She yanks her hand away before I can make contact. “I don’t like being touched.”
My eyes widen as I retract my arm. “Sorry, I…”
“I don’t like crowds, or strangers, or rooms with only one exit,” Cheyenne interrupts, her amber eyes locking with mine. “I drink way more than I should, to the point where I black out and lose things. I spent half an hour searching for a shoe today. I don’t trust men, especially Alphas, and this mark…” she tugs at her collar again, exposing the scar. “It wasn’t my choice. My best friend killed the man who forced it on me, and when I foundout his mom was behind it, I slit her throat with a smile.” She drops her hands to her lap, shaking her head as she stares down at them. “I’ve got a whole lot of damage, Iver. Way more than a man in your position wants to deal with.”
If I wasn’t already at a loss for words, I am now. I just stare at her with my mouth hanging open, my mind tripping it over itself to find the words to respond.
“So,” Chey huffs, her eyes meeting mine as she lifts her chin. “You still wannaget to knowme, or should we both just cut our losses and move on from this?”
“Yeah, I do,” I blurt, finally able to get words out.
She flinches back like she’s surprised by my reply. “Well, then you’re obviously a crazy person.”
“Crazy for you,” I say, wincing at how fucking cheesy that sounds.
Chey snorts a laugh, shaking her head incredulously. “Are you for real right now? You don’t even know me.”
“I’ve been wanting to get to know you since the first time I saw you,” I point out, staring into her eyes earnestly. “I’ve been trying, but you turned me down when I tried to shoot my shot, remember?”
She sinks her teeth into her lower lip, darting her gaze away. “Vaguely.”
“Nothing you say could scare me away,” I state confidently. “In fact, now I feel like Idoknow a little bit more about you, and I only like you more.”
Her lashes flutter as she blinks back at me. I suppose it’s her turn to be at a loss for words.
“I guess it’s only fair that I tell you something about me,” I say, darting her a smile as I drag a hand through my hair. “So, when my sister found her fated mate, I was jealous. Like, really fucking jealous.”
She squints at me as if she’s trying to gauge the truth in my confession.
“I’ve always wanted something like my parents have,” I add. “The problem is, when you’re Alpha, you never know whether people actually like you or just your pack rank. I play the field and act like I don’t care, but every full moon since I turned eighteen, I’ve gone out hoping fate would step in and point me to my mate.” My lips curve in a smile. “I finally found you, Chey. You’re my mate, and there’s nothing you could say that would change my mind about wanting this. I trust fate, and you’re the one who fate chose for me. I’m so fucking glad it’syou.”
Cheyenne abruptly pushes up from her chair, sweeping her hair back as she pivots to face me. “You can come by my cabin tomorrow,” she says, the hint of a smile on her lips. “Number eleven.”
I dip my chin in a nod. “I’ll be there.”
There’s no denying her smile this time, those plush lips curving up as a blush rises to her cheeks. She tries to hide it by turning and walking away, but that sly little smile is now firmly etched in my memory. It may be the first genuine one I’ve seen on her face, and I already want to see it again.
The bond between us tugs in my chest as she retreats, and I throw up a thank you to fate for pulling the assist in changing hernointo ayes.
CHAPTER FOUR
the next day
CHEYENNE
Ihave a fated mate.
No matter how many times I’ve repeated that affirmation in my mind, some part of me still doesn’t fully believe it. I didn’t think it was possible after being marked. They say that if you’ve been marked by someone other than your fated mate, your fated bond dissolves away and you’ll never know who fate chose for you. I’d already come to terms with that. As difficult as it was to accept, I made my peace with it.
I have a fated mate.
As a child, it was all I ever dreamed of. I was obsessed with Disney princess movies; consumed with the idea of finding my one true love. I likened myself to Cinderella, a fellow orphan who held out hope until her prince arrived to sweep her off her feet.If it could happen for her, then why couldn’t it happen for me?But instead of a prince, I dreamed of an Alpha wolf. One who was tall and strong, as handsome as a Ken doll, and had the respect and admiration of his whole pack. Coincidentally, I dreamed of a mate exactly like Iver Anderson.
I let go of that fantasy a long time ago, though. Two years, to be exact.
I often wonder if I could’ve fought harder; if I could’ve prevented what Alpha Paul did somehow. As the leader of our pack, I trusted him when he called me into his room. I went willingly, believing him when he said we needed to discuss something in private. I never imagined the horrors I’d face when he locked that door. The way I’d be forever changed by the time it opened again.
So much was stolen from me that night. My body, my innocence. My dreams for an idyllic future filled with love and happiness. My confidence, my self-worth… even my will to live. I’ve tried to move past what happened, but I’m not the same girl I once was. Sometimes I can barely remember what it felt like to be her; so idealistic and naïve and full of hope.
