24 I found a loophole
1085 Words
Chapter 24
Bella POV
“Found the loophole.”
I stared at Brady, completely confused. “What loophole?”
He held up the contract in his hand, and I immediately felt my stomach tighten.
“The contract,” he said, walking farther into the room. “Mortisha found something. Something neither of us noticed.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What did she find?”
Brady walked over and handed me the contract. I looked down at the page, scanning through the words until my eyes landed on the section he was talking about. During the contract, if the male and female find out they are mates, the contract is voided. The elders will have no say over the voiding of the contract. Therefore, the male and female will mark each other, then will mate.
I read it twice. Then a third time. My mouth fell open.
“You've got to be kidding me.”
Brady shook his head. “I wish I was.”
I looked up at him. “So you're telling me that this entire contract can be thrown away because we found out we're mates?”
“Yes.”
I looked back at the contract. “And the elders can't stop it?”
“No.”
I slowly lowered the paper.
“Then why are you standing there looking so damn happy?”
His smile grew even bigger. “Because that means you're mine.”
I rolled my eyes. “Brady.”
“What?”
“I'm still mad at you.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You knew we were mates for months.”
“I know.”
“And you watched me walk around thinking you were just helping me because you were being nice.”
He lowered his head. “I was scared.”
That answer caught me off guard. “Scared of what?”
“Losing you.”
I stared at him. “You already knew I was your mate. Why would you be scared of losing me?”
“Because I didn't know if you would want me.”
His voice was softer now. “You had already been hurt. You had already been lied to and betrayed. I didn't want to become another man who forced something on you just because the Moon Goddess decided we belonged together.”
My anger faded slightly. “I wanted you to choose me,” he continued. “Not because of a bond. Not because of some contract. I wanted you to choose me because you wanted me.”
I swallowed hard. That was exactly what I had been afraid of. I had spent so long being told what I was supposed to feel, what I was supposed to do, and who I was supposed to belong to.
Brady was the first man who had actually given me a choice.
“I still need time,” I whispered.
He nodded. “I know.”
“But…”
He raised an eyebrow. “But what?”
I looked down at the contract again. “If the contract is void, what happens now?”
Brady took a step closer. “Nothing happens unless you want it to.”
I looked into his eyes. “You're not going to pressure me?”
“No.”
“Not even about marking?”
His jaw tightened slightly, but he shook his head. “No. If you aren't ready, then I wait.”
I couldn't help but smile. “You really are different.”
He smiled back. “I've been trying to tell you that.”
I walked over to him and handed the contract back. “I don't know if I'm ready to be your Luna.”
“I can wait.”
“I don't know if I'm ready to mate with you.”
“I can wait.”
“I don't even know if I'm ready to be marked.”
His eyes softened. “I can wait for that too.”
I stared at him for a moment. Then I stepped closer. “But I do know one thing.”
“What?”
“I don't want to lose you.”
His eyes widened. “Bella…”
“I need to figure out what I want,” I said. “But I don't want you walking away from me while I do.”
He smiled. “I wasn't planning on going anywhere.”
I reached up and placed my hand against his chest. His heart was beating rapidly beneath my palm.
“My life has been a mess,” I whispered. “And I don't want to rush into another relationship just because we are mates.”
“You don't have to.”
“But I also don't want to run from you just because I'm scared.”
His arms slowly wrapped around my waist. “Then don't run.”
I looked up at him. For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.
Then he leaned down slowly. I knew what he was asking without him saying a word. I could have moved away. Instead, I stayed.
His lips gently touched mine. It wasn't like the kisses I had experienced before.
There was no demand. No possession. No pressure. Just a soft kiss that lasted only a few seconds before he pulled away. My heart was pounding. His wolf was practically shouting through the bond.
“Mate.”
I smiled. “Your wolf is loud.”
Brady laughed. “You have no idea.”
I shook my head. “I think I might need some sleep.”
“Probably a good idea.”
He started walking toward the door. I watched him reach for the handle. “Brady?”
He turned around.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me a choice.”
His smile softened. “Always.”
He walked out and gently closed the door behind him. I stood there staring at the door. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid of what came next. was still confused. Still hurt. Still angry.
But maybe, just maybe, I was starting to see a future that didn't scare me. And somewhere deep inside me, Storm was already celebrating.
Finally, I rolled my eyes. Don't start. I'm just saying. He's ours.
I couldn't help but smile. We'll see. But for the first time, I didn't completely disagree with her.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD