"I can do this!" Kat said not for the first time that evening, trying to psyche herself up into taking the necessary steps onto the street to meet her mate. It was just after office hours and as clockwork, Bjorn and Magnus were at their favorite coffee shop getting their last bite of bitter goodness before heading home for the night.
"Good," Bella bit out behind her, her lips shaking as she jumped from foot to foot in an attempt to stay warm. "Because I'm freezing my otherwise lovely behind off, thanks to you."
The irony of the situation didn't exactly escape Kat's notice. They were two criminals – one wayward witch and the cat that helped her escape prison – spying on two cops and trying to hook up with one of them.
Had the world gone funny or just them?
"You didn't have to come you know," Kat said, glancing at Bella, who was standing right behind her and doing everything in her power to stay warm. Short of lighting her coat on fire that was…
"And risk you chicken out at the last moment again?" she snorted, rubbing her mittened clad hands together. "Not a chance."
"I won't!" She said with more steel in her voice than she felt. "I thought about what you said. I'm his mate and what we'll have will be special. More than anything he could ever have with anyone else." She's repeated those words enough times by now, that they were like a mantra in her head. "I have to do this. I owe it to myself. To make my own happily ever after."
"Spoken like a true Amor," Bella said enduringly and gave her a warm smile. Kat smiled back and nodded, determination filling her. Still, her body trembled with anticipation and nerves, that felt like crows that were eating her alive from the inside. She was going to meet her mate. She'd already met him – so to speak – but this was the first time she'd be able to talk to him. What would she say? After spending hours listening to him recounting his day to her, she'd always enjoyed just sitting on his lap and listening to his baritone voice. It never failed to send shivers down her spine, and she loved the way it left like a smooth caress against her heart. She was already in love with the guy…
And he didn't even know her name!
This whole thing started to feel more like a high school teen romance than real life. And just like any high school girl with a crush, she felt nervous. As in wanting to throw her guts up, stomach coiled in a tight knot and heart beating so fast, it felt like it would tear through her chest.
"And if all else fails," Bella continued with a wink. "I can summon another succubus to teach you a thing or two that will definitely make the big bad wolf howl for you."
Kat blinked. She had so hoped that that had been the alcohol talking last night and she'd imagined that her friend had sold her virginity for beauty. But then again, Bella wouldn't be Bella if she did something "normal".
"Let's…erm," Kat said, trying to let her friend down gently. "Keep that option open for later, ok?"
"Just saying," she replied with a smirk, and Kat had a feeling that the witch knew exactly how she made her feel. Which in turn made Kat grin.
"Ok," she said, squaring her shoulders, and peeked out from behind their hiding place. "Here I go!" Magnus was still inside the shop, while Bjorn was thrumming his thumbs against the steering wheel, waiting for his partner. She'd been trapped enough times inside the car with him to know, that the second Magnus stepped out, Bjorn would blast some Rock'n'roll music and would be singing along with the lyrics, thinking nobody heard him.
Taking a deep breath, Kat steeled herself--- and instantly images of the night before flashed before her eyes! The beautiful, blond woman that had made out with her mate and probably spent the night in his bed too. What if he liked her? What if they had plans to meet up again? What if---?
"Fuck," she hissed, losing her nerve, and spun around to face Bella. "What if---?"
She never got to finish that!
Not just because Bella was glaring at her with a stare that could put ordinary men six feet under, but because she knew deep down, they'd already had this conversation. She'd dilly-dallied once and looked what that had resulted in?
She HAD to do this!
"Right! Not a pussy!" she said, giving herself the same pep talk that Bella had given her the night before. "I'm not a pussy!"
She turned back to the street--- and cursed out loud when she saw that Magnus was already back in the car and Bjorn was pulling out of the parking lot.
"Fuck!"
"What?" Bella asked in alarm.
"They're already in the car," Kat replied, frustration and panic welling up in her. "How---?"
"Don't worry," Bella quickly interjected, placing a hand on her back. "I've got you back!"
Something about the way she said that had Kat frowning.
"Wha---?!"
She never got to finish that question. Some low muttered words from Bella and suddenly, she felt a hard push against her back, hurdling her out in the middle of the road. She shrieked as she went down, the last thing she saw was the black and white cruiser coming at her.
