“I don’t think so, not right now.” I shook my head, “I’m sorry, I have too much to sort through personally to even think about this.” I admitted.
His face fell for a second and it made me want to take it all back. I felt selfish, but at the same time I needed to be selfish, I deserved it.
“Friends?” He asked.
I studied him, “You don’t seem to be the type to have many friends,” My bluntness surprised me, and so did the ease of talking to him. I didn’t feel nervous at all, even with Nolan it took me weeks to be able to really form a sentence in front of him.
That whisper of a smile came across his face again and he shook his head once.
“You’re not wrong. But the friends I have seem to tolerate me.” I smiled back.
“Fine,” I reached my hand to him, “Willa Balfour,”
His large palm wrapped around mine and warmth and sparks sent through me, reminding me of the first time Nolan claimed me and wrapped me in his arms.
I pulled back maybe too fast, cradling my hand in the other. I wasn’t expecting this to bring back those memories, but I guess it was natural that they did.
He looked worried for a second, “Caspien,” I looked up at him, “That’s my name,” He added.
I smiled at him, “I figured that much.”
“Well, Willa. I’m glad to meet you, and I look forward to our friendship,” One of his eyebrows raised and it sent a small burst of d.amned p.leasure through me.
There was too much to sort through. I had a child, I was rejected and now I was a single mother working at a restaurant so I could pay to take a few classes. There wasn’t anything about me that screamed ‘catch’.
My smile faltered, I knew better than anyone that the mate bond wasn’t infallible. That the initial sparks and attraction weren’t enough.
Not that I even wanted a mate, but I was scared as hell of falling for this guy and then him rejecting me after finding out more about me.
He pulled out a wallet and put a twenty on the counter, “No change,” He said as I went to grab it.
“I have a child, he’s four and I’m a single mother. I’m taking classes at a community college because I have no idea what I want to do with my life and hadn’t ever really thought about it.” I rushed out, not looking at him.
He paused for a second, clenching my fists, waiting for the hurt of rejection.
“Okay,” He said after a too long moment.
He turned to walk away and warring feelings swept through me. I was glad he didn’t reject me but worried that what I said would make him not want me, but I didn’t even know if I wanted him.
He paused in the doorway looking like he was going to say something but then walked out.
“What was that?” Cali said as I was left stunned.
“I have no idea,” I pocketed the money and took the mug to the kitchen, she followed me.
“Who was that?” She asked.
“Caspien?”
“You really don’t know him,” She breathed.
“I said I didn’t,”
“Hm,” She turned on her heel and I really wished I knew what she was thinking.
(Caspian)
Her place of work was on her rental application so it’s not like I had to do much digging. I wasn’t stalking her, I just needed to know.
As soon as I walked in I scented her, my whole body seemed to be tethered to her presence before I even saw her. She smelled like warmth. A mix of fresh bread and something softer, greener. It reminded me of a walk through the forest in a summer afternoon after the sun baked the earth.
Her scent made me feel, It felt like walking through the sun-soaked earth barefoot, heading somewhere familiar yet exhilarating.
This was my mate, I had no doubts no second guesses.
She was made for us.
Atlas confirmed it, growling in my head that word over and over again.
Mate, mate, mate
She didn’t seem to notice me at first, and that worried me.
Everyone, even humans felt my effect even though I kept it reigned in. I felt the cool tension in the air and the way that everyone paused, averting their eyes but still watching me.
Everyone except her.
Until she turned to me, with wide eyes. I felt like I could breathe for the first time in years. All of my thoughts that were raging through me, all of the discontentment seemed to settle. Every negative thought and feeling reigned in and I felt whole for maybe the first time in my life.
Her eyes were just like I remembered, piercing green, a green that I hadn’t seen before.
Her body went taunt, I could scent her fear and that made me stop in my tracks immediately.
She backed away before turning from me completely and almost stumbled running away from me.
S.hit, that was the exact opposite of how that was supposed to go.
Atlas begged me to follow her, but dread overtook anything else that quickly turned into hard resolve.
She was the one I had been waiting for and I wouldn’t mess this up by chasing her down after it was obvious she needed some space.
I made eye c.ontact with a girl with dark red curls, she stared me down with a bored look that also promised death as she crossed her arms. I swore I felt her gaze on me as I left.
I didn’t understand. I knew she was my mate, and this time she felt it too. I figured it was because she was mated to that Alpha and since that bond was broken now she was mine completely.
I would try again tomorrow, and every d.amn day until I convinced her to be mine.
The next day she tensed before I approached her, but she turned to me and spoke. It was progress, way better than her running away and I would take anything.
Her hair was a different black than mine, where I felt mine trapped light, hers shone and reflected everything around her. That was something I never would have thought about anyone before.
I’ve thoughted women were attractive before, h.ell I had been with my fair share of them, but I never noticed them like this. Noticed the small things about them.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply