I shook my head in disbelief, my mind whirling. "But...how? How can that be possible? I was rejected by my destined mate. I have nothing to offer you, nothing-"
"Hush." Dantes deep voice silenced me, and I found myself instinctively obeying. "The reasons matter little now. What's done is done." He leaned forward, his gray eyes burning with an intensity that stole my breath. "You are mine, little wolf. And I intend to claim you as such."
A shiver of some fear? anticipation? ran down my spine at his words. Claim me? The idea both terrified and thrilled me in equal measure. I was no stranger to the concept of mating, of bonding, but the thought of being bound to the Lycan King...
"I..." I swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know what to say."
Dantes expression softened ever so slightly. "You need not say anything, my dear. For now, simply know that you are safe here, under my protection and I will protect you and the child in your womb." He reached across the space between us, his calloused fingers gently brushing against the back of my hand. "That is what matters most."
I stared at our hands, my pulse quickening at the contact. There was an undeniable electricity there, a connection that I couldn't begin to fathom. And as I met Blake's unwavering gaze, I knew, with a certainty that shook me to my core, that my life was about to change in ways I could never have imagined.
Suddenly, a loud commotion from outside the study drew our attention. Raised voices, the sound of running footsteps, something was clearly amiss.
Dantes brow furrowed, a flash of annoyance crossing his features. "Excuse me for a moment." He rose from his seat, his movements fluid and graceful. "I must see to this disturbance."
I watched, transfixed, as he strode towards the door, his very presence commanding respect and obedience. As he placed his hand on the elaborate handle, he paused and turned back to me, his gaze intense.
"Remain here. I will return shortly." And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the study, my head spinning with the weight of everything he had revealed.
I leaned back in the soft chair, my hands shaking. Being the Lycan King's mate. It was something I could barely understand, let alone agree to. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw how much my life had changed since Dante found me in the forest.
As Dante's footsteps faded away, I sat alone in the big room, feeling dizzy from what he said.
Being the Lycan King's mate was still hard for me to understand. How could someone like me, who was rejected, be chosen to be with the most powerful alpha?
I held onto the chair's arms, thinking hard. What did this mean for me? Would people accept me as his mate, or just see me as a problem?
The sound of raised voices drifting in from the hallway momentarily pulled me from my turmoil. Dante had rushed off to address some disturbance, leaving me here alone and uncertain.
Part of me wanted to go see what was happening, but another part was too scared to move.
I wondered what kind of trouble could be happening in the Lycan King's place. Was someone challenging him? Or attacking his pack? I couldn't stop thinking about it, and each idea was scarier than the last.
Suddenly, the doors to the study burst open, and I barely had time to react before a whirlwind of motion and sound filled the room. Two snarling wolves, their teeth bared, crashed through the threshold, their powerful bodies colliding in a flurry of claws and fangs.
I gasped and scooted back in my chair, shocked by the fight in front of me. One wolf, bigger and brown, had the other one on the ground, biting its neck.
"Stop!" someone yelled, and the wolves froze, listening to the loud voice.
My gaze snapped towards the door, where Dante stood, his expression thunderous. With a flick of his wrist, he shifted effortlessly into his own wolf form, a magnificent silver-gray creature showing power and authority.
The two wolves backed down, obeying him. Dante growled, and they went to opposite sides of the room.
Shifting back into his human form, Dante strode towards me, his eyes sweeping over my trembling form. "Are you unharmed, my dear?"
I swallowed hard, my heart still pounding in my chest. "I-I'm fine," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "What...what was that?"
Dante's face got even angrier. "You disobeyed me," he said sharply to the wolves, who whimpered in response. "You're supposed to protect, not fight each other."
I blinked, suddenly understanding. "They were...challenging you? As the Lycan King?"
Dante nodded, his jaw clenching. "Yes. They will be dealt with accordingly." He reached out, gently cupping my chin and tilting my face up to meet his gaze. "You have nothing to fear, little wolf. I will always protect you."
His words were strong, and they made me feel scared. I knew he meant every word. Blake was powerful and he had chosen me as his mate. He would do anything to keep me safe.
It was exciting but also scary. I wasn't just a rejected wolf anymore. I was the mate of the most formidable alpha in our world. And that meant I had a target painted on my back.
As if sensing my unease, Dante pulled me into the shelter of his arms, his embrace both comforting and protective. "You are safe here, " he murmured, his deep voice a soothing balm. "No one will dare challenge your place at my side."
I leaned against him, feeling safe. Maybe I had found the home I wanted. With Dante protecting me, I could start fresh and be strong.
But I worried about what could happen next. What problems would we face? Who would try to hurt us? I didn't know what the future held, but I knew meeting Dante had changed everything for me.
And I couldn't help but wonder, was that a blessing or a curse?