The Broken Warrior's Daughter

My brain is spinning. Clint’s kisses have that effect on me. It takes me a moment. to come back to reality and when | do, | realize that the entire restaurant has gone quiet. | look around and see that everyone, and | mean everyone in the restaurant has stopped eating and is looking at us.

My cheeks get hot with my blush. He claimed me. He claimed me in front of a restaurant full of pack members. | look back up at him and he hasn’t taken his eyes off me. He doesn’t care who is watching us.

“Did you hear me, Lily? You are mine. Do you want me to shout it out to everyone. here?”

He starts to take a breath. “NO!” | put my fingers on his lips. “No.” | say again, more calmly and he kisses my fingers. He pulls my fingers from his lips and leans down to gently kiss my lips again. Ready to go, then?”

I just nod.

He takes my hand, walking up to our waitress who is looking as shocked as everyone else and he hands her the bill with some cash before leading me outside. to his car. He leans in, pushing me against the car and kissing me until I'm delirious again. “Just in case you thought | was joking.” He says before opening my door.

When we get in the car, he begins driving. I'm not paying attention because |

suddenly find myself feeling shy around him. | don’t know what to say. | sort of confessed that I’m falling for him, and he basically told two packs that I’m his. It’s a bit overwhelming.

“Will you promise me something?” He asks me. | turn to look at him and | can see that he’s switching between looking at me and watching the road. “What's that?”

“Always tell me what’s on your mind. Always be honest, even if you think it will hurt me, even if it embarrasses you. | like knowing what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours. | want to know what you're thinking, what upsets you, what makes you happy. | want to know it all. | won’t get bored, | won't think you’re silly or stupid. | just want your honesty, always. Can you do that for me?”

+15 BONOS

| think about it for a minute. He’s asking a lot. I’m normally an honest person. but being honest about my feelings toward him is a huge risk. | think about what I can promise him. “I promise to try.”

He nods at that. “Will you do the same?” | ask him.

He pulls the car to a stop and turns to give me his full attention. “I have never been anything but honest with you Lily. | will never be anything but honest with you, even if it embarrasses you and even if you don’t believe me. | will tell you anything you want to know, you only have to ask me.”

| frown at him. “Really?” “Yes, Lily bud, really.” | decide to test him. “Why did you kiss me so publicly back there?”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“First, | wanted you to believe me, and you seem to have a hard time realizing that I’m serious about you. Second, | hate that every unmated male in our pack is going to try to gain your favor, so | wanted to make a point that you're taken.”

“Am | taken?” “Haven't | been clear about wanting to date you, Lily?” “Dating me and me being taken aren’t the same, Clint.”

“Maybe not to you. But | don’t date Lily. | never have. | know | have a reputation, but you can ask anyone, I’ve never taken a woman on a date.” He shrugs. “I didn’t have to. They gave me the quick release | was looking for without me having to put in any effort. I’m not looking for quick and easy with you. I’m looking for something long-term.” He leans in, taking my chin between his finger and thumb. “You're special Lily, and it has nothing to do with you being a Guardian. | want you to know that | recognize that about you.”

| blink several times. | had intended to prove he wasn’t going to be honest with me, but what | got instead was something | wasn’t expecting at all, an honest confession of how he feels about me.

| lean in, watching him as | close the distance between us and press my lips against his. | see his eyes crinkle and feel his mouth turn up into a smile before he closes his eyes and kisses me back. It’s gentle and sweet, his tongue tentatively tangling with mine. | moan softly, deepening the kiss. When we finally pull away, panting, he’s smiling at me.

| turn and look out the window. “Where are we?” | ask, not having been to this part of our pack lands before. +15 BONOS “| wanted to show you something.”

He comes around, helping me out of the car before | could get out myself. Holding my hand, we walk down a path. He brings me to a cliff where we can look. out and see the night sky, unhindered. In the distance, we can also see the lights of our neighboring pack. Clint finds a spot for us, and we sit and watch the stars.

O DISHONOS