Oh, fuck!
She was going to die!
Tires screeched just as she connected with the hard asphalt. Pain shot up her arms and knees, but luckily she didn't hit her head. However, the wet and cold road still dug into her skin even though her thick winter coat. And what's even more, by some miracle – or magic from a well-meaning friend with apparently homicidal tendencies – the car had stopped some inches away from her.
Kat let out a sigh of relief.
The next time she saw that witch she'd scratch her freaking eyes out!
"Holy fuck!"
She suddenly heard a growled voice ring out and a door slammed close. She didn't even manage to brace herself before Magnus was standing in front of her. His face contorted into a mask of concern and rage, as he watched her. But his hard features quickly mellowed out as their gazes met.
He didn't recognize her as his mate, Kat realized. But he felt something. She didn't have any of her usual shifter enhanced senses, but she could have sworn she heard his heart beat faster. His eyes never left hers and without really realizing it, he smiled. A smile that could melt the panties off any warm-blooded woman. And when he reached out to take her hand into his, she shuddered at the currents of electricity that coursed up her arms and settled low in her belly.
"You ok?" he asked, his voice had suddenly gone raw and husky.
"I'm-I'm fine," Kat murmured in a daze as she let him help her up--- and hissed at the scrapes on her elbow. Shit! Her skin felt raw and stung like a bitch! Her knees were no better off and she found herself leaning against Magnus more out of necessity than wanting to be close to her mate.
Bloody witch!
With another groan, she glanced at the place where Bella had been only moments ago. But her friend was long gone. Instead, Bjorn came from that direction, his scowling features set in an even deeper frown.
"Who pushed you?" Bjorn asked in a low rumble, and while it was discrete to the human eye, Kat noticed that he was sniffing the air, trying to catch Bella's scent.
Shit!
"I-I…," she stuttered, letting Magnus help her to the sidewalk. "I didn't see anyone! I…"
She suddenly forgot how to breathe when Magnus put his arm around her, supporting her. He felt so good against her, that she had to bite her lips not to moan out loud. And if his heavy breathing and muffled groans were any indications, she was having the same effect on him.
"You're safe now," he said softly, helping her onto a bench nearby. "I promise."
He sat down next to her, still looking at her as if he'd just seen the most wonderful thing he'd ever come across. And while he didn't recognize her as his mate, she suddenly realized that that didn't hurt as much as she feared. Because the way he was looking at her made her feel like she was the only woman in the whole entire world. Since helping her up he hadn't let go of her hand and he probably didn't know it, but his eyes were turning bright gold with his wolf.
"Thanks," she said, suddenly feeling shy, and hell, even in the cold, she felt her cheeks heat. "I'm Kat, by the way. Kat Weldon."
And with that, she started shaking the hand he still hadn't let go of. Finally, he looked down and probably realized what he was doing.
"Erm, right," he said, clearing his throat, and gripped her hand, as if he had intended to shake it all along. Smooth move, Marshal, Kat thought amused, unable to stop a broad smile to curl her lips.
"I'm-I'm Magnus Dale, US Marshal."
"Magnus?" she echoed. "It means "great one", right?" She asked, but in truth, she only knew that because she'd Googled it. And if that was stalkerish or cute, she didn't know and didn't care. It was her mate, if anyone was allowed it was her!
(Kat sticking her tongue out at anyone who might judge!)
"Yeah," Magnus beamed at her – and still didn't take away his hand. He looked at her like he wanted to savor her, while also devouring her all at once. His eyes swirled a golden honey color that was reserved for his wolf only. She could see that he was fighting to keep him under wraps, which meant that she had an equally strong effect on the wolf as the man.
"Are-are you sure, you're alright?" he suddenly said, shaking his head slightly as if clearing it and cleared his throat. "I mean, did you hit your head or anything? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Protective, possessive, and perfect!
"I'm fine. I promise," Kat reassured him once again, before glancing down at their still interlaced hands. "Are you going to let go of my hand now?"
He followed her gaze and when he saw their hands, a hot red blush spread across his cheeks.
