He couldn't believe it. What was supposed to be a day of alone time with his mate had turned into a family introduction. He had planned to spend the day with her, but his mother had completely ruined that plan. This morning, when he was getting ready, his mom had also arrived in the city—unknown to him. It seemed Caroline couldn't keep her big mouth shut. If she hadn't gone into labour this morning, the news of him finding his mate might have been kept quiet in the pack. It wasn't that he minded people knowing he had found his mate, but he knew that once word spread, everyone would be eager to meet his lovely mate, and that would mean no time alone with her.
"It's strange for a werewolf to have a human mate who doesn't feel the bond. Did you know, Ethan's mate was also human, but she felt the bond? Maybe if you touch her, the bond will activate," my mother's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
For what felt like the hundredth time, I replied, "Yes, Mom, I don't believe she feels the bond, okay? Now please lower your voice—someone could hear you."
Presently, Gray and Mother are accompanying me, and we are in the garden of Maya's house. Her mother had just gone into the kitchen to fetch some water, leaving us alone.
ever since I arrived, I'd spoken to Maya directly just once. my mother had kept Maya busy, bombarding her with countless questions. What were her hobbies? What did she like to do in her free time? It went on and on, and I could see the discomfort creeping into her expression.
Finally, Maya's eyes met mine, silently begging me for help. That look—it stirred something primal inside me. My mate needed me to rescue her.
Feeling oddly proud and giddy that she'd turned to me for help, I decided to step in. I gently took my mother's arm and led her to the garden, giving Maya some space.
"Mother, listen," I began, trying to keep my voice calm. "It was supposed to be a day for just me and her. I don't mind that you came, but could you please give us some space? Talk to her mother or something so I can spend some time with my mate?"
I couldn't help but ask. I wanted to spend time with Maya before the day ended. I didn't want her to think her mate couldn't stay true to his word.
Understanding dawned on my mother's face. She smiled warmly and said, "Of course. Don't worry, I'll keep Gayatri busy. Go spend time with your mate."
I practically ran, my heart racing as I started searching for her. It was such a hassle—why didn't I just use her scent? Finally, I found her in her room. The door was slightly ajar, but I still knocked.
I heard the shuffling of clothes and some faint noises from inside. Moments later, the door opened. She looked up at me, startled, as if she hadn't expected to see me standing there.
"Can I come inside?" I asked, doing my best to sound like a gentleman—as if my thoughts weren't anything but pure.
She glanced behind me, her eyes flickering with hesitation. It was clear she was unsure about letting me into her personal space. A small war seemed to play out in her mind, her fingers tightening briefly on the edge of the door. But after what felt like an eternity, stepping aside, she silently allowed me to enter the room.
I quickly looked around, taking in every detail of her room. It was simple, nothing extravagant—just a neatly made bed, a small mirror propped up on the wall, a window by the bed letting in the faint light, a carpet that covered the floor, and a tall cupboard for clothes that reached the ceiling. Yet, despite its simplicity, the entire space was unmistakably hers.
Her scent lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a drug. It was intoxicating, making it harder and harder to maintain control. My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me to act, just to throw her onto the bed and claim her as mine.
She stood across from me, her arms crossed defensively, "What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with unease.
It was clear she was affected by my presence, standing here in her personal space. The slight flush on her cheeks, the way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and the tension in her shoulders all betrayed her discomfort—or maybe it was something else entirely.
I met her gaze, trying to soften my expression despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. "I just wanted to talk," I said gently, though my voice carried a huskier edge than I intended. "I promised we'd spend time together today, and I didn't want to break my word."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she wasn't sure whether to believe me, but she didn't move away. That, at least, was a start.
"By spending time together, did you mean with your family too?" she asked, her voice sharp and her words laced with irritation.
So, she was angry that I brought others along. I wanted to tell her it wasn't intentional, that my mother had shown up uninvited and ruined my plans, but instead, I stood there, savoring the fire in her eyes for a bit longer.
Her crossed arms, the slight lift of her chin, and the way she was holding her ground—it was intoxicating. She wasn't afraid to confront me, even if I could sense her annoyance. My wolf growled in approval, loving this side of her.
"I didn't plan for this," I finally said, my tone low but firm. "If I'd had my way, it would have been just the two of us. But…" I hesitated, running a hand through my hair. "Things didn't go as I wanted."
Her lips parted slightly as if she was about to say something, but instead, she exhaled and looked away, her frustration evident. "Then why are you here now?" she muttered, her voice quieter but still laced with emotion.
