Chapter 19

NINETEEN

“ B ut are we dating?” Natalie asked. “Are we just two people thrown together by circumstances and mutual attraction? Am I just the scientist you need to protect? Because I really like your family, and I really like you, and I’m kind of terrified that I’m reading too much into everything, and?—”

Marcus’s lips caught hers, cutting off her ramble. The kiss was gentle but deliberate, his hand coming up to cup her face. When he pulled back, his eyes were intense.

“I should have asked properly,” he said softly. “I’m not good at this, Natalie. Relationships. Feelings. I’ve spent so long being the alpha, being in control, that sometimes I forget to use actual words instead of grunt-themed emojis.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Emily was kidding about those, right?”

“Mostly.” His thumb traced her cheekbone. “But the point is, I want you in my life. Not just as someone to protect. Not just as a brilliant scientist who happens to be in danger. I want you as mine.”

“Yours?” Her pulse quickened.

“My girlfriend,” he clarified quickly, though something flickered in his eyes that suggested there might be more to it. “If you want that.”

“You mean if I want to officially date a brooding alpha who stalks me through enhanced hearing and brings dead rabbits as courtship gifts?”

“That was one time —“ He caught her grin and growled playfully. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”

“Never,” she agreed, leaning in to kiss him again. “And yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I want to be your girlfriend. Even if your coffeemaker disapproves.”

“The coffeemaker will get over it.” He kissed her again, deeper this time, until they were both breathless. “Though we should probably keep this quiet around Emily’s toaster. It’s sensitive about relationships after the dishwasher incident.”

Natalie laughed against his lips. “Walk me to my door?”

At her apartment, Marcus pulled her close, his presence making her pulse jump. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For sharing this evening with my family. For accepting all our... quirks.”

“You mean the AI appliances, the squirrel warfare, or your mother’s wedding Pinterest board?”

He groaned. “Sheri told you about that?”

“Mh-mm. Something about color schemes and venue options?”

“I’m going to kill my sisters.”

“No, you won’t.” She stretched up to kiss him again briefly. “You love them too much. It’s one of the things I lo—“ She caught herself, eyes widening. “One of the things I like about you.”

Marcus’s eyes darkened at her near-slip, but he didn’t push. Instead, he pulled her close, pressing his lips to her forehead in a gesture that felt both protective and possessive.

“Get some sleep,” he murmured. “I’ll have guards posted?—“

“Outside my building, I know.” She poked his chest. “Creepy wolf.”

“ Your creepy wolf,” he corrected with a smile that made her heart flip.

“Mine,” she agreed, testing the word. She liked how it sounded.

As Natalie closed her door, her phone buzzed with a text from Sheri: Welcome to the family! Don’t worry about Marcus being overprotective—it means he loves you. Even if he’s too alpha to say it yet.

Followed immediately by: Also, I have WAY more embarrassing photos. Lunch tomorrow?

Natalie smiled, typing back: Absolutely.

Her phone buzzed again, this time from Marcus: I can hear you laughing. Whatever Sheri’s planning, say no.

Too late. Lunch is already scheduled. Your girlfriend wants to see more squirrel photos.

...I like how that sounds. The girlfriend part, not the squirrel photos.

Too bad. They’re a package deal. Me, embarrassing childhood photos, and possibly a unionized toaster.

His response made her heart skip: Worth it. Every single acorn.

Another text came through, this time from Emily: The coffeemaker approves of your relationship. It’s already planning your engagement party.

Followed by Marcus: Ignore my sister. And her appliances.

Standing in her apartment, surrounded by the lingering warmth of family dinner and first kisses, Natalie realized something important: whatever dangers her formula might bring, whatever threats loomed on the horizon, she wasn’t facing them alone anymore.

She had a brilliant, slightly overprotective alpha wolf boyfriend in her corner.

And maybe she was falling in love with him.