"Yeah," he said and although he did detangle their hands, she could hear the slight whine at the back of his throat at the loss of contact. Kat could relate. Suddenly her hand felt cold as the pleasant spark that had been sizzling between them suddenly stopped. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked him to take his hand back?
"I-I haven't seen you around here before," he continued, and she didn't know if it was on purpose or not, but he moved closer so that his knee brushed hers. "Are you new in town?"
"You could say that," Kat replied, and although she'd been fantasizing about meeting her mate for months now and had prepared for all the questions he might ask, she still felt nervous. "I just---."
"Not to burst your bubble," Bjorn's baritone voice suddenly cut into their--- yeah, bubble! They both looked up at a snickering bear shifter, who gestured a long line of cars behind him. And in every single one of those cars were people with their noses practically plastered to the window, staring at them.
"But we're blocking traffic!"
"Oh shit," Kat exclaimed and jumped up--- wincing when her scraped knee protested the sudden movement. "Oh, God! I'm so sorry! I---!"
"No! Totally my fault," Magnus quickly interjected and stood up next to her. He really did tower over her, Kat realized. He was huge! Well, not as big as Bjorn – thank God for small miracles – but compared to her he was a mountain of a man. Tall, broad, and imposing, but with a face that could disarm even the most coldhearted of people. He was hard all over, while she was soft and if he hadn't looked like he'd been completely mesmerized with her, the insecurities that threaten to resurface might have gotten a voice. But the way he was looking at her, quickly squashed them and Kat realized that everything Bella had been saying was true…
"Erm, do you by any chance want to go get coffee or something later?" he asked, making butterflies erupt in her belly. "I have a meeting at the sheriff's office, but I should be able to get out of it in an hour or so."
"Coffee sounds great," Kat quickly agreed and gestured to the coffee shop right behind them. "Is the coffee house behind us ok? It's my favorite."
It really was! She'd been coming here first with Magnus and Bjorn as a cat and then she'd been taking Bella here regularly since she'd been human. Bella only drank her coffee when it was sweet enough to make even Kat gag, but she loved their Danish, so she happily came back every time Kat needed her caffeine shot.
"Mine too," Magnus replied, and although she already knew that, she still blushed.
"While we're still young, people!" Bjorn hollered again, honking the horn. Magnus barely suppressed a growl, as he glared at his partner. But Kat just laughed, knowing Bjorn probably did it on purpose just to piss him off.
"I'll see you in an hour then," Magnus said, reluctantly stepping away from her.
"It's a date," Kat said, suddenly feeling bold and empowered by the way he was looking at her. Hell, he made her feel like she could take on the world. Hell, blond barbie alpha bitch who? With or without her animal, nothing was more powerful than the link between mates…
"You bet," he said with a wink and gave her a smile that made her heart do a summersault in her chest. He was walking backwards to the car again and almost tripped over the ledge, just barely catching himself. Bjorn bellowed a laugh, while she stifled a snicker.
Apparently, her mate couldn't take his eyes off her.
*
Magnus couldn't take his eyes off the dark-haired beauty. She was mesmerizing in every sense of the word. Everything from her beautiful raven hair to her blue eyes with just a speck of green in them. Her face was filled with innocence and purity and--- and hell, she fired up every protective and possessive instinct he had. All he wanted to do was to pull her into him and kiss her!
When their eyes met the rest of the world had fallen away. He hadn't been able to help himself, but held his hand out for her, wanting to touch her more than he wanted his next breath. And when he felt those sparks that practically turned his blood to molten lava, he was sure he'd found his mate!
But she was human…
"What was that?" Bjorn asked when he finally entered the car. Abstinently he reached for his seatbelt, but for the life of him, he couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful human woman, who was slowly making her way to the coffee-house. His wolf paced, angry that he'd left her behind. Was she really alright? He didn't want to leave her, but Lawry had called and needed him at the sheriff's office. If Magnus and his wolf had their way, he would have skipped the meeting and taken her home.
His home!
"I have no idea," Magnus replied which was a very precise description. Everything inside him had him convinced that she was his mate. Hell, even his wolf was fully on board with that idea!
But she was human!
