I scream so hard that I start choking on my own breath.
While starting up the screaming again, I yield the pan in front of me like the lady I am.
"Hey, wait! WAIT!!" the handsome man surrenders with his arms in the air and stands up.
Not moving, I close my eyes as he is fully butt naked, but I keep my fighting stance.
"It's okay," he whispers in his ruff voice and I can hear he is coming closer.
"No, it's not. You're naked," I state with uncertainty and bring the pan closer to me, the 'weapon' making me feel safe.
"Why are eating my food in the middle of the night with the fridge's light shining on you like a banshee!" I franticly swing the pan by my side.
The man places his hands on my shoulders and before I can whack him across the face, he stops me.
Damn, he's strong.
Stop thinking about what he looks like and concentrate on the situation!
The man chuckles under his breath as if knowing a secret.
"It's me, Koray," he tries to reassure me for some reason.
"You think I'm an idiot? Let go of me," I can't raise my voice out of fear, but I still try to threaten the stranger.
I try to wriggle out of his grasp and I almost kicked him in the nuts, but then I remembered that he is currently naked.
"Please, look at me," I shake my head trying to twist myself out of his grasp.
"Trust me, I'm Koray," his voice is so deep and calming, but I don't give in.
Is he the idiot? What part of him thinks he is Koray?
"Well, not anymore. Now I'm Xavion," he sounds crazier by the second.
"Let me explain," he starts, but I stop him.
"Don't. I haven't asked for an explanation," I'm still trying to get free, but he wouldn't let me.
"I'm sorry, but just please look at me," he asks with so much desperation that I give in.
I open my eyes with caution and almost faint at his eyes. It feels like every cell in my body is evaporating with his gaze. He also has the exact same forest green eyes as Koray, only a little more intense. This guy has midnight black hair that curls over his eyes and lies on his neck.
What kills me is the barely visible freckles lying perfectly across his nose.
"What the... Who the... How the..."
My brain has decided to stop functioning.
"Please forgive me," he continues speaking in his calming manner.
"For what?" I insist on an answer.
"Wait, no! Why am I speaking with an intruder?" I made up my mind. Instead of kicking him, I wrap my leg around his, push his knee forward with my heel and let him fall to the floor.
When he gets back up I threaten him with the pan. Without blinking, he grabs the pan and throws it on the stove. I swear I saw it bent a little.
Focus!
He lets out another chuckle like before and I bolt for the stairs.
Reaching the first step, he already catches up to me. I groan as I turn around, but he grabs my wrist and whirls me around to face him.
When I look him in the eyes my whole body flares up in ecstasy, so I look away, but not down.
"Eliah," I shiver.
"How-" he places his finger on my lips and I want to scream again.
When I close my eyes for the second time, I hear him growling. Growling like Koray.
I furrow my eyebrows and open my eyes, feeling the emotions pulse through my body. I look away from his eyes and search the cabin for any sign of Koray.
Nothing.
I must be dreaming.
This is absurd.
The guy smiles and I grow suspicious. I need to put him in some clothes.
I grab his hand in mine, ignoring the warmth, and stomp to my closet. I grab my sleeping pants, rip the seam out along with the ribbon around the waist and hand it to the guy.
Thank goodness this guy is not too bulky. Yes, he has more muscle than half of the population, but he has less than the other half. He is still a big guy, though.
"It's too big for me," I throw it in his face and take out an oversized shirt I like to wear. I hear him dressing.
"Don't tear it, it's my favourite," he nods and pulls the white shirt over his head.
As I walk down the stairs, the guy takes my hand as I did and I jump out of surprise. He embraces me with care, but I walk further.
No time for swooning.
In the corner of my eye, I can see him smiling like a puppy.
He lies down on the couch and wants to pull me in, but I sit on the floor, leaving our hands intertwined.
"What's going on?" I plead for answers and I can see the struggle in his eyes.
"Koray is my wolf. I'm alpha Xavion Moon from the Silver Mist pack. You could say I'm a werewolf," he says with so much casualty, it's not what I was expecting. I let him continue, curiosity killing the cat.
You could say satisfaction brought it back, but I'm not so sure about this time.
"I was hunting for rogues with my pack when one of them slashed me on the side. I thought I could heal and continue the fight, but he used wolfsbane. I was injured and lost until someone found me and you came along. You're my mate," he smiles at me, but all I could do was cough in surprise.
"Mate, as in together forever until we die, just like wolves," he slowly nods.
"But the bond isn't as strong yet, because uhm, we haven't mated yet," I continue coughing on air at his statement.
"How strong is this apparent bond?" he flinches at my disbelief but keeps the answers flowing.
Why I'm sitting still and not calling the cops, is unknown to me.
"I can feel your emotions and read your mind. You would also be able to and we can link through our minds after the thing. I'm not certain since you're human," he hesitates a bit and I pout at the word 'human'.
I'm that unspecial?
It looks like he wants to react, but keeps it to himself.
"That thing being?" I ask knowing he doesn't mean the mating.
"The marking," he whispers and my face is now covered with fear.
"I would rather not know," I wave him off and he looks dejected.
Whatever he is going on about, it looks like he strongly believes it and I don't know what to think.
"They'll put me back in the forest tomorrow, but I'll only come back if you want me to," he pauses for a moment. "I'll even break the bond if you want before it will hurt too much."
"Before it hurts too much?" I ask, preparing myself for anything.
"Some mates have died after rejection," I had to lean closer to hear him and gasp at his words.
He bolts into a sitting position, dragging me with him.
He looks down at me as he says, "I would never hurt you, but if you don't want this, I'll leave your sight."
I'm torn.
Before I was on the brink of death with horror and thought he was a madman, but he looks so sincere. He looks dreadful sitting here, expecting the worst while waiting for my answer.
"You'll come back?" The amount of hope that fills his eyes makes me feel sorry for him.
He has to put up with me.
A human.
He nods his head and I give him a reassuring smile. More hope and happiness fill his eyes along with his expression.
I'll have to let him come back if this isn't a dream.
"Then I'll wait," I hesitate on the next part, "for you." I gulp and when I catch his gaze another flood of all good washes over me.
His smile is so bright that I let him have his moment.
His moment is so big, I even catch his eyes turning silver and I launch backwards. He looks down at me on the ground as his eyes turn back to green.
"I'm so sorry, Koray got a little too excited and took over for a second," he rants while I try to get my breath back.
As quick as light, he picks me up from the ground and holds me in his arms in protection. I shift a bit with the sudden situation and he snakes his arm around my lower half to hold me closer.
"I'm so sorry," he breathes into my neck and I blink a few times.
How can someone so tuff looking be so soft?
I try not to think about it out loud, since the mind-reading confession.
He sighs in my neck with content but suddenly pushes me back a bit.
"It's too much. I'm sorry," before I can ask what he means, he snuggles his head on my chest and squeezes me closer.
"Xavion," he acts like Koray when I call his name, "Am I really not dreaming?"