Page 128 of Wolf Blood

Her body was bare, her red eyes were so bright they basically glowed, and her light pink hair was plastered to her face and part of her neck as it dripped water.

The words she said made our situation strike me in a way it hadn't yet.

I had amate.

One wholikedme.

People didn't like me. I hadn't tried on that front in a long fucking time. It hadn't mattered to me after the war.

People hated me. Or they were neutral toward me. Or they were irritated by me. But they never liked me.

Harper did, though.

Not just physically.

She liked mypersonality.

"I thought you hated me," I said.

"I thought I did too. I think mostly, I was just bloodthirsty and sad."

"You've called me an asshole dozens of times."

"Youarean asshole. A lovable one."

I continued staring down at her while she relaxed in my arms.

I had a mate. I hadHarper.

And she fucking liked me.

I'd done everything wrong. I'd been too pushy. Too rough. Too harsh.

She liked that version of me, though.

The real one.

I found myself walking her backward.

She lifted her head to meet my gaze as I pinned her between me and the wall, careful not to hurt her.

Her curious expression met mine when she tilted her head back.

My chest rose and fell heavier than usual, my gaze locked with Harper's. "We're mates."

"Seems like it," she agreed.

"You're mine."

"And you're mine."

"Permanently," I added.

"Permanently."

"You're okay with it?"

"I'm glad about it, actually."