“We agree. Death is not necessary. I do believe we would like to be here for the celebration,” Lionel said. “A future alpha finding his mate, this is indeed a joyous occasion.”
Klaus didn’t want them staying in the pack. This was a joyous occasion, but he also saw the sadness in Greg’s gaze.
George clapped his hands and announced that a celebration ceremony would begin tonight. The wolves didn’t need any other excuse not to have a fun time.
He turned toward Poppy, tugging her close.
The pack was watching as he stared into her eyes.
“I didn’t think you were going to come,” Poppy said. “I kind of panicked. I thought you didn’t want me.”
“Never. Don’t ever think that. I want you, Poppy. Always. I … I didn’t know if I should have allowed you to choose.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Greg has never hurt you. He’s never bullied you. You’d have a good start with him. With me, we’ve got a … bad past.”
“It’s bad, but it’s not awful. We know each other, and sure, there are going to be complications, but we know this.” Poppy stared down at the ground.
He wanted to look into her eyes. “Poppy?”
“Do you not want to be mated to me?” she asked.
“What?”
“Do you … would you like me to leave?”
He couldn’t believe she was asking him this.
Klaus closed the distance between them, cupped her face, and tilted her head back so she had no choice but to look at him. He couldn’t stop her from closing her eyes and being difficult, but he hoped she saw reason.
“No,” he said. “No, I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want to give you up. Never. I … Poppy, I … love you.”
“What?” she asked.
“Yeah, I love you. Being mated to you is what I want. I know I have no right to ask for you to marry me, to be mine, but I want it. I want to be the kind of man who deserves you.” He stroked her face and looked into her beautiful eyes.
She was everything. The love of his freaking life.
Klaus hadn’t thought about his feelings because he didn’t want to be reminded of what he’d fucked up with.
“I will understand if you don’t want that. You have every right to not want me.” He deserved the very public rejection.
With the whole pack looking on, they would be able to see his shame. They probably already did. He had fucked up, and it was time for him to pay that price.
Poppy cupped his face, and within the next second, her lips were on his.
Klaus wrapped his arms around her as the whole pack faded. He didn’t care that they saw this. Saw her kissing him.
She was his mate, and he loved her.
Poppy broke the kiss all of a sudden. “I love you too.”
He opened his eyes, staring at her. “What?”
She giggled. “I love you too.”
“Say it again.”