Filed to story: The Wolf Prince’s Fated Love
I’m going to devour you whole look in his eyes. I took a step back, subconsciously running from the promises I saw there.
A step back that plastered me against the car and got me no space whatsoever. He just followed me, putting his palms on either side of me, and leaning in as close as the belly would allow. Petal chose that moment to kick, and he grinned even wider as he felt it.
Damn his handsomely adorable self.
“It’s time, Leigh. I don’t want to go another minute holding myself back from the woman I love. We’re forever. I’m more than ready make it official.” He stroked my cheek so lovingly, I couldn’t bear to keep looking at him.
He loves me. He wants to stay with me forever.
“Oh shit. That wasn’t supposed to make you cry. We can wait if that’s what you want. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be impatient, I just?-“
I reached up and grabbed him around the shoulders, yanking him down to squish him in a hug. To show him how I couldn’t say what I felt yet.
“Is that still a yes, or…?” he whispered against my ear.
Was it?
“Yes,” I whispered back, and he captured my lips with his.
I strong-armed him back a few inches. “Prince, I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t care. You agreeing to bond with me trumps coffee breath.” He kissed me again, but this one was a tender kiss to the forehead.
We were really doing this. I was going to be bonded tonight. Giddy elation bubbled up inside me, swiftly followed by all those earlier objections again.
“Oh, shit. I don’t have a dress. We haven’t prepared or planned anything. And we’re guests here. How are we supposed to just walk in and ask them to help us throw together a bonding ceremony in less than a day?”
He shook his head slightly. “You let me worry about that. The only thing I need you to do today is meet my sister and keep cooking this little nugget,” he said, palming my belly with a loving smile.
“Nugget!” I practically shouted, covering my face with my hands. “Gael! I’m going to be a terrible mother. I just left him behind in the castle, my poor baby! We have to call Cristian, my poor kitten?-“
“Is absolutely fine. I handed him to Brielle personally before they evacuated.”
“Thank the Goddess.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “And you,” I added hastily.
He chuckled, pressing another kiss to my forehead. “You’re welcome.”
“Wow. Haven’t been on the grounds five minutes and already breaking the chastity rules. Typical Gael,” a tall, statuesque woman with a stern brow and a thick, russet braid over one shoulder said. She was visibly fit, thick muscles cording her legs and forearms, which I could see under the rolled sleeves of her navy tunic and tightly fitted pants. There was a massive, curving blade sticking up over one shoulder. The sharp edge gleamed menacingly in the early morning sunlight.
I would probably pee myself if I ran into her alone in a dark alley.
“It doesn’t count if we’re still outside the gates,” Gael said without concern, but he did turn to look at her. “Long time no see, Galyna.”
“Long time no see, baby brother.”
Shit, his sister? I haven’t even had a chance to straighten up my hair.
“Who’s this you’ve dragged to my doorstep without notice? You know visitors have to be approved by the head priestess.”
“It’s still Marciana, right?” he asked, and I watched them volley back and forth like a ping-pong match.
“Yes, it is,” she practically growled.
“Well, I happen to know she’s willing to overlook occasional improprieties if the stories are to be believed-that chastity rule is more of a guideline. An often-ignored one in this century, even by the priestess herself.”
“I’d stop that line of conversation there if I were someone planning to ask me for favors,” a second woman said, walking up to stand at Galyna’s side. “And as you’ve already dropped six visitors on my doorstep unannounced, I think you’d better ask nicely. Although I admit, I’m disappointed you didn’t bring
Lucien.” Her wicked grin seemed to imply there were no hard feelings for Gael’s jokes about her lack of chastity.
“Priestess Marciana, you haven’t aged a day,” Gael said smoothly.
“Prince Starling, you haven’t wised up in the least,” she returned with a twinkle of laughter in her eyes. But there was no venom there. She opened both arms wide, and he stepped forward to return the hug. “But then, I’d be disappointed if you had. Who’s this lovely creature?”
“Marciana, Galyna, I’d like to introduce you to Leigh Barnes. My fated mate.” He waved me forward, and I hesitantly stepped forward to shake their hands.
Galyna’s soft gasp was quickly stifled behind her palm, but Marciana wasn’t so easily ruffled. “Congratulations are in order, then. We’ll hold a feast tonight in her honor.” She grasped my hand with the strength of a vise, and I had to work not to wince away from her powerful grip.
“With your permission, we’d like to hold a fair bit more than a feast.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Marciana rolled her eyes in a very un-priestess-y manner, despite the somber robes she wore, and waved us toward the gates.
I was barely through the front gates when I spotted a literal mob of women wearing the same getup as Galyna, Gael’s sister.
Who is still eyeing me, another quick glance confirmed. I wasn’t sure if she was curious or unhappy with what she saw, but either way, she hadn’t looked away since Gael had pronounced me his mate. A stunningly pale brunette with bright red lipstick bounded over, breaking away from the mass of women as soon as she spotted Galyna.
“Lyna! Is this your brother? Hi, I’m Elodie!” she introduced herself with all the enthusiasm of a golden retriever, and her crystal-blue eyes sparkled with jovial mischief as she scanned the two of us.
“Yes, this is Gael. And his… mate,” Galyna said the word as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Elodie’s mouth fell into a round o
of surprise. “Wow. So… he’s got a mate, mate? Intrigue. I can’t wait to hear all about it. Lyna’s told me all about you and the whole family-obligation thing. For what it’s worth, sounds like you dodged a serious bullet.”