A shifter could mate a human if they wanted to if the alpha of their pack permitted it. There was nothing wrong with it or discriminating about it. But only another shifter could be his True Mate.
Or at least that's what he'd been told his entire life…
So, there was no way that Kat Weldon was his mate!
But what if---?
"Is she your mate?" Bjorn asked somewhere in the background. But he was too busy keeping an eye on her through the rearview mirror. And not for the first time in his life, he was glad that Bjorn was their designated driver.
Damn, that ass---!
It filled his mind with all kinds of wicked and dirty things he could do to her. Bending her over his knee and spank her until she was crying out his name. Or taking her from behind and while he sank into her heat, he'd dig his fingers into her softness, giving him something real to hold onto while he sheeted himself all the way inside her. Reveling in the feeling of her coming all over his cock and---
And fuck, now he had a hard-on!
"No," he replied what the thought was truthfully, and tried to focus on his friend. Instantly his wolf backed at the idea and Magnus realized that with the electricity coursing through his body, nobody was ever going to believe that…
Bjorn said something else, and Magnus had every intention to listen to him, but just then, he noticed that a tall blond woman was walking up behind Kat. He stiffened, ready to rip open the door and be at her side if she needed him. But to his relief, they seemed to know each other and embraced---
Damn it!
The car made a turn and he lost sight of them. His wolf whined and without even thinking, he spun around in his seat and looked behind him. Not seeing her made his chest tighten in a knot and he didn't even understand why. He'd met the woman 5 seconds ago! How could she have this effect on him if---
"MAGNUS!"
Startled he turned to Bjorn, who was glaring at him, half annoyed, half horrified. He'd clearly been trying to reach him a couple of times, judging by his scowl. And Magnus hadn't even noticed…
"What?" he asked, letting him feel his own annoyance. If Bjorn had just wanted to step up in the pack, he could have gone to this meeting alone – as Head Enforcer, Gamma or hell, even as Beta! – and Magnus would still be with Kat. But no! The stupid bear was so afraid of commitment he acted like a big baby and---
"What the fuck?!" Bjorn snapped, his attention going between his partner and the road. "She's not your mate but you're spacing out and spying on her?" He gestured the back at the coffee shop. "If she isn't your mate then what is she?"
MINE!
Magnus had to shake his head to clear it. But there was no denying how his wolf was howling after her, wanting to get back to her no matter what and---
And claim her!
He really needed to calm down!
"Hey! It's not like I haven't been on dates before," he said and tried taking a deep breath. But that only filled his senses with the lingering fragrance of her scent.
Forget-me-not!
He smiled. It was a small blue or purple flower that grew all around their land. He'd always loved that flower; not because it was big or eye-catching. But because it had a love story behind it that rivaled Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". That two young lovers got separated because of war, as her lover was called away for war. Before he left, she gave him a small parcel for him to keep with him and they said their goodbyes. Unfortunately, he died during an exceptionally bloody battle. In his pocket, they found the small parcel. It was a note with a single flower.
"Forget me not!"
And ever since that day, people called it that. Even to this day, the legend said that the bearer of the flower would not be forgotten by their loved ones.
Sweet, beautiful, and perfect.
Just like her!
"But is it the first time I've seen you fall flat on your face for a human girl," Bjorn continued, letting him know that he'd picked up on the "human" part of that equation.
"Exactly," Magnus tried for nonchalance and not let it show how much it irked him that she couldn't be his mate. "She's human. Can't be a mate then, remember?"
"Then why are you going out with her?" his bear friend didn't let off.
"It's coffee," he snapped, not knowing why he was so irritated all of a sudden. He wanted to jump out of the car and run back to Kat. Take her in his arms and--- and just hold her!
Screw the whole mate thing!
Sure, there wasn't a human mate in their pack so far, but there was a first for everything. And there might have been some that wanted him to mate for practical reasons if he didn't find his True Mate. But those people also wanted him to mate with someone like Alpha Christine Dawson. Someone who made his skin crawl and had his wolf's hackles raised.
Thanks, but--- hell no!
"And I've seen that look in your eyes before," Bjorn continued and chuckled as he added: "Sort of the opposite of what I saw yesterday, actually."
