Willow

Chapter 20: Mates

Three days had passed since the incident with the attack and the masked ball. Micah now slept in the couch in my room and to be honest, sleep comes much more easily when he's around. King William had the blind spots and tunnels all secured and doubled the patrol, so another attack was unlikely. Violet and Raagen patrolled the borders themselves and other Alphas joined us to ensure the safety of their own. The alarmed state of the palace was now starting to settle and the Queen who was very thrilled with this arranged for a, you guessed it, ball.

"I swear to Selene I'm going to go on a murder spree if she arranges another one of those things," I mumbled going through my closet.

"I like seeing you in your little daring outfits," Micah said smirking as he stretched out on the couch. The bastard slept shirtless and it was not helping my hormones to see those bunched up muscles coiling and uncoiling deliciously across his skin.

"Why are you still here again?" I asked narrowing my eyes at my innocent looking mate.

"Because I want to spend time with you" he grinned back, now walking towards me.

"That's sweet and all but I like my space darling," I drawled, watching the predatory gleam in his silver eyes as he pulled me towards his chest, crushing me to him.

"What about now?" he whispered, causing tingles to shoot down my spine, "Do you still like your space darling?"

I looked up and amethyst clashed against silver-grey. The bond swirled around us, pulsing and singing. Our heads inched closer and every breath I took tasted of him. He inched a fraction closer but didn't budge. He wanted me to come to him. He wanted to know if I felt it as much as I did. He had no idea.

Slowly, as slow as I could, I ghosted my lips across his. He inhaled sharply, pink tongue gliding out to catch a taste.

And then suddenly my hands were in his hair, his claws were on my hips and it felt like we weren't even breathing anymore. After resisting the bond for so long, the effect it now had was explosive. His lips crashed against mine furiously and I nipped and nibbled on his lower lip. Tongues danced in a battle for dominance and neither us was giving in.  We were gripping and gasping and groping everywhere we could. Black and blue irises flashed each other, communicating their lust and need.

He pulled away slightly. "We need to stop" he gasped out.

Confused I looked at him, Violet flashing her displeasure with a slight show of fang.

"If we don't stop, I'll mark you," he groaned out as if in physical pain, "and I know you're not emotionally ready for that yet. I want to know you first. I want us to know each other."

I stroked his cheekbones, trying to soothe away his worries. This wolf in front of me was putting aside his need as an Alpha and a male in general to mark me because he knew I wasn't ready. Something warm blossomed in my heart and it was slightly painful. It was the good kind of pain though and it made me smile.

"Thank you," I said whispering my gratitude.

He nodded and pulled away, picking up his shirt and pulling it on. I watched silently as he left, throwing a quick smile my way before closing the door.

"Oh fuck I am so screwed," I let out as soon as the door closed. I went into a flurry of motion, scrambling to find my phone. As soon as I found it I dialed Sienna's number.

"Hello? Alpha?" she answered on the third ring.

"Good afternoon, um, Sienna? You remember that mate I told you about?" I asked hurriedly.

"Yes, the one and only?" she asked confused.

"Yeah him, you know the one that threatened to mark me? Pissed me off? Acted like hulk, green eyed and possessive? Was a basic jerk? Had a relationship with the princess? The one who ended up saving me and slowly getting me to trust him?" I rambled feeling completely out of character.