Xan's POV
The rest of the night went splendidly, I think Lorelei might have even forgotten about the previous impending doom during one of the lovely old hags jokes. She has that effect on most people. I owed a great deal of my sanity today to aunt Poppy, more than I can say about my real parents, the royal highnesses of Jaguar. All I want now is to learn more about my mate.
After dinner, I led my little mate, Lorelei, outside. Poppy's home was situated in the midst of valleys that stretched as far as the eye could see. At this time the air was perfectly cool, and the beautiful moonlight reflected in a pond close by and illuminated the overgrown natural grass and wheat. I sit on the bare ground, and lead her to get comfortable right on top of me. A few minutes of comfortable silence passes by before I go on to ask her what her passions are.
"What?" she says. "That's a little random, wouldn't you say…"
I chuckle softly, caressing her back as I reply, "Well, I just want to know more about you. Your passions, dreams, and what makes you truly happy. A lot has happened recently, but I want you to trust me when I say it's all going to be okay, and I think a little time for you to get away from it all will do you some good."
Lorelei shifts slightly on top of me, getting more comfortable. "Hmm, I guess I never really thought about it that much…", she stops and thinks, then says " I mean, I've always loved magick, pottery, and cooking. For me, cooking can be a form of stress relief and a way to relax."
Now I can hear the liveliness in her voice as she speaks, "chopping, stirring, and focusing on a recipe can be meditative and calming… Throw in magick, and it's no shocker that I'm a kitchen witch!," she says softly yet excitedly as her fingers play with the ends of my hair. This momentarily stuns me, as I unexpectedly feel so much joy at the gentle touches.
I also ask about why she loves pottery to which she responds, "The process of making something out of clay… where I can mold, shape, and decorate my own little creations according to my imagination, is both a wonderfully artistic outlet and another way to incorporate magick into my life!".
I smile at her enthusiasm, the need to share those passions with her reaching the top of my imaginary to-do list. "Ah, I can't wait to see you do them, or for you to describe me that way some day," I tell her.
Both her eyes and smile widen at that, but she quickly changes the topic of conversation by asking, "what about you, Xan? What are your passions and dreams?"
I take a moment to pretend to ponder the question, enjoying the way she genuinely wants to know more about me. "Well, apart from being the next Alpha of the Jaguar pack, and saving territories in immediate danger, I would love to explore you, and be with you". Her eyes sparkle with interest, and her face brightens in the most beautiful shade of scarlet red, but she doesn't reply, and her hands stop moving in my hair. I miss the movements already.
"Maybe one day soon," I reply, holding her closer, and reach up to touch the hand that's in my hair saying, "don't stop, that feels really good". She shakes herself out of it, then asks me what type of Alpha I am, and I know what she's really asking 'do you rule by love or fear?'.
I ignore the question with a witty comment, and we keep talking about other unimportant topics under the moonlight. I feel a deep connection forming between us. It's as if we are two puzzle pieces that have finally found their perfect fit. I captivated by Lorelei's strength, intelligence, and the way her eyes sparkled with curiosity. I know that no matter what lies ahead, facing it together with Lorelei by my side will make it all worthwhile.
Little do we know that our love and unity will be tested sooner than we expect, as mysterious forces from both our worlds conspire to challenge our bond and threaten our very existence. But for now, we bask in the tranquility of the night, cherishing each other's company and the love that is gradually blooming between a wolf and a human from two very different worlds.
Lorelei's POV
As the hours passed, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the enigmatic and flirty Alpha and her caring nature. It felt like we had known each other for a lifetime, even though our paths had only just crossed.
Feeling a sense of vulnerability on her end, I repeatedly tried to get Xan to share her own fears, uncertainties, and passions, but Xan remained guarded and elusive. It was as if Xan had built walls around herself, protecting her deepest emotions from being exposed. Despite this, I hope my persistence and genuine interest in Xan will slowly chip away at those barriers, allowing me to have a glimpse into Xan's complex inner world.