And the entire time, my gaze lingered on my mate’s perfection. Gods, I was so fucking lucky.
We left and started walking past the little stalls in the village. She stopped at one that had hand carved wooden figurines. This small smile played across her lips as she ran a finger over one, and then I noticed when she stilled before reaching out and touching the wolf figurine. The artists had painted the eyes a vibrant blue… just like my Lycan’s… just like her eyes. Her brows were pulled down low, but then she seemed to shake herself out of her thoughts.
“What is it?” Although I knew. I knew she was feeling some kind of recognition, a connection. There was no way she wasn’t, with me standing right beside her, the pheromones moving between us and only growing stronger with each passing moment.
“It’s nothing,” she whispered. “It’s just,” she said and glanced at me before emoting once more. “My neighbor, Mini, the older woman who I’m shopping for today, said something strange about me being here for a reason, something about wolves, but that they aren’t really wolves.” She shook her head and stopped, giving me a forced smile. “It’s all kind of crazy.”
But it feels so real, I could almost hear her say out loud.
“I just feel this weird connection to this place.” She looked around, and a genuine smile covered her pink, full lips. “As soon as I stepped foot in this country, I just felt like—"
“—you were meant to be here,” I finished for her.
She looked at me, and her smile widened. “Yes, exactly. Crazy, right?”
I shook my head, knowing my expression was serious. “We all have destinies, and sometimes those are fated with another.” Too fast. Don’t push her.
The way she watched me—this knowing look in her eyes—made me think she knew exactly what I meant, that she wouldn’t deny this attraction between us.
“You speak like you’ve lived a thousand lives.”
Ah, sweetling, if only you knew how long I’ve waited for you.
As we walked past the stalls, I marveled at the wonder on her face as she looked at the handmade pottery, the woven tapestry, the stitched folk dresses. Although she didn’t speak Romanian, she knew a few words, thanking the stall owners, murmuring beautiful, lovely, and a handful of other sweet things to them in passing in my native tongue.
We rounded the corner, and I turned my attention to a stall that sold intricately handwoven silk scarves. I picked up a vibrant blue one, the same shade as Mikalina’s eyes, and didn’t hesitate to purchase it for her. When I was finished and the scarf wrapped in delicate tissue, I saw two men making their way toward my female, their vile lust clear on their faces as they let their eyes roam up and down her form.
Destroy them for daring to look at her.
My Lycan seethed the words, and I found myself moving toward them with pure violence building. Just a look from the opposite sex toward a mate would send my kind into a frenzied rage. But to know they desired what was mine? I’d tear their limbs from their bodies before they could even contemplate what I was doing.
She was unaware of their lewd looks as she picked up a piece of fresh fruit and brought it to her nose to smell.
I inserted myself between Mikalina and the duo, and they came to a stop, their eyes widening as they took note of me. I knew my eyes glowed blue, felt my muscles become bigger, adrenaline pumping through my veins in anticipation for a fight.
Protect her. She’s ours!
I was breathing harder and faster, holding myself back, because I wanted to warn them, to see if they’d be smart enough to leave well enough alone… to leave with their lives intact.
They crossed themselves as if I were the very devil himself, and maybe I was. To them, I’d be whatever I needed to protect my mate.
They scurried off, and I closed my eyes and breathed out slowly, trying to rein myself in.
“Everything okay?” Mikalina’s soft voice pierced through my red rage, and I exhaled once more, letting the fight leave me fully.
When I turned around, I was myself once again, gave her a smile that I was sure didn’t reach my eyes, but held out the tissue-wrapped scarf to divert her worry.
“For me?” Her eyes were wide as she took the gift. She unwrapped it then made a small, surprised sound. “It’s beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the embroidered detailing around the edging.
“It’s the same shade as your eyes.”
“It’s the same shade as my eyes.” She snapped her head up and gave a small laugh as we said the same thing. “Thank you for this. I’ve never gotten anything so beautiful before.”
I felt my brows lower. I didn’t like that. I wanted to lavish things on her, spoil her, give her so much attention she was drowning in it. “It’s nothing,” I played it off. She’d soon realize, once she was mine, she’d never want for anything ever again.
We stayed in the market a short while longer, then I led her back through the woods. The conversation was easy, with her soft laughter having my body tightening, hardening in all the ways a man did for a woman. Before she knew it, I’d led her back to Dobravina. She seemed startled and surprised, but I planned this all along, refusing to leave even a moment of time spent with her wasted.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You’ve made this day… memorable.”
My heart raced, my canines tingling to make it even more memorable for the both of us.
“How strange we just met, yet I feel like I’ve known you forever.” The way she spoke was soft, absent, and as her eyes widened, I realized she hadn’t meant to say those words out loud.
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?” I asked before she could say anything, before she could try to shake this fated feeling she had within her.
My focus was on her lips, and I couldn’t help myself from feeling that gut-punch of arousal slam into me. There was no denying it or stopping it.
With the glow from the setting sun behind her, and her gorgeous face tipped up to look at me, the need to kiss her was so fucking strong. I curled my fingers into my palms and breathed out slowly, my nails turning into claws as I started to shift.
“Okay,” she said almost breathlessly, no hesitation in her voice, and fuck did that make me even harder.
And when she lowered her eyes to my lips, I realized I was growling, the animal breaking free slightly. But she either didn’t hear the low rumble, or she was too caught up in the moment, because she didn’t react.
“I find myself,” she murmured, still staring at my lips, and I lifted a hand and brushed away a strand of hair that blew gently across her cheek from the wind, “wanting to know more about you, to spend more time with you, Ren.” She closed her eyes, and her breath caught when my skin touched hers.
So receptive.
“And you will.”
She opened her eyes, and I saw the blue become brighter from her emotions… her arousal.
Yes, she would be mine. When the full moon hit, I was claiming my mate once and for all.
And I just hoped it didn’t have her running from me forever.
15
Mikalina
Ren picked me up just ten minutes ago, pulling up to the cottage in a sleek, dark, definitely luxury car. He’d been climbing out as soon as I stepped outside, and I could see a little bit of disappointment on his face as I hadn’t waited for him. I knew it was because he wanted to come to the door and help me to the car, like the old-world gentleman I felt he was.