I bet Nick can take you.
He started asking questions about the night of her being taken, becoming Nick’s property. She answered all of the questions truthfully. There was no need for her to lie about her feelings. She had hated Nick on sight, but she made sure all of them knew he didn’t lay a finger on her.
When it got to the intimacy between her and Nick she looked down at her lap thinking about their time together. Arousal filled her core at the feel of Nick touching her.
“From the moment he bought me he could have touched me, hurt me.” She felt tears fill her eyes. “He was the perfect gentleman. I mean, I hated him, but he was so nice. You hear such horrid stories of being sold for sex, yet I was lucky. Nick is not a man to be thwarted. He never raised a hand to me in anger. Every single time we were together he was sweet, coarse at times, but I never felt scared of him.”
She rubbed her arms, wishing he was with her now, wrapping his arms around her to protect her. Clara said as much to them.
“Your family has been punished and is sentenced to over fifty years of hard labor in our jail cells. They will never come near you again or hurt you. Nick will never become an alpha of a pack. I need to know if you wish to go back to a pack,” Charles said.
“No, I don’t want to be part of a pack. Nick is everything I need. I know not all packs are horrible. I’ve had more than my fair share of being part of a pack. I’d rather be outlawed with him,” she said, pouring him another cup of tea.
Charles nodded, stared at her for several moments and turned to the silent men in the room.
“I believe we’ve gotten everything we need.”
The other men nodded, rose to their feet and said their goodbyes. She watched them leave, silently. Charles remained, sipping his tea.
“What’s going on? You’re not taking me away, are you?” Clara asked, ready to fight him.
“No, we’re not going to take you away. Regardless of our reputation we’re not some horrid beasts separating people for fun.” Charles was smiling as he spoke. “I see you love Nick and his love of you. I visited him this morning before coming here today.”
“You did? Was he okay? I’m so worried about him.” She stopped, biting her lip at her questions.
Charles chuckled. “Nick is an alpha. I know it took a lot out of him to leave you alone to deal with us. It has been a pleasure seeing him happy.”
“He told me what happened to make him an outlawed male,” Clara said, heart breaking for the man she loved.
“Yes, it was nasty business but had to be done. My biggest regret in being a collective is outlawing Nick. I’m pleased to see he has fallen for a woman who makes him happy.”
“Do you really think I make him happy?” she asked, looking up at the man as he started to get to his feet.
“Yes, you’re Nick’s life mate. You’re both attuned to each other. Your emotions are the same. Together, I know you will flourish.”
Clara got to her feet to see him out.
When they were at the door she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “What would you have done if I wanted to leave?” she asked.
“I’d have taken you away today to a new pack. Every month I would have visited to make sure you were settled.” Charles cupped her cheek. “I’m not going to tear you away from your mate. Have a happy life, Clara.”
He left afterward. Looking at the clock she saw she’d missed lunch. Nick was probably out of his mind. Rushing to the phone she started to type in his number and stopped. Calling him wouldn’t do the trick. She wanted to do something else. Putting the phone down, she entered the kitchen and started setting up her basket.
Nick deserved the best, and she finished icing the chocolate cake. She hummed as she set to work. By the time it came to end of the day, she headed out toward Nick’s place of work. At five o’clock she was leaning against his car holding the picnic basket in front of her. Every time the elevator stopped, she tensed waiting to see him.
For the next half an hour Nick didn’t appear. He was one of the last men to leave the building coming toward her with Dean in tow. His friend slapped his arm, pointing at the car.
She smiled, waving at him. Nick frowned, approaching her.
“Why are you here?” Nick asked.
“I thought we could go on a picnic. I’ve packed dinner.” She turned to Dean, smiling at him, hoping he’d get the message and leave.
Dean said his goodbyes leaving them alone.
“Did you see the collective today?”
“Yes, I saw them, and I’m here.”
“You’re not leaving?” Nick asked.
Tears filled her eyes as his spilled down his cheeks. She’d never seen Nick cry before. The emotion coming off him made her gasp.
“No, I’m not going anywhere.” His arms wrapped around her making the picnic basket collapse to the floor.
She giggled, holding onto him as they shared a tender moment.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m afraid you’ve got me for the rest of your life,” Clara said.
“I don’t care. Fuck, marry me, Clara,” he said.
“Yes.” She didn’t even hesitate, kissing his lips as his love surrounded her. He held her tightly, neither of them wanting to let go.
“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world,” he said.
Clara couldn’t speak. Who would have thought being bought for sex could have resulted in her finding the man of her dreams? Nick was her life mate, the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with.
Taking his hand, she led him out to the park to celebrate their newfound freedom.
Epilogue
Five years later
Nick stared down into his mate’s eyes. This was their fifth anniversary of being a mated couple. Dean, godfather to their six children, all twins, had taken them for the night so Nick could show his woman how much he loved her.
“You’re tormenting me again,” she said, whimpering.
He turned her over, dripping some cream onto her back and licking up the droplets. Pressing the strawberry to her lips he watched the plumpness take the fruit.
“We don’t get much time alone anymore. We’ve got to take as much time as we can.” It had taken him over three weeks to get Dean to agree to take their kids. In all fairness all three sets of twins were not the easiest children to look after. Nick adored them, but he was pleased for them to be out of the house so he could have some quiet time with his wife.
After convincing the collective that she loved him, Clara had accepted his marriage proposal and that very same night he gave her his mating mark. Any wolf would see she was mated and how possessive he’d been in the claiming of her.