the word out. It feels like warm velvet on my tongue.

The air between us crackles with electricity, and suddenly I'm hyperaware of every point where our bodies touch. His scent—pine and musk and affection—fills my senses, making me want him even more.

"There's something you should know," Bold murmurs, his breath warm against my lips. "About wolven… about mating ."

Curiosity sparks through me. "Tell me," I whisper, running my fingers through the soft fur at his neck.

He shivers at my touch, eyes fluttering closed for a moment before he continues. "For us, it's… permanent. When we choose a mate, it's for life." His gaze locks with mine, intense and unwavering. "You'd be it for me, Jazz. Now and always."

My breath catches in my throat. The weight of his words, the enormity of what he's offering, crashes over me like a tidal wave. "Bold, I…"

"There's more," he says quickly, as if afraid I'll interrupt and not let him finish. "Physically, we're… different. When we mate, there's a… a connection. I have a knot at the base of my cock that swells when we mate. My body would literally lock with yours."

Heat floods my cheeks as I process his words, imagining the act, the implications, the pleasure… or maybe the pain.

"Oh," I breathe, unable to control the shiver of anticipation running down my spine.

Bold's hands frame my face, his touch impossibly gentle. "And there's a bite. A mark to show the world you're mine. It would hurt, but only for a moment. For wolven women, it's said to be… bliss."

My mind whirls with the information, with the depth of commitment he's describing. It should terrify me. We've known each other such a short time. He's not even human. And yet…

I think of the way he makes me feel—safe, cherished, seen in a way no one else ever has. I think of his bravery, his kindness, the fierce protectiveness radiating from him. In this crazy, chaotic world we're navigating, he's become my anchor.

"Jazz?" Bold's voice is hesitant, vulnerable in a way I've never heard before. "I know it's a lot. If you need time, or if you don't want—"

I silence him with a kiss, pouring every ounce of emotion I can't put into words into the press of my lips against his. When we finally break apart, both breathing hard, I meet his gaze steadily.

"Yes," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I want to be your mate, Bold. All of it—the permanence, the physical bond, the mark. I want it all."

The look that crosses his face is nothing short of awe. He pulls me close, burying his face in my hair and inhaling deeply. I feel the rumble of contentment that vibrates through his chest.

"Mine," he growls softly, the word sending a thrill through me. "My mate."

As his lips find mine again, more insistent this time, a thought flits through my mind. This isn't just a new chapter in my life. It's a whole new book, filled with possibilities I never dared imagine. And I can't wait to see where this story takes us.