Chapter 20 The Right Way
“I’m asking if you want to complete a real mate bond, not a contract, not a business arrangement. The real thing.” His hand tightened on hers. “I know it is complicated. I know the pack will have opinions. I know we still have things to work through but I want you to stay. Permanently.”
“Are you sure?”
“I have never been more sure of anything.” He touched her face. “I love you. I almost died today and all I could think about was that I never told you enough. That I wasted time being angry about things that don’t matter.”
“Your father’s death matters.”
“It does but it’s not your fault and punishing you for someone else’s crimes won’t bring him back.”
He kissed her gently. “I want a future with you. I want to figure out this mess together. I want to complete the mate bond the right way.”
Sage felt tears again. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes I want to stay. Yes I want the real mate bond. Yes to all of it.” She kissed him back. “I love you too. Even when you’re being an idiot.”
He laughed and then winced. “Don’t make me laugh. My ribs are killing me.”
“Then stop saying things that make me emotional.” She lay down beside him carefully. “When do you want to do the ceremony?”
“Soon. Maybe a week. Give me time to heal.” He wrapped his arm around her. “And we need to address the pack. Make it official.”
“They are going to have opinions.”
“Let them. I’m Alpha. I choose my mate. They can accept it or leave.” His voice was firm. “No more hiding. No more apologizing for who you are.”
She curled against him. “What about the contract? We still have eight months left technically.”
“We tear it up. Start fresh.” He kissed the top of her head. “This isn’t about debt anymore. It’s about choice.”
They lay together as the sun set outside. The city lights came on. Traffic sounds drifted up from the street below.
Sage thought about everything that had happened since the day Kade walked into her operating room. The debt. The contract. The lies and secrets. The pain and fear and violence.
And somehow through all of that they had found something real.
“I have one condition,” she said.
“What?”
“I keep the clinic. I keep treating patients who need help. That doesn’t stop just because I’m Alpha female.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to stop. The pack needs a good doctor anyway.” He shifted to look at her. “Actually I was thinking we could expand it. Turn it into a real medical center. Fund it properly. Hire more staff.”
“You want to fund my clinic?”
“Our clinic. For the pack and for humans who need help.” He smiled. “Consider it my first official act as your mate. Supporting your work.”
She kissed him. “You’re going to be a good mate.”
“I’m going to try.” He pulled her closer. “Fair warning though. The mate bond ceremony is intense. Public. The pack will watch us complete the bond.”
“I know. I’ve read about it.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I’m okay with anything as long as it’s with you.” She meant it. After everything they’d survived, a ceremony didn’t scare her.
They fell asleep tangled together. Safe. Alive. Finally on the same side.
The next morning Sage woke to find Kade already up. He was in the gym doing light stretches. Testing his body.
“You should be resting,” she said from the doorway.
“I’ve rested enough.” He moved through a series of movements. Slow but controlled. “I need to get strong again. The pack needs to see their Alpha isn’t weak.”
“The pack saw you beat Marcus. They know you’re strong.”
“They saw me almost lose because I was poisoned.” He stopped and looked at her. “I need to prove I’m still capable.”
She understood. The challenge had been close. Too close. He needed to rebuild confidence. His own and the pack’s.
“Then let me help,” she said. “I’m a doctor. I know how to rebuild strength after trauma.”
They spent the morning training together. Sage pushing him but not too hard, just helping him regain his edge.
By afternoon he was moving better. Still not at full strength but improving.
“One week,” he said. “One week and we do the mate ceremony. Officially bind ourselves together.”
“One week,” she agreed.
They had seven days to prepare.
Seven days to get ready for their future.
Seven days until everything changed again but this time it was change they both wanted.
This time they were choosing each other and that made all the difference.