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"Actually, I won’t leave you then, either Just so you know"

"Wh-what?"

"You’re my mate," he said simply

"You’re in my blood, in my heart, in my soul To walk away from you would cut me to pieces"

The rooo, let her lean against her desk

"Mate?" she whispered

"Yes" His face grew bleak "It’s a lifeti, but I’ht about this - you’re not too keen on that, are you?" She didn’t answer his question, her"Are you sure that I’m?"

"Baby, I was sure the first day we met You fit me"

It brought tears to her eyes, because he fit her, too Perfectly "Zach, I" She blinked, trying to think past the rushing thunder of eht I’d marry," she admitted "But it’s not the commitment I have a problem with It’s what comes after" A confession made in a voice that threatened to break "It’s this cold terror that the promise, the love, will one day turn into a trap"

"I know"

"She still waits," Annie found herself saying "For a Valentine or a birthday present or just a loving word She still waits "

"Oh, sweetheart" He tried to co to think, to understand

"I could survive you leavingto ’see’bond would leave her with no way out

It truly was forever

"That’s so you never have to fear," Zach said, the declaration resolute "It’s not possible for nore each other"

"But - "

"No buts," he said, slashing out a hand "I will never stop seeing you, never stop loving you Mates can’t shut each other out"

Part of her wanted to grab that proo But another part of her, the part that had been trapped first by injury, then a mother’s fear, was hesitant Was she ready to take this chance on the faith of a ive up the freedoht a lifetime to attain?

"I’m so afraid, Zach"

"Ah, Annie Don’t you know? My cat is devoted to you If you asked me to crawl, I’d crawl"

It shattered her, the way he’d just ripped open his heart and laid it at her feet Treainst his lips "I would never ask that"

"Neither would I" His lips ainst her touch "Trust me"

There it was, the crux of it She adored him, loved hi Then she looked into that proud face, into the wild heart of the leopard within, and knew there could be only one answer

She refused to let fear cheat her out of the pro the last safety rope that had held her suspended above the fathomless depths of the abyss "I trust you htened in her chest at that second and then snapped, leaving her breathless She clung instinctively to Zach, and he held her tight, burying his face in the curve of her neck When she could breathe again, she tangled her fingers gently in his hair

"Zach?"

He shuddered "God, I was so scared you were going to say no" She felt it then - his terror, his love, his devotion It was as if she had a direct line to his soul The beauty of it staggered "Oh my God" There was no way this bond would ever let either of thenore each other "Zach, I adore you" She could finally admit that, needed to admit it, needed to tell him that he wasn’t alone

"I know" He squeezed her even as a wave of love flavored with the primal fury of the cat came down the bond between theht in mute wonder, so could she

A week later, Annie sat down in Zach’s lap, blocking his view of the football game He reached up to kiss her "Want to play, Teach?"