Chapter 18

“You don't have to protect me, Cole. I can protect myself, trust me. I just want to be able to trust you but you have to trust me for that too,” she places a hand on mine. “I trust you,” I say. “Do you really? Do you trust me because I'm your mate and you feel this connection between us, or do you trust me because I'm me?” she asks. What? I think her question through. I do trust her. No mate bond needed, I trust her. Why do I trust her? Because I do. I trust everyone in my pack and she's my pack member too. “I trust you,” I repeat again and she smiles. “Do you trust me?” I ask her. She thinks it through. Fuck. “A little. I'm not an easy person to get to know. I'm not going to be all sunshine and roses every time-” I cut her off by wrapping my fingers on her wrists and pulling her up and towards my lap. She sits down, a small blush crawling up her face. “I just want you t