Evelyn was taken aback by his words. 'How did he know what I was thinking?' She thought completely baffled.
"I can even lightly feel your feelings. One of the perks of mating bond." He answered her unasked question which she was glad about. Evelyn knew well the words couldn't have formed in her mouth.
"But we aren't mates." She said with hesitation.
She knew the kind of link mates shared after the rituals and official bonding. She'd seen Oscar when he was mating with Lucida and how they could know each other's thoughts without a hint required. But that was after the mating.
"There's a difference between forced mates and destined mates." Evelyn eyed him with a glint of enthusiasm beaming on her face as he began speaking,
"The mates bonded together by Moon Goddess share a special link. At first there was no such thing as forced mates but then there were some unfortunate wolves who never found their mates in one lifetime so they were forced with someone else. That's how it all started."
Evelyn didn't say anything, just stared dumbfounded. No one ever told her that in her life. She'd thought it impossible to find a destined mate in one lifetime, especially the one she had.
Even after all of this, here she was, looking into his wonderful eyes who claimed to be her mate. She never knew she'd find her true mate and now that she had, she was terrified. But it didn't change anything for her. She wouldn't throw away all the sacrifices and planning of ten years for someone as delusional as him. She was determined towards the future she'd seen for herself.
He frowned reading her last thought. It hurt him that his mate wasn't ready to give in even after submitting to him.
"Stop snooping into my brain you pervert!" Evelyn growled irritated. She couldn't look into his thoughts so he shouldn't be able to do the same. She wanted it to be a fair fight.
She looked away from him furiously and her eyes landed on the broken window where she noticed a clear blue sky with a bright sun hanging between the clouds; it was midday. One day had passed since she left home—the longest she'd stayed outside without any one of her family members watching her back.
She hoped they wouldn't think she ran away because of the 'news'. If she got caught, William would never trust her again to go outside and lock her up in her room until she was mated off to another cruel alpha.
She didn't dwell on that thought much since she was going to be leaving home soon.
"What do you mean 'leaving home'?" He was staring down at her with worry dripping from his eyes that reminded her of the forest and the full moon. The mere look of them was enough to soothe her down.
But she had a question to answer.
"I'm graduating soon." Was all she said knowing he wouldn't take the 'news' very well.
He searched her for a lie but sighed when found nothing. She felt relieved that he wasn't asking anymore questions because she was awfully tired and perhaps the wound in her neck had reopened for it hurt really bad. He gave her neck side a glance and elevated his hand up to her side.
By reflex, she flinched back even when she hadn't planned to and he stopped right away. She peeked at him from under her long black lashes as he touched the claw marks from last night and lightly rubbed his thumb over the wound.
It hurt but soon it was replaced by comfort. The stroke of his hand did wild things to her and on top of that, made her feel a bunch of random emotions that no guy had even been able to. She'd dated before but never got too intimate as it never lasted too long because of her overprotective brother.
And his touch, his mere touch was able to make her feel—it gave her the urge to fall at her knees. Was that what meant to be destined mates? Was that how she was going to feel with him? No one in her life could make her feel weak except for William and now him, the Devil of her dreams.
He smirked and she rolled her eyes at him but it wasn't an annoying one, it was a playful act. She thought she'd have to get him to stop reading her thoughts one day. The idea of him knowing every one of her secrets wasn't good. Meanwhile as she was dwelling over his supernatural abilities, she noticed he was distracted by something else entirely.
He leaned in slowly and carefully with a little pressure brushed his lips over the scar. She shivered again at this intimate contact but he held her still with his tough hands. He ran his tongue over her mark and the slight sting got quickly replaced by an unknown pleasure and want. But that was all before he leaned away from her neck, leaving her hot, wanting and confused.
Her eyes scanned his emotionless face and then they fell on the side of his neck. She gasped as soon as she took in the image of claw marks stretched on his skin right on the side where her marks used to be. Her neck however was unblemished and rid off the scrape from an animal's claw.
He took her pain and that seemed to hurt her more.
"How?" Was all she could muster to say in her state of bafflement.
"You're my destined mate. Your joy is mine, your pleasure is mine, your pain is mine because you are mine." He was holding her firmly against his chest as he put emphasis on every 'mine' he used to claim her. It was awfully turning her on. His voice, his tone, his touch, his dominantly possessive alpha personality. Everything about him was so good and thrilling to deny him.
'How did I get so lucky?' It wasn't Evelyn, no it was her overjoyed, overexcited wolf on the surface.
Nonetheless, she couldn't deny that when she'd first imagined her possessive alpha suitor, she'd imagined some of William in him so it was a very creepy imagination. Spending her prolonged supernatural life with someone like William was horrifying. But this man was nothing like her imagination. He was tough though a part of her—especially her wolf part—felt comfortable and safe around him. That was the only reason why her wolf was so calm and collected and was enjoying his touch more than Evelyn.
"Your wolf is smarter and even more beautiful than you." He teased and Evelyn swiftly shut his lips with her index finger, giving rise to a deep tension between them.
"Do not encourage her." Evelyn whispered to him as a low whine came from within her.
He and Evelyn, they both laughed at that as if it was the funniest joke they'd ever heard. She was feeling a mix of emotions in her stomach upon seeing her laugh like that but the most overwhelming feeling was satisfaction. She was . . . satisfied.
Perhaps he wasn't that bad to become friends with. Perhaps he'd treat her with respect and kindness. She thought she'd give him a shot and would remind him that they're not mates from time to time.
He made her forget her pain and misery and made her lose herself in a fantasy that she thought had never existed. She'd always considered herself an unfortunate one because of her family but now, with him, everything was different and new and rainbows and unicorns. Maybe she was lucky and perhaps just maybe, he was her fantasy.
Evelyn could see him smiling at her thoughts and he slowly leaned in to . . . he stopped just right above her lips as the doorknob behind him twisted and started to demonstrate a silhouette. She was shocked at his sudden gesture but didn't feel relieved when he didn't carry on with his work.
And he wasn't happy about it much either. One could tell he was beyond annoyed as he twisted back to answer to the unfortunate intruder and Evelyn suffocated her laugh at his expression. Whoever the person at the door was, he was indeed doomed.
The door opened fully and a man stood at the threshold, a familiar man. She took a few steps back when her destined mate began to march at his beta. She wasn't okay with his presence yet. Last night Evelyn was his enemy and now she was his luna—'how twisted your ways are Goddess!' She wondered.
"What?" He screamed and Evelyn almost jumped at the rough tone he hadn't once used on her. Then she slowly came back to earth and remembered he was the alpha and he ought to be intimidating to his pack and enemies—Evelyn was a pretty exception however.
"The rogues from last night, one of them is asking for you." The beta spoke keeping his head low and careful to not look at Evelyn's side.
"Tell him then I'm busy." Alpha ordered.
"He says he knows something about Anastasia." Beta's words seemed to be ringing in alpha's ears as he looked at him for confirmation.
He looked between Evelyn and his beta before he finally announced. "I'll send someone to clean this up." He declared looking at her with a much softer tone and began to stomp out of the room.
When he was at the threshold, a question hit Evelyn out of the blue. "Alpha!" She screamed to get his attention and he looked a bit disturbed by his title coming from his mate's mouth. "You didn't tell me your name." She reminded.
He seemed to be in a dilemma as his facial features became unwavering and dead serious before he finally decided to speak, "I'll tell you once I'm back." He said with a forced smile. It seemed as though he was struggling to speak the truth. And Evelyn could tell by his tone that something was off.