Drake's POV:
Watching her rummage through my closet like a pirate hunting for gold was probably the most entertaining thing I'd seen in weeks. She had this look of pure determination on her face, as if finding the perfect hoodie would solve all her problems. Little did she know that her rummaging was just making it harder for me to concentrate.
"Fine, I'll figure it out myself," she muttered, all dramatic flair, and I had to stifle a laugh. The girl was a handful. But that didn't stop her from snatching up one of my hoodies like she owned the place.
I leaned against the doorframe, enjoying the show as she marched off to the bathroom. I couldn't resist throwing a quip her way. "Don't mind me, sweet," I called after her, amusement dripping from my voice. "Gile and I are just admiring our mate from afar. But seriously, ditch the sheet. It's giving us second-hand embarrassment."
She shot me a look that could freeze a fire—classic—and slammed the bathroom door shut with enough force to rattle the windows. The bang echoed through the room, followed by her muffled grumbling. I couldn't help but chuckle. This one was going to be fun.
I could practically hear her irritation from behind the door. "Maybe you'll find your sense of style in there too!" I hollered, grinning like an idiot as I imagined the dirty look she'd be throwing my way.
When she finally emerged, wrapped in my hoodie—which swallowed her whole, by the way—I had to bite back a laugh. The thing was enormous on her, sleeves rolled up about four times, and I swear I could only see half her face beneath the cap she'd thrown on.
"Whoa, sweet," I said, barely able to keep the laughter out of my voice. "You're really giving me a hard time here."
She glared at me, clearly not amused by my nickname for her. I could practically hear her inner monologue: I am not sweet. Well, too bad, because I was already having way too much fun teasing her. And let's be real—she looked adorable in my clothes, even if she was trying to give off that 'don't-mess-with-me' vibe.
But the real kicker came when she started looking for her shoes. She rummaged around like she was searching for a hidden treasure map. I watched her as she dug through my shoe rack and under the bed with increasing frustration.
"Where are my shoes?" she demanded, turning to me with a glare that could have melted icebergs.
I couldn't help myself. "You know," I started, leaning back with a smirk, "if you keep bending over like that, I'm not sure I'll be able to hold myself back. The hoodie might be long, but it's not 'That' long when you bend over."
She straightened up so fast you'd think the floor was on fire. Her cheeks flamed with irritation, and maybe just a hint of something else. I chuckled to myself as she snapped back, "Hey, buddy, my eyes are up here." But not before I caught her muttering something about the "stupid mate bond." Yeah, that thing wasn't doing either of us any favors right now.
I couldn't help but grin. "You know, I could carry you wherever you want to go," I offered, completely serious but also knowing full well she'd never take me up on it.
As she turned to her heel and headed for the door. "Hey, not so fast!" I called after her, my voice dripping with playful frustration. Looking down at my pants I said, "What am I going to do with this problem you've caused? I can't just follow you around like this."
She rolled her eyes like I was the most ridiculous person she'd ever met—which, to be fair, might actually be true. "I didn't ask you to accompany me," she snapped before storming out of the room. I watched her go, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. This girl had walls higher than a fortress, and I was just getting started with figuring her out.
As she disappeared down the hall, I glanced down at myself, realizing what she had done. What am I supposed to do with this problem now? I thought, exasperated. She'd left me in quite the predicament, and chasing after her in this state wasn't exactly going to help.
With a sigh, I ran a hand through my hair. She was a wild one, alright. But something about her—maybe it was the fire in her eyes, or the way she kept trying to act tough—made her irresistible. I wasn't about to let her slip away that easily, mate bond or not.
I took my time before heading downstairs. No rush. After all, I knew she couldn't get too far. And when I finally found her—wrapped in my hoodie, barefoot, and trying to sneak out like a poorly dressed ninja—I nearly lost it when she walked straight into 'her'.
"AAAH! Why are you wearing my man's clothes?!" the girl screeched, her soprano voice cutting through the air like a knife. She was one of those types—impeccably dressed, hair perfect, makeup on point even though it was barely morning. I groaned inwardly. Of all the people for my mate to run into, it had to be her. Perfect timing.
I watched with mild amusement as my mate's face went from frustrated to absolutely done. Before I could even blink, she balled up her fist and decked the girl right in the jaw.
The entire pack house seemed to freeze in shock as the girl crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes. And then, as if the universe was in on the joke, a few of the pack members who had witnessed the whole thing started giving her thumbs up. One even clapped, which just about made my day.
As she bolted for the exit, I couldn't stop laughing. This girl, this crazy, feisty, wild girl, was mine. And as much as I was enjoying the chaos, I couldn't wait to see what she'd do next.
One thing was for sure—life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
You know, there are times when the universe just hands you a gift, wrapped up in sarcasm and a fiery temper. That's exactly what happened when I walked into the forest and nearly got tackled by a certain spitfire trying to make a break for it.