I took a step closer, careful not to crowd her but enough to close the gap between us. "Because I couldn't let the day end without seeing you alone," I admitted. "I promised you time, and I'm here to make it up to you."
She glanced back at me, her expression softening just a fraction. "You don't just show up uninvited in someone's room, you know," she said, but there was a flicker of amusement behind her words.
"Well, you let me in," I pointed out with a smirk, my voice teasing now. Her brows furrowed, and for a second, I thought she might push me out. But then she huffed and turned her back to me, muttering "Why did I say that" under her breath.
She turned her back to me and started arranging clothes in her cupboard, her movements deliberate, as if trying to make it clear she couldn't be bothered by my presence.
I sat on her bed edge, Her stubbornness was endearing, even if she was trying to ignore me. The way her hands moved, folding the fabric with care, yet a little too quickly, betrayed her nerves.
"You're pretending I'm not here," I said after a moment.
"Maybe because you shouldn't be," she replied without looking at me, her tone sharp but controlled.
I chuckled softly, pushing off the bed and taking a step closer. "You let me in, remember?"
She turned halfway, giving me a quick glare before going back to her task. "That doesn't mean I want you here."
Her words should have stung, but I could hear the faint waver in her voice, the way her heart beat a little faster. My wolf purred with satisfaction. She might act indifferent, but her body betrayed her.
"Fine," I said, stepping even closer until I was just behind her. "If you want me to leave, just say the word, and I'll go."
She froze for a second, her hands pausing mid-fold. I could see the tension in her shoulders and the way she was weighing her options. Slowly, she resumed arranging the clothes, not saying a word.
I smirked, knowing I'd won this round. "Thought so," I murmured, my voice dipping lower, making sure she heard me.
Her hands fumbled slightly, dropping a blouse, and I bit back a laugh. For someone trying so hard to act unaffected, she was making it way too easy for me to see through her.
She bent down to pick up the fallen blouse, her movements tense but precise. As she stepped back to close the cupboard doors, her body brushed against my front.
The contact was fleeting but electric. I felt her stiffen instantly, a sharp intake of breath escaping her lips as she froze mid-movement. My own breath hitched, the wolf inside me growling in satisfaction at the accidental touch.
Her back remained against me for a moment too long, as if time had slowed down for both of us. She wasn't moving, and neither was I. Her scent—soft, warm, utterly hers—wrapped around me, making it harder to maintain any semblance of control.
"I... didn't mean to—" she started, her voice barely above a whisper, but I cut her off, my voice low and deliberate.
"You don't need to explain."
Her head tilted slightly as if she wanted to look up at me but couldn't bring herself to. The tension between us was thick, the air charged with something neither of us seemed ready to address yet.
Slowly, she stepped forward, putting a deliberate amount of space between us as she turned around to face me. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, but she tried to school her expression into something neutral.
"I think you've overstayed your welcome," she said, but the unsteadiness in her tone betrayed her.
I smirked, taking a step closer to her again, deliberately closing the distance she'd just created. "Do you really want me to leave?" I asked, my voice soft but carrying an edge of challenge.
Her lips parted slightly, her gaze flickering to mine, but she said nothing. Silence hung between us, and I could feel her war with herself—the part of her that wanted to push me away versus the part that wanted me to stay.
The wolf in me thrived on her conflict, knowing that no matter what she said, she felt the pull between us just as much as I did. "That's what I thought," I murmured, my voice dripping with satisfaction.
She looked up at me, her eyes wide, almost searching, but there was something more—something fragile beneath the surface.
"I... I don't know what's happening," she whispered, her voice soft, barely audible, as if she were unsure whether she was speaking to me or to herself.
I took another step closer, but she didn't retreat. Still, the distance between us felt like an ocean.
Breaking the ice, I said, "Do you wanna go to the city?"
"The city?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "Yeah. Just us. No one else. We can leave whenever you're ready."
Her gaze shifted to the window, as if she was imagining the city in her mind, then back to me. I saw the hesitation, the nerves. She had never been to the city before, I could tell that much.
"I… I don't know," she murmured, her eyes darting to the door like she might bolt at any moment. "I've never been. It's… a big step."
my voice gentle but insistent. "It's just the city. You'll be fine."
She stood still for a moment, her body tense, unsure of what to do. But then, her shoulders relaxed, and she looked back at me, a small, determined glint in her eyes. "I'll go," she said, her voice steady now. "But… I'm doing this for me. Not for you."
"I'll get ready," she added, turning toward the bed.
I watched her, my heart swelling with a mix of anticipation and pride. She was taking this step, and that made all the difference.