Chapter 6 While Xander was out scouring the entire continent looking for me , I was sitting quietly at Rue's bedside , watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept . For once , I felt like the storm had passed , if only for a moment . Xander , Marcus , and I had grown up together . After Xander and I sealed the mate bond , Marcus left for the Northern Territory . He became a pediatric healer and took over as leader of the Lycan pack up north . If Marcus hadn't rushed in when he did , Rue wouldn't have survived . " Thank you , " I whispered . Marcus shook his head . " Don't . I did what anyone should've done . " I stared at him for a moment , then smiled faintly . " You've changed , Marcus . You're more grounded now . Dependable . " The ever - dependable Marcus instantly turned red to the tips of his ears . " Natalie , there's ... something I need to tell you . " I glanced at Rue , then quietly stepped out and closed the door behind us . Marcus took a deep breath , his tone suddenly serious . " I've liked you for a long time . " I blinked , stunned . Marcus ? The boy who used to yank my hair and call me dumb nicknames just to get under my skin ? He gave a crooked smile . " Yeah ... I was an idiot . Always messing with you just to get your attention . " By the time I realized how I really felt , you and Xander were already mated . " He crouched slightly , leaning in . " But things are different now . He broke you , Natalie . Let me in . Let me be the one who stays . " " I want to be the one who pushes your wheelchair for the rest of your life . " I froze , unsure where to look . I hadn't let myself even consider anything beyond surviving . But Marcus had been there from the beginning . He found me a more comfortable chair . He tracked down world - renowned healers . He'd done everything . I was grateful - grateful enough to promise to marry him . But my promise to him had come with one condition . " I didn't know you felt that way about me , " I said quietly . " You told me you couldn't have children . That's the only reason I agreed . " " Because whatever was left of my heart ... he destroyed it . " The man I'd loved for ten years had shattered me - body , soul , and heart . Xander didn't just betray me . He nearly killed our child . And he didn't even flinch . After something like that ... how could I ever believe in love again ? Sealing the mate bond with Marcus would've been unfair - to both of us . Chapter 6 Marcus seemed to understand . His expression dimmed, and he pulled a folded paper from his pocket . " I had the surgery . I can't have kids , " he said softly . I glanced at the date . It was the exact day I'd agreed to marry him . " Marcus , that's too much . You shouldn't have done this for me . " He stepped closer , wrapping me in a hug . " I'd do it all again , " he murmured . " I love you , Natalie . No regrets . ' I stood frozen in his arms , unsure what to say . He pulled back gently , brushing a strand of hair from my cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world . " If I hadn't met you , I wouldn't have sealed the bond with anyone . You were the Moon Goddess's gift to me . " " As for the surgery ? Doesn't affect anything . I'm fine . " He gave a small , respectful bow and stepped back . " And Natalie , you don't have to worry about sealing a bond with me . I'm not asking for that . " " All I want ... is a chance to win your heart . " I exhaled slowly , honest and tired . " I don't think I know how to love anymore . You could chase me for the rest of your life , and it might still lead nowhere . " It wasn't meant to be cruel . It was just the truth . Marcus just smiled . " Then I'll consider it a blessing - to be beside you and Rue for the rest of my life . That's more than enough . " I gave up trying to argue . Every time I said no , Marcus found another reason to stay . Eventually , I stopped pushing and poured everything into caring for Rue ... and learning to live with my prosthetic . Because I refused to be someone who only knew how to be taken care of . ེ ཡི ཚེ ཆ ང ེ ཚ A month later , I was blindsided by something I never expected - a nurse accused me of assault . " You're just some washed - up she - wolf with a kid . Why would the Lycan King ever want you ? " Her voice dripped venom . " Once he sees what a vile creature you really are , he'll finally notice me . " She flopped to the floor , cradling her cheek and sobbing , playing the part of the helpless victim . There were no security cameras . No proof . Just me , standing there , numb . Again . The people around us looked at her with sympathy - and at me with suspicion . The same old scene , different setting . For a second , I felt like I was going to pass out . Chapter 6 And then- " That's enough . " Marcus stepped in beside me , catching me just before I fell . " She's not that kind of person . " He looked down at the nurse , his voice ice cold . " You say she hit you ? Fine . Prove it . Show us the evidence . " She scowled . " I'm the Beta's daughter . I don't need to prove anything . " Marcus gave her a long look . " Is that so ? " Then he turned to me . " Natalie , give me your hand . " I blinked , confused , but let him take it . He swung it forward- And smacked the nurse clean across the face . " That's what it actually looks like when she