"You have three months to say good bye, and to collect your things. I have to finish some stuff and get everything ready for your arrival. I'll send someone to get you when it's time," Aspen explained as he was putting on his coat at the front door. We had just finished dessert and he wanted to get some rest because apparently he had to leave first thing in the morning.
"Are you a virgin?" He asked, startling me a little at such a private question.
"Um, yes?" I answered as I looked down at his shoes, they were brown leather with no scuffs on them.
"Good, I can't have you pregnant when you arrive into my pack. The whole point in you coming is to give birth to my children, not any random man that walks around this pack."
I was stunned at his bold choice of words, he was basically accusing me of sleeping around when in reality, I never left my home. It makes me almost wonder what he would have said if I told him I wasn't a virgin. I overheard one of my brothers talking the other day, about how virgins were out of style, and what a man really wants is someone with experience. Is that true? I looked at him and realized he was still talking while I was zoned out.
"Don't bother packing everything in your room, just the essentials, things you can't live without. I'll have everything else you need."
"Okay."
"And, Anastasia," I looked up and he leaned in a little, it was almost like he was about to kiss me goodbye but instead his hand gently wrapped around my throat, his thumb softly caressing my jaw bone, he whispered into my ear, "Keep those legs closed for me," all I could do was nod my head. He smiled and leaned back to take a look at me, his hand gently squeezed my throat and I released a gasp, and he chuckled as he dropped his hand. I could feel a presence behind me and when I looked over my should, Onyx was standing there watching us.
"Your father would like a word with you, Princess."
"Princess? Interesting," Aspen smirked as he stared Onyx down, "I didn't realize the guards could be so informal and call you by pet names."
"They can't," I murmured, "I should go and see what he wants, I'll see you in three months."
"Yes, and I'll be waiting for my mate," he put emphasis on the words 'my' as he spoke, but he looked directly at Onyx as he said it, like he was threatened that a guard might be able to stake claim and challenge him for me.
I gave him a smile, even though the situation felt more awkward than ever, and turned away from him to walk out of the entrance hall. Onyx stepped to the side while staring down Aspen and then moved behind me to follow me. We left Aspen standing in the entrance hall, but eventually I heard the front door open and close, I was almost to where my father lounges in the evenings when I was suddenly pulled into a closet, my back was pushed against the wall.
"What are you doing?" I asked, but only got a hushing sound from Onyx.
"Your father doesn't really want you, I just had to get you away from him," he admitted with a smirk.
"Why? He's my mate."
"Not yet, to be honest I don't think you've really made a decision for yourself, if he is or isn't."
"What is up with you, you're the only one who doesn't want me to mate with him."
He leaned in close, slightly closing in the small gap between us, "I just don't like seeing someone as beautiful as yourself, being told what you should or should not do," his breath fanned across my cheek and somehow his golden eyes seemed to glow brighter in the dark space. I've never seen someone with eyes like his before, but they intrigued me.
"How do you know that I didn't already make one, to be with him?"
"Because if you did, you wouldn't be in here with me," he placed his right hand onto the wall beside my head, but left the door free for me to leave any time I wanted. I couldn't think of anything to say back so I just smiled at him and then looked down, "I don't know what it is about you, but something is telling me not to let you go with him," I took a deep breath as I looked back up at him, "And I always listen to what that something is."
He slowly leaned down, giving me enough time to leave if I wanted to, but my feet couldn't move. He was so close that I could smell the mint on his breath and the warmth from his body, but before his lips could touch mine, my mother began calling for me.
"Anastasia!" He froze a mere three inches from my lips, and he pulled away with a smile on his lips.
"Next time, we won't be interrupted," he opened the door and stepped out into the hall, I followed quickly behind him and as he closed the door my mother rounded the corner.
"Ah, there you are. What are you doing standing in the hall?" She asked as she stopped right in front of me.
"Oh," I looked over at Onyx who looks like he went back to being in complete guard mode and then back to her, "I just finished saying goodbye to Aspen, I was just about to head up to my bedroom for the night."
"Isn't he wonderful. He's strong, and handsome, I think you're going to be well taken care of with him," she was very excited about my future, but what she didn't know was that I wasn't. From the bits and pieces I'm getting from Aspen, I only feel like he wants me as a power move. Someone who will ensure his bloodline, and to show off to others. That's not what I want, honestly I don't know really what I want. But instead of saying any of that I smiled.
"Yeah, I think so too, Mom."
I could feel Onyx's eyes on me, but I didn't look his way, instead I took out my moms outstretched arm that she was offering and let her talk about the life I could have with Aspen, all while I could only think about the almost kiss between Onyx and I. I knew he was right behind us, and when I looked over my shoulder he was looking down at the ground like he was seriously thinking something over. He must have felt me looking at him because he quickly looked up and smirked at me, I smiled and then looked back ahead of me. When we reached my bedroom door, my mother kissed my forehead good night and left me standing there. Onyx was standing where the guards always stood with a serious expression on his face.
"Do you not plan on sleeping tonight?" I asked him.
"Are you offering to let me sleep with you?"
"That's very bold of you," I smiled, "What I was trying to say is the guards I had before would take shifts guarding me at night."
"Yes, well I'm only one man. Besides, my room is only next door, if I get tired I will sleep. There's no need to worry about me."
"And yet I can't seem to stop," I replied before opening my door and slipping in, his face held a little of a surprised look that he quickly covered with a smirk.
"Good night, Princess."
"Good night," I whispered as I closed the door.