Charybdis was still out there. Harlow was too. Except now it was personal. “I can’t let this go. He threatened my family.” I bit my lip. “I’ll reach out to Vause if we find something concrete.” It might cost me my future with the Earthen Conclave, but this wasn’t the suicide mission it once might have been. “I won’t be reckless, I promise.”

“I understand.” His thumb caressed my pulse. “I had to ask.”

“You’re starting a new pack.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and dragged my gaze to his. “You have people you’re directly responsible for now.” I huffed out an exhale. “I can’t ask you to come with me.”

A hitch in his grip was the only sign I had stumped him. “I see.”

“Don’t say it that way.” It sounded too much like goodbye.

“You might think mate is a title you can shed like any of your other aspects, but it goes more than skin deep.” He ducked his head and teased his nose across my jaw, breathing me in like the first clean breath of air after the rain. “I can’t say I wanted you from the moment I set eyes on you. We both know that would be a lie.” His lips tickled across my skin as he spoke. “I can say I wanted you from the moment I saw who you are.” He placed one wide palm over my heart, and the heat curled my abdomen tight. “In here.”

“This is crazy,” I rasped, heart frantic under his touch. “I’m not a warg.”

“You’re not a coward either.” His mouth brushed my chin. “You’re mine, Ellis, and I’m not letting you go. You fought for me, very well I might add.” The hand over my heart slid behind my neck and threaded in my hair. “You won me.” A nip on my chin. “And now you’re stuck with me.”

All the years of not belonging crumbled at my feet, and I felt more exposed standing there in front of him, accepting that I was his as he was mine, than if I had been naked.

“We’ll do this your way. We’ll find your parents, make sure they’re okay and warn them.” He hooked a finger in the belt loop of my jeans and hauled me forward. “It’s time I met the in-laws anyway.”

A thousand arguments leapt onto my tongue like it was a diving board.

“Hush now.” Strong arms slid around me. “Don’t ruin the moment.”