hits you . The entire room fell silent . He led me out while people stared , stunned speechless . Marcus glanced down at my reddening hand , his face full of regret . " Damn ... I should've brought gloves . You okay ? " I stared at him , part horrified , part speechless . " Thanks ... but aren't you going to get in trouble for that ? " He smirked . " Do you know who I am ? I'm the damn Lycan King . " " They wouldn't dare . " He gave my hand a gentle squeeze . " And don't worry - we'll find proof . I know you didn't do it . We'll clear your name . " Chapter 7 Just like Marcus predicted , the truth came out . They found the evidence . The nurse was kicked out of the pack , and her father - the Beta - was forced to make a public apology on her behalf . The fallout didn't end there . People who used to flirt with Marcus finally realized something : the man they thought was just a charming flirt ... turned out to be the kind who loves once , and loves forever . And apparently , I was his soft spot . " Natalie , how many times have I told you ? You shouldn't be on your feet so long , " Marcus scolded , shoving a bouquet into my arms and wheeling me straight out of the kitchen like a man on a mission . Ever since I gave birth , my body had never fully recovered . Xander had forced me to kneel for hours after delivery , and my joints had never been the same . Marcus wouldn't even let me lift a pan . I rolled my eyes . " It's been a month , I- " " One month is nothing , " he interrupted firmly . " Wolves take a year to fully recover after childbirth . Minimum . " He always had an answer for everything . I couldn't win , so I gave up and went to find Rue , holding the flowers he'd just given me . Thanks to Marcus's careful care and treatments , Rue was finally just like any healthy baby . And whenever Marcus walked through the door , she'd light up like the sun - babbling , reaching out , giggling like she knew he belonged to her . I glanced back toward the kitchen and saw him moving around , sleeves rolled up , humming softly while he cooked . And for the first time in a long time ... I felt something stir . I leaned close to Rue and whispered , " Sweetheart ... I think Mommy might be falling for him . What do you think ? Do you want him to be your daddy ? " Rue kicked her tiny legs and stared up at me with those bright eyes , babbling nonsense . I laughed softly . " Never mind . You're just a baby - what do you know ? " I turned to leave , but she grabbed a fistful of the bouquet and waved it in the air . " Then again , louder , " Ah ! " And just like that , she shoved a tulip in her mouth and started giggling like she'd just approved the proposal herself . I couldn't help but smile , holding her close . " Well , I guess you're on board . Maybe we really should give this a try . " That night , the dinner table was filled with every single dish I loved - down to the strawberries for dessert . He never once got it wrong . I looked at Marcus and said suddenly , " Rue doesn't have a full name yet . Got any ideas ? " He lit up instantly . Chapter 7 S " What about Sabrina ? It sounds full of hope . " " Or Emma - kind of elegant , right ? " " Lily ? Belle ? They all mean something beautiful . " Every name he listed came with a story , a meaning , like he'd truly thought of Rue as his own child . I smiled , heart warming . " Then let's go with Sabrina Rue Hornsby . " Marcus opened his mouth to repeat it - then stopped . He froze . " Sabrina Rue Horns - wait ... Hornsby ? That's my last name . " His eyes instantly filled with tears , and they spilled over in seconds . " You're giving her my name ? " His voice cracked . " You're really saying yes ? " I rushed to grab tissues . " Don't cry - it's a good thing , isn't it ? " Marcus threw his arms around me , overwhelmed . Thank you , Natalie . Thank you for letting me be part of this . Thank you for giving me a chance . His tears were warm against my neck . I wrapped my arms around him and held on . " } " Marcus ... I'm trying , " I whispered . " I'm trying to leave the past behind . And I want to learn how to love you - properly . " I couldn't let the wreckage of one man ruin me forever . Our mating ceremony wasn't extravagant - but it was intimate , full of warmth and healing . When Marcus marked me , he held me like I was everything . He cried for a long time after . Then he signed over everything he owned into my name . " Natalie , " he told me , " promises don't always last . But if I ever betray you , take it all . Leave me with nothing . Break my hands if you have to . " I laughed and said yes . But deep down , I knew I'd never have to . Marcus was a man worth trusting . After we sealed the mate bond , Marcus walked around like he was ten feet tall . Everyone he saw got the same announcement : He's married now . And when I teased him about it , he'd scoop up Rue and use her as a shield . " Rue , isn't your r mom the best ? Daddy made the right choice , huh ? " Rue would wave her little fists and shout , " Yeah ! " The two of them together gether were an unstoppabile duo - totally sync , like they'd always been meant to be . One afternoon , Marcus bounced Rue in his " We should throw a baby را wer for Rue . " Sure , " I said , not thinking Chapter 7 much of it . 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