He turned around before speaking again. "Jo, please go back and get transport ready to take Ms.... to take her back to her car. We don't want to draw attention from the neighboring settlement," he said firmly.
"What's your name?" he asked, turning back to me.
"My name is Ph... Phoenix," I responded reluctantly because I was still unsure why I was telling this stranger my information.
"Okay, Phoenix, my name is Raphael, but most of the pack refer to me as Alpha Raph. I will get you back safely. You said it's your birthday. How old are you today?" I could tell he desperately searched for understanding as he asked me the question.
It was comforting to know that I wasn't the only one with some questions—not that he had given me any room to ask them.
Alpha? I thought to myself. I remembered reading something about this in a book, and I regret not taking the research I had done seriously.
"I'm 22 today," I responded, looking over at him.
'Ah, he is gorgeous, isn't he?' Nat purred. 'I have to say, I can't disagree with you there Nat,' I replied.
"Why do you ask?" It's a fair question: did my age really matter?
"It's interesting that you live close to our territory, and your mating call came to you at 22 instead of 18. It's a bit strange you had a mating call at all. Not many wolves experience that, especially not females." He looked at me as he explained, as if I was about to reveal something amazing to him.
"What pack are you staying with? I didn't know any packs were near Helmington outside of our territory. This is something I should know." Here he is, still looking at me like I had some big revelation to expose to the world.
"My parents are human. I was adopted as a baby," I said, clutching the locket around my neck. I could tell that the answers to his questions surprised him, but for me, it was just my life.
"I want to see you again, Phoenix. Once a mate recognizes their mate, going without them for long is not good. I know you're confused. Would you meet me at the edge of the woods tomorrow?" he says, stopping and looking at me.
The hopefulness in his eyes nearly pours out.
'He is right, Phoe; you shouldn't go too long without being in his presence until you've fully mated,' Nat said. 'Fully mated?' I choked out.
"Okay, I can meet you after my classes tomorrow around 4 pm," I said with a small smile.
"Classes?" he asked with a bit more energy.
"Yeah, I go to the University. I just started my master's this year." I was proud of this statement; I worked my ass off after all.
'Why am I telling him all of this? I might as well give him my social security number and my home address.' I said to Nat. 'He's your mate. It's natural to want to tell them everything and feel comfortable being open,' Nat explained.
"Hmmm. I look forward to learning more about you, my mystery mate," he said with a smile. "We better get going. Get on my back; I can take us to camp much faster," he added to his thought.
When I turned to look at him, I quickly realized he was stripping down. Apparently, being naked in front of strangers doesn't bother him. I promptly turned back around, nearly biting a hole through my lower lip.
His growl signaled me to turn back around. He sniffed the air and gave me a playful growl. The warm pool of arousal between my legs was undeniable. One glance at his naked body earlier, and I was aching again.
Nat chuckled.
'Does he know? Can he smell that?' I asked in a panic because what the hell? 'He's a wolf, Phoe, and your mate; of course, he can,' Nat said proudly.
I groan in embarrassment, my palm connecting to my forehead. He stepped forward, dropping the clothes in his mouth. He trotted up to me and licked between my legs over the bottoms I was wearing.
My heart nearly flew out of my chest. Did he not hear me say I have a boyfriend?
The nerve of this guy.
"Bad dog!" I snapped, my face blushing if it could blush any more than it already had.
He huffed once before he kneeled down so I could get on top of him. In the process, I wondered why I was not just transforming back and running to my car myself.
I guess he is right. We had made so many twists and turns that I was not sure I would be able to find my way back to the road.
Once I got on his back, I held tight as we traveled back to camp. My core was pulsing with each gallop, Nat purring loudly. I closed my eyes, sinking my whole body into his fur, inhaling his addictive scent, trying to keep myself together.
The ride back to my car was quiet until I finally broke the silence. "My car is right up here on the side of the road. This is where I first felt the humming... I think anyway. It's strange because this isn't even the direction of where I was going. I pulled over and started walking. Looking back, I have no idea what I was thinking," I said with a chuckle.
Raph looked at me expressionless.
I could feel his pain while I tried to deny my own. I got out of the car as he opened the door for me.
'Of course, he is a gentleman,' Nat cooed.
He reached for my hand. The touch of our fingers sent jolts of electricity through me, causing me to step back.
"That's normal, Phoenix, it's okay..." he said, gently pulling me in for a hug.
My face barely reached his chest, and I was somehow melting into his embrace. I was guilt-stricken not only for this moment that felt so intimate for some reason but the fact that I didn't want to let him go.
We stood in that embrace for at least 5 minutes before he spoke. "I will see you tomorrow. I will answer your questions, as I'm sure you have many."
After he spoke, I could feel his reluctance oozing as he pulled away.
I could hear his sorrowful howl as I drove away.
My heart now had a void I didn't understand.
'What am I supposed to say to Noah?' I asked Nia.