I can’t help but laugh. Even in the middle of a heat-induced claiming, my mate is funny. God, I can’t even remember when was the last time I found anything amusing.
“We should probably talk,” she says after a while, staring up at me, all big brown eyes, soft, dark skin, beautiful face, and mouthwateringly sexy curves. “Since we’re, you know, stuck together and all.”
“What do you want to know?” I ask in a deep rumble, my voice still laced with humor.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe start with the basics? Like why you’re a giant talking beast-monster living in a cursed castle?”
Fair.
I settle my weight more comfortably, keeping most of it off her, but making sure my knot stays nice and deep inside her heavenly cunt, and try to figure out where to start.
“I was cursed,” I start. “For being an asshole.”
“Shocking,” she deadpans.
I graze her chin with my fangs in retaliation and feel her clench around me. Fuck, my mate’s fucking perfect for me.
“I was Prince Pierre de Beaumont,” I continue. “I ruled kingdoms. Had everything an alpha could want. Power, wealth, omegas throwing themselves at me.”
“Sounds terrible,” Belle replies dryly.
I cup her face, loving the contrast between my huge paw and her delicate skin. “It was empty, little omega.” The admission surprises even me. I’ve never said that out loud before. “I used omegas during their heats and sent them away. Never bonded. Never knotted. Definitely never bred. I thought fated mates were bullshit, and that I was above it all.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then, “Let me guess. The universe decided to teach you a lesson?”
“Something like that.” The corner of my mouth lifts into a small, sad smile, and I shift again, wanting to push away the dark memories, grinding my knot deeper just to hear her moan, fucking loving the way her sounds wrap around my balls, tug at my fucking soul…. “An enchantress came to my court. She disguised herself as an omega in heat, desperate for help. Threw herself at my feet and begged.”
“And you didn’t help her?” Belle asks astutely.
“I laughed at her. Had my guards drag her out while my entire court mocked her. Made her a fool.”
My omega is quiet for a long moment. “Okay, yeah. You kinda deserve this.”
“I know.” I press a kiss to her temple, which is surprisingly tender considering I’m currently buried balls-deep inside her… and enjoying every fucking second of it. “Two days later, she came back. Except, that time, she was powerful. And pissed.”
“Can’t imagine why.”
I squeeze her soft waist, shaking my head.
“She cursed me. Turned me into this.” I gesture at myself with one clawed hand. “Said I’d stay this way until my true mate chose me. Not the handsome prince. Not the power, the wealth… but theBeast.”
“Your true mate,” Belle repeats slowly. “Do you mean…”
“You.” My knot pulses inside her, making my point. “You’re my mate, Belle. My true mate. The one I’ve been waiting for.”
I feel her small, curvy body tense.
“That’s not… I can’t be. I’m just a merchant’s daughter from a little village who…”
“Who makes your beast howl,” I interrupt. “Who smells like fucking heaven. Whose body accepted mine like it’s fuckingmade for me. You’ve make me talk and laugh. Belle that hasn’t happened in…”
“But I’ve never…I didn’t even know I could feel like this until…”
“Until you met your mate, sweetheart.” I nuzzle the side of her neck again, scenting her. Marking her. “It’s the bond, little omega. Our bodies recognized each other before our minds caught up.”
She’s quiet for a long moment. I can practically hear her thinking, processing, trying to logic her way out of something that’s pure instinct. Fate.
“So let me get this straight,” she finally says. “You’ve been a Beast for decades. Waiting for me. Your mate. Who has tochooseyou to break the curse.”
