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  The hours wound down, and I felt the change take over my soul. She was dancing around with others and I couldn’t bear to watch. From the moment Marco twirled her around the dance floor, I wanted to rip his heart out. I’ve waited years to claim her as mine. She was my mate. The wolves told me about Chloe and Erik’s and Gage and Arabella’s relationships. They were fated and felt it, but until the time was right nothing, but the painful need filled their souls.

  The heat in my body amplified as the night went on. I returned home several times that night, but I couldn’t stay away. Like Every day. I never stayed away from her since I learned to teleport. Every night I would visit while she slept. Hoping that she was dreaming of me. I’d flee before anyone noticed my presence, but I couldn’t stop from coming. Even if Falcon had caught me, I couldn’t stop myself. I loved her and knew that once that clock struck her birth hour, she would be mine and all hell would break loose if anyone tried to stop me.

  I swallowed hard when the clock struck. I teleported into the room inches from her. I breathed her in. I took a moment to let it sink in. She was mine. The longing would soon be at an end. She spun around her eyes widening and that beautiful grey brightened.

  “Mine,” I growled. I threw my arms around her waist, then crushed my mouth down onto hers. She grasped at my tux lapels, holding onto me tight.

  “Gideon,” she whispered. The way she said my name took away all the years of pain. The remaining guest gasped and stopped to stare at us.

  Her father was on us, but I looked at him with a glare that I’d never given him before. “She’s mine,” I told him. Then we were gone.

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  We lay in bed, sated for the time being. “Gideon, I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “You better believe it, Princess. I’ve waited for a long time. But the last few years have been hard,” he confessed, brushing my hair away from my face.

  “Because you stayed away?” I asked. He dropped his head, kissing my lips softly.

  “Because I couldn’t. Every night, I would come to your room while you slept. Watching you for moments at a time.”

  “Why didn’t you visit when I was awake?” I slapped his chest.

  “Because it wouldn’t have made a difference. It would have only slowed down time. Besides, you forget that I’ve been building an empire for us.” He bent down and kissed me again. That he did. He built a wonderful home for us.

  “I love you, Gideon,” I told him for the tenth time since we mated.

  “I am nothing without you, Speranza. I love you so much. I don’t know how long it’s going to take for me to willingly let you out of this bed.”

  “Maybe as long as it takes me to want to leave,” I whispered, kissing my own prince. I found my mate. Forever grateful that he fought by my father’s side. Fate had its way.

  THE END