I caught her before she could stumble, and just like that, my day got a whole lot more interesting. The electric jolt from touching her confirmed what I already knew—this little whirlwind was my mate. Lucky me.
"Whoa there, sweet," I said, barely able to keep the amusement out of my voice. "Where do you think you're running off to?"
She looked up at me, eyes narrowed in suspicion and something else—was that panic? Interesting. Then, without missing a beat, she snapped, "Why aren't you with your girlfriend?" Oh, the bitterness in her tone was delicious. I couldn't help the smirk that spread across my face.
"Oh, someone's feeling a little jealous?" I teased, enjoying how her cheeks flushed slightly. "Don't worry, my sweet. You're the only one I've set my eyes upon." Which was true, despite the chaos I loved stirring up. Something about her made it impossible to focus on anyone else.
She tried to brush past me, but I wasn't having any of that. With a quick movement, I grabbed her arm and pinned her against a tree, just close enough to make sure she knew I wasn't playing around. "I won't ask again," I whispered, letting my voice drop low. "Where were you going?"
I leaned in closer, our faces inches apart. The scent of vanilla hit me again, making my wolf, Gile, practically purr with satisfaction. The bond was doing its work, pulling us together with an intensity that was almost overwhelming. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the push and pull of wanting to stay and run at the same time.
Just as I was about to lean in closer—maybe to kiss her, or maybe just to see how she'd react—the moment was ruined by the sound of someone clearing their throat.
"Alpha, something urgent. Come up," one of my men called out, completely oblivious to the fact that he'd just interrupted a very interesting moment.
I could feel her body tense against mine, and then her eyes went wide. She shoved me away, anger flaring up in those gorgeous blue eyes. "Alpha?" she spat. "Why didn't you mention that?"
I had to bite back a laugh. Of all the things she could get mad about, this was what set her off? I shrugged, trying to look innocent. "You never asked, and I didn't think it was important," I said, as if this was the most logical explanation in the world.
The way her eyes narrowed, I could tell she wasn't buying it. Not even a little bit. But I couldn't help it—I liked pushing her buttons. Seeing her all riled up was just too much fun.
She turned to my warrior, who was now standing there like he'd rather be anywhere else. "Which pack is this?" she demanded, her voice all steel and fire.
"Dark Moon," he mumbled, probably regretting every life choice that led him to this moment.
Her eyes widened again, and I knew she was putting the pieces together. Poor thing. She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into, stumbling into my territory and into my life.
"Go ahead, I will follow up with you,' I told him.
I watched as the man who had interrupted us flushed with a mix of embarrassment and urgency. He nodded quickly and scurried away, eager to comply with my directive. Good. I didn't have time for distractions, and his presence was one I couldn't afford right now.
As the man disappeared down the road, my attention shifted back to her. I could see the turmoil in her eyes, the conflict between desire and strategy. Her earlier reaction to our encounter was a mix of electrifying tension and frustration, and I could tell that whatever was going on in her head, it was far from simple.
"This," I said, trying to keep my tone steady, "isn't over. Whatever we had going earlier—" I paused, letting my gaze soften just a touch, though the intensity of the situation remained. "—it's still very much in play." I needed her to understand that this wasn't some passing fling or a casual encounter. This was serious, and it was far from finished.
The way her eyes widened slightly at my words told me that she was still processing the implications of what we had. The mate bond was a powerful force, and I could see it working its magic between us. But I knew better than to let that bond dictate everything. I had my own plans, my own goals, and I wasn't about to let this turn into a romantic entanglement if it meant compromising those objectives.
I continued, my voice firm but with a hint of warmth. "As much as I like you wearing my clothes," I said, my eyes lingering on her with a playful smirk, "you need to change into something more appropriate." I gestured toward the pack house. "I've set out clothes for you in our room. Go change into them."
The slight irritation that flashed across her face was almost amusing. "Our room?" she repeated, clearly taken aback. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. It was a little presumptuous, I admit, but in the grand scheme of things, it was just another way to assert my presence. She needed to understand that this wasn't just a temporary arrangement. I was making it clear that we were entangled in this together, whether she liked it or not.
As she walked away to change, I couldn't help but let my mind wander. The idea of her using my clothes, and the subtle dominance I was asserting, was part of the game I was playing. I knew she was here with her own agenda, but I was determined to make sure she knew exactly who was in charge.
From the other side of the house, I called out, "Don't even think about running off," my tone a mix of jest and seriousness. "If you try, I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth." It was half a threat, half a promise. If she thought she could just walk away from this, she had another thing coming. The way I saw it, we were in this together until the very end.
For now, I had to focus on the task at hand. I needed to get back to whatever had interrupted us, but part of me was already anticipating her return. This little game of ours was far from over, and I was more than ready to see how it played out. The mate bond was strong, but so was my resolve.