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Mikalina stopped and glanced over her shoulder at me, clearly surprised I followed behind. “You’re coming with me?”
I gave her a smile, one I hoped conveyed that I was being polite, when in reality I didn’t want her to be alone, didn’t want any males to look upon her. Although that might be a dangerous combination, because if I were to see someone gazing at her, my inner animal would snarl and growl, likely burst forth and rip throats out before laying them in front of her as an offering.
For the next hour, I helped her shop, looking over the list she had, picking only the best fruits and vegetables, even though they were not for her. The primal need to only get her the best was strong in me, my basic animalistic urges to take care of my mate strong and growing stronger by the day.
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.
