Claiming Kate

Episode 8

Siah had to leave to get ready for their vacation, and I had to pick up Arabella from the sitters. I felt better after talking to her about everything, but I had a lot to think about. I think I was in shock about last night more than anything. Its been so long since Damian has been in my arms. Why now? What's changed? Did we still have a chance to be together?

I spent the day with Arabella and tried to clear my mind. I know I have to talk to Damian. It's the only way to figure everything out. I hate having to talk about that night, but it has to happen. We need to clear the air between us before we can even consider moving forward.

I got Arabella ready for bed, and just held her for a while. She is my whole world. I think my biggest fear with Damian is that he won't be able to accept her. Just because of how she came into the world. That night will haunt me for the rest of my life, but I'll never regret Arabella. She's absolutely perfect. I would do anything for her, even if that means staying single for the rest of my life.

Arabella fell fast asleep in my arms, and I laid her in her crib. Now that she was down for the night, I knew what I had to do. I linked Damian and asked him if he could come over to talk. I'm nervous, but I have to get this conversation over with. It's the only way to clear my mind.

I picked up Arabella's toys and straightened up the house while I waited. I'm trying to keep myself calm, but I have no idea how this conversation is going to go. It didn't take Damian long.

I took a deep breath and tried one more time to calm myself.

"Hi," I said with a smile, as I opened the door for him. He came in and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Do you want anything to drink or eat or anything?" I rambled off like an i***t as I aimlessly walked around my kitchen.

"Kate, sit down and relax. We have known each other forever. Why are you so nervous?"

"I don't know. It's been weird between us for awhile. I don't know how I feel about last night yet."

"I don't regret it for a minute," Damian said as he reached across the table for my hand.

"I need you to know that I never meant to hurt you," I blurted out. I didn't mean to jump right into it, but I had to get it off my chest.

"I know, why didn't you hold up your end of our deal? We agreed to talk to each other before we did anything, if we ever met our mates."

"I tried to get away from him. I couldn't find you, and your block was up. He wouldn't stop touching me, and the bond wouldn't let up. I tried everything I could to resist it, but in the end I couldn't." I put my head down. I felt so guilty I had to break eye contact with him.

"I had no choice but to put my block up. We were under attack and if I lost concentration, more of us could have died. Why was your block up?" He moved over to the chair next to me so we were closer.

"I don't know. I didn't even know it was until I found out later that you guys were trying to contact me."

Damian lifted my head back up so I was looking at him.

"I'm not going to lie, being shot multiple times hurts less than what I felt when I walked in on you." Damian took a deep breath.

"I've had a lot of time to think about things. I do remember how strong the mate bond is, and I believe you would never do that to me if you had any other choice. We have always had each other's backs. I think that's what bothered me the worst. You're the one person I could always count on. It was the first time you ever let me down."

I started to tear up and Damian leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"Kate, I love you. I always have and I always will. When I said forever I meant it. I want a fresh start for us. The last couple of years without you have been horrible. I'm not myself, and I know you're not either," Damian smirked.

"Dont think for a second that just because I haven't been here that I don't know what you have been doing."

"So Kain and Gavin have been spying on me." I smirked back at him.

"Not fully spying, just filling me in and letting me know your OK."

I had to laugh. Knowing those guys, Damian has probably known every detail of my life the whole time he was gone. They gossip more than women.

"I miss you, but I'm scared. He never rejected me, and he's Arabella's father. What if he comes back? I want you to be able to trust me. I never want to hurt you like that again. It was the worst night of my life."

"Dont call him that."

"Call him what," I asked.

"Arabella's father. He's never even met that cutie. He's no one's father." Damian said as he looked into my eyes.

"What about you? You know Arabella is everything to me. It's not just us anymore. Could you handle helping me with her, even though she's not yours."

"She's apart of you. I already love her, and I would be honored to raise her."

Damian pulled me in for a hug, and crashed his lips up against mine. The kiss was amazing, and the passion between us was definitely still there. My goddess, I've missed his lips.

I pulled away after a few minutes.

"Damian, I want this. I want us, but what's going to happen if Maverick comes back? I'm worried because I couldn't resist the bond the first time I met him. What if it happens again?"

"We will deal with everything one step at a time. I'm willing to take the risk. For you and Arabella I'd risk anything." He gave me one more quick kiss.

"There is something else you need to know about that night. I thought you had left with the rest of our pack. The reason I showed up at that cabin was because we thought they were responsible for the rogues."

"What? Why didn't anyone tell me? I don't know who Maverick was there with, but he wouldn't leave me alone all night."

"We weren't sure, but it seems odd that no one knew which pack they were from. They showed up late, and the rogues and witch showed up right after they did. I went there to investigate him. When I saw you and what was going on, I lost it. I handed everything over to their new Alpha to deal with. I had to leave."

"Did they ever find out if it was them?" I asked him.

"I'm not sure. I honestly didn't care after that. I was hurt and I didn't want to talk to anyone. I went out to the cabin for a couple of days. I needed to spend some time alone."

"So, your telling me that when my pack was being attacked, I may have been sleeping with the enemy."

"Umm yah, I told everyone not to tell you. After I had time to calm down, I wanted to give you space to do whatever you needed to do. You gave me the space I needed when I found my mate. I wanted to do the same for you, even if it almost killed me. I couldn't stand the thought of another man's hands on you. All I could do was leave."

He reached up and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.

"I want a fresh start for us. That means no secrets, no lies. From now on, we will be open and honest with each other about everything. What do you say? Do you want to give it a go?"

I thought everything over for a minute. I already knew I was in, but I liked to make him wait, and wonder.

I just leaned in closer to him and wrapped my arms around him. I placed my face to the side of his face and started planting kisses until I reached his lips. He grabbed my hips and pulled me up on his lap, so I was strattling him.

He pulled back from our kiss for a minute and placed his forehead against mine.

"I take it that's a yes," Damian said.

"That's a hell yes," I said before crashing my lips back into his. He picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. This was completely different than last night. That was need, this was pure passion. This was the Damian I know and love.

We laid on the bed fully clothed and let ourselves just get lost in the feeling of being together. He started rubbing his hand under my shirt as I ran my fingers through his hair. I knew it would only be a matter of minutes, before everything came off.

I still cant believe this is happening again. I've loved him my whole life, and he still makes my body crumble under his touch. This proves that our love is strong. We have hurt each other in the worst ways, and still found our way back to each other. I don't think there is anything left in this world that could tear us apart.