Now that had Magnus groaning out loud, and sinking into his seat, his hands covering his face in shame. God! Why did he have to take that up?
"And by that, I guess the date didn't go well?" Bjorn continued his mock interrogation. And at least had the decency to pretend he wasn't enjoying seeing his alpha miserable.
"It was horrible," Magnus grumbled and let his hands run down his face. Then mimicking his mother's voice, he continued: "As an alpha female she's perfect. She's self-assured, strong, independent---"
"Everything you hate," Bjorn cut him off, knowing his friend all too well.
Magnus snorted.
"What's wrong with wanting a woman that needs you?" he asked rhetorically and sat up straight again. "And I'm not talking about needy-needy, but--- you know. Let's me open the door for her, pull out her chair, and take the lead while dancing?"
He bet Kat would let him do that…
He quickly pushed those mental images out of his head, knowing that he wouldn't be able to continue the conversation if he didn't.
"I'm not telling her to be home, barefoot and pregnant," he continued. "Hell, she could be a CEO for all I cared, but what's wrong with wanting to spoil your mate?"
"You like being alpha of the pack and in your house," Bjorn replied with a noncommittal shrug. He probably got that, although Magnus couldn't imagine that a woman like that would hold Bjorn's interest for long. Sure, Bjorn was an alpha within his own right, but anyone who just catered to him would bore him out of his mind. Unlike Magnus who liked to keep work and home separate…
"I think I belong in the wrong century," he sighed, and rubbed his chest, hoping his wolf would calm down before the meeting. Otherwise, the other wolves in his pack might pick up on that restlessness--- and then the meeting would drag on forever.
"But yes! That's what I want."
"And Christina…?"
"Is all about being her own alpha," Magnus replied, shuttering as he remembered what she'd said last night. "As in she wants to tie me up in bed and ride me like a pony."
"WHAT?!" Bjorn exclaimed, looking horrified for about a split second, and then--- well, to his credit he did his damnedest not to laugh out loud!
"It's NOT funny," Magnus grunted and rolled his eyes. "And out of nowhere comes Love and---"
"Love?" Bjorn almost choked on his own spit and nearly caused an accident.
"My cat!" Magnus clarified with a frustrated huff.
Damn, was his friend slow or something?!
"Thank shit," he snorted and shook his head in relief. And for asshole-effect put a hand on his chest: "Don't go scaring a brother like that. I could never look at you the same if you fell in love with someone who wanted to put a leash on you."
Magnus laughed, and while he wasn't proud that his cat had attached his guest, he couldn't quite hide the smile that edged the corner of his lips when he told Bjorn what she'd done.
Bjorn roared with laughter.
"I had to lock the poor thing up and first-aid the shit out of Christine's face," Magnus shook his head, feeling a little bit better laughing about it – and guilty at the same time. "Then she started to make out with me again and I had to make up some lame excuse to get her to leave."
"You pretended you couldn't get hard?" Bjorn teased.
"Didn't have to pretend," Magnus scoffed and turned to his partner, wanting to slap his teasing smirk off his face. "NOT my type, dude."
"Perhaps a human is just what you need then," he continued, as a matter of fact, surprising Magnus – although he couldn't really say why. Perhaps because Bjorn wasn't one to play any political games or because he didn't ever give advice. He just said what he meant, meant what he said and that was one of the main reasons Magnus liked having him at his side. He could always count on Bjorn to give him his honest opinion weather he liked it or not.
And by the looks of it, he had already one pack member on board with him picking a human as a chosen mate…
"It wouldn't bother you if I mated a human?" he asked, not believing he could be that lucky.
"Nope," Bjorn replied without batting an eye – and he even popped the 'p' for effect. "If you're happy, you're happy. Spices doesn't matter." And then a wide, almost wild grin split his lips. "And if anyone gives you any shit about it, I have someone I want to introduce them to."
Bjorn only smiled that way about one thing – and one thing only!
"Beating shit up is NOT the way to solve all your problems, Bjorn," Magnus tried to scold his friend, despite knowing the futility of it. Because that just turned his grin even wider.
"Really?" he drawled out the question, his expression almost feral now. "I've never had any problems because of it."