Camden's eyes flew open, her body jerking upright in bed. Panic surged through her once again, fueled by the lingering aftermath of the previous day's chaos. But this time, there was an added layer, a peculiar sensation that eclipsed her fear. She could sense the restlessness and anticipation building within her as her wolf awakened, demanding to be filled in on the events of the past 24 hours.
Clayton, who had dozed off at the table, awoke to the sound of her panicked gasp once again. He quickly made his way to the bed, concern etched on his face. He sensed the awakening of her wolf, and in that moment, his own wolf whispered in his mind, "mate?" The word reverberated through him.
Camden looked up at him, confusion apparent on his face as he stood tall, his green eyes exuding a blast of intensity. A flicker of fear ignited within her as he suddenly towered over her, but as her own wolf awakened, Camden found her voice and whispered with unwavering certainty, "Mate." The realization hit her like a lightning bolt, an onslaught of emotions crashing upon her. She had fled her own wedding only to stumble upon her destined mate in the process. The wild workings of the Moon Goddess became glaringly evident at that moment.
Camden began to relax, feeling less intimidated by Clayton's presence. The intensity of his gaze seemed to pierce into her soul, as if he were battling some internal struggle with his own wolf. All he could manage was a nod, words momentarily failing him. Camden rose from the bed, drawing him closer, her arms encircling the back of his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she attempted to bridge the height difference, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. For a brief moment, time stood still as their connection deepened. Breaking away, Camden's face flushed with warmth and a flutter of butterflies danced within her. Clayton's hand gently found hers, tracing her fingers until he felt the engagement ring from her previous arranged marriage. Realizing its significance, or insignificance, Camden let out a small laugh and discarded the ring, casting it aside. "I suppose I won't be needing that anymore," she said, her smile illuminating the room.
Tenderly, he pressed a kiss on her forehead before retreating to the chair he had occupied earlier, leaving Camden standing next to the bed on her own. Camden's mind spun with confusion. Typically, when mates found each other, an overwhelming desire to be close consumed them, an irresistible force. Yet Clayton seemed to resist their natural pull. Did he not want her? Was he going to reject her? The thought gnawed at her heart, leaving behind a lingering ache of profound disappointment.
"We need to talk about this, OK?" Clayton's words broke through her chaotic thoughts. "OK," Camden replied weakly, her wavering voice betraying the lingering disappointment she felt. "Why don't you take a shower?" Clayton suggested, attempting to ease the tension. "I've heated up some water for you. It'll give both of us a chance to gather our thoughts." Camden nodded, her eyes glistened with welling tears, but she was determined not to let him see her cry now. She didn't need time to think—this was her mate, her destined partner. What was there to think about?
Clayton led her to an outdoor shower and showed her how it worked. "Need any help with the dress?" he offered, casting a glance toward her muddy and torn wedding gown. Camden looked down at the disheveled garment, astonished at how she had managed to sleep in such a monstrosity. "Yes please," she said, "it laces up the back. Can you please unlace it for me?" she asked. Clayton did as she asked, gently and painstakingly unlacing the corset backing of the dress until it was loose enough to slip off, though she kept it on for the time being, not wanting to expose herself to him just yet. Not while he still had to "think" about their mate bond.
"Thank you," Camden murmured, turning away from him, indicating that he could leave now. Clayton understood the unspoken message, hanging a towel on a nearby tree branch before making his way back to the cabin. "Oh! The toilet is over there," he said, pointing at an outhouse a little way away from the cabin. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but bury his face in his hands, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.
This was not part of the plan. Clayton had long given up hope of ever finding his mate, resigned to a solitary life as a rogue. What kind of life could he offer her? She was the daughter of an Alpha and had probably never wanted for anything in her life. He had been living in and around these woods with little to nothing for years, and while it suited him just fine, he was certain no daughter of an Alpha would want a life like this. She deserved better. Maybe he should have left her in the woods yesterday. His wolf whined at the thought.
Meanwhile, as Camden scrubbed away the dirt and grime from her body, her anger intensified. She was the daughter of an Alpha, a coveted match for any werewolf. Any man would consider himself lucky to be her mate. Yet, here he was, implying that they needed to "talk" first, as if their bond required justification or negotiation. Resentment simmered within her, fueling her every movement as she vigorously cleansed herself of the remnants of the previous day. She scrubbed away the smears of makeup from her face and removed all the leaves and twigs tangled in her hair before washing it. The hot water gradually ran out, turning icy cold, which did nothing to improve Camden's mood. In fact, it only fueled her anger and frustration. She hurriedly finished her shower, wrapping a towel around her body. Determination blazed in her eyes as she stormed back toward the cabin, propelled by her fury.
Bursting through the door, Camden's gaze locked onto Clayton, as he sat at the table massaging his temples. His eyes darkened as they fell upon her, her wet hair cascading in tendrils down her shoulders, her wet body covered in nothing but a towel. At that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Clayton sighed audiably, his gaze dropping to the table, a mix of emotions playing across his features.
"Look at me!" Camden's voice pierced through the tense silence, her fury breaking through. "Are you planning to reject me? Because if you are..." Her words trailed off, her voice choked with a blend of anger, fear, and vulnerability as she stood glaring at him with her hands on her hips. Clayton raised his head, meeting her gaze with calm determination. "No, I'm not planning to reject you," he responded evenly, his eyes conveying sincerity. The declaration seemed to have a calming effect on Camden, though her fiery spirit still smoldered beneath the surface. "I just... I'm a rogue," Clayton began, the weight of his admission evident in his voice. "I know," Camden interjected, her tone laced with a mixture of understanding and impatience. Clayton continued, his voice tinged with resignation, "And you're the daughter of an Alpha. What kind of life does a rogue have to offer an Alpha's daughter?"
Camden's eyes widened, disbelief and incredulity etched across her face. She scoffed softly, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "Well, I can't go back home now, can I? So I guess I'm a rogue too."
Clayton's gaze softened as he took in Camden's response. There was a fire in her eyes, a fierce determination that matched his own. She refused to let their circumstances define them or limit their possibilities. The daughter of an Alpha or not, she had chosen her path, and it led to him.
Taking a step forward, Camden, draped in her towel, exuded a newfound strength. "Do you think being a rogue disqualifies you from being my mate? Do you believe I would reject you because of that?" Her voice carried a mix of defiance and vulnerability. Clayton met her gaze, his own resolve intensifying. "I worry about the life I can provide for you, about the challenges we might face," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of self-doubt. Camden's eyes softened, and she reached out, grasping his hands, her touch reassuring. "Clayton, I didn't run away from my wedding to find a comfortable life. I ran away to find freedom. I ran away because I didn't want to marry someone who wasn't my mate. I guess I ran away to find you. I didn't anticipate it happening so soon, but here we are, I suppose," she trailed off.
Clayton sighed again, understanding the meaning of her words, but he was still concerned about their circumstances.
"Listen," Camden started, seeing the turmoil in his expression "We don't know each other at all. I understand that you have reservations, so do I." she said, walking towards him. "I know that this 'mate bond' thing has a powerful pull," she said, thinking back to their earlier kiss, "but let's do our best to try and keep it in check while we try and figure this out. Let's spend some time together and get to know one another before we make any decisions that we can't unmake."
Clayton looked up at her, her aura radiating wisdom and authority. She would have made an excellent Luna, but that would be off the cards for her as long as she stayed with him. "OK?" he heard Camden say, snapping him back to reality. "OK," he muttered, not feeling entirely convinced.