Her lips curled upward in a cruel smile as she walked deeper into the woods. She would dive back into the darkness for just a little longer. Just until the finishing touches could be made. She had waited this long and wasn’t going to rush in without being prepared. They would gather their army and provoke the Chain family to respond, and that would be the moment they would meet their doom. She felt almost giddy as she laughed to herself.
Her loud cackling echoed through the forest as her body drifted into the darkness. Little did she know … she was being watched.
Lucie wasn’tsure how long she slept. She could feel a presence in the room, but her senses already told her who it was. Their mate bond pulled at her chest as his sweet scent engulfed her. She felt happy and comforted by his presence. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and met beautiful amber eyes. She gulped slightly, finding his face close to hers. So much that she could feel his breath on her skin.
He gently cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb over her soft skin. “You are so beautiful,” he cooed to her tenderly.
She gulped as her heart rate picked up. His gaze focused on her lips. She could see his eyes darkening with desire, and she felt like she had to have him … she had to at least taste him. He was her mate. She should be able to at least share one kiss with him, right? Would it be too awful to kiss the other half of your soul? Was that really cheating? Yes … but she was going to run with the technicality that since it was her other half, it wasn’t. Hell, at this point, she honestly didn’t care. She couldn’t contain how much she needed him. She needed to feel his warmth. She needed this one moment to feel connected to her mate. Just one moment of weakness, and that was all. Something she could always hold dear and tuck away in her heart, something she could remember. This moment would become her light in the darkness that she could hold onto.
His thumb traced over her lips, and she closed her eyes. Her breath grew shallow as her chest tightened in anticipation. She shuddered as she felt his other hand trace a slow, deliberate path along her side. Small sparks of electricity shot up and down her spine. The sensation from his touch alone made her gasp as her body leaned into him.
“Lucie …” His soft voice made her eyes flutter open. His breath beat upon her lips, and the moment her eyes closed, he’d moved in even closer. She licked her lips as her chest heaved up and down in anticipation. She could see he was waiting for her objection. He was giving her a chance to tell him no, even though he had to have been burning with the same intense desire. She had only a moment to stop herself from crossing a bridge she couldn’t uncross. But damn it, she couldn’t do it. She wanted it.
His hand held her cheek captive, and she watched as he inched closer, torturously slow. His lips pressed against hers, and she felt like she was melting internally. Her fingers grippedhis brown locks, holding his head against hers, and he moaned into her mouth. She wasn’t expecting how sweet it would feel when his tongue slowly massaged hers, his strokes deep and gentle.
On reflex, she arched into him as their tongues tangled together. She gently sucked on his bottom lip, pulling on it with her teeth. His deep, throaty moan sent butterflies fluttering inside her. The kiss felt like everything, so natural. And for her first kiss, it was perfect and everything she could have imagined.
He then began to move, peppering her face with sweet, gentle kisses while his hand explored her body. His mouth traced a trail down to her neck, where she felt the warm flick of his tongue against her sweet spot. He slowly licked her neck, and his fangs lightly grazed her. He pulled back and stared down at her, his amber eyes dark as he searched hers. When she slowly shook her head, pain shone in his gaze, pain she was causing by not accepting him. She felt a heavy weight on her chest.
It was too much. This life was too much. Her fate was too much. Wouldn’t it have been great to just be a regular werewolf? To not have to worry about the fate of two species? She could see her life with Ryan. They would be happy, and she could have what her parents had. As she thought about the happiness she was giving up, tears began to pool in her eyes. She wanted to bury herself in her mate and seek his comfort. But this was a comfort she couldn’t have.
“Lucie.”
She looked up at his kind, gentle eyes and smiled.
“Lucie…”
“Lucie, wake up baby.”
Wake up?
She felt his hand on her cheek. “Lucie.”
His voice sounded farther away and almost muffled. Suddenly he began to blur away and she was covered in darkness.
“Lucie.”
Ryan’s voice came through clearly now. She opened her eyes to see him sitting on the bed beside her.
“There, you’re awake.” Ryan looked down at her and sighed. A wry smile spread across his lips. “It’s a good thing you are, because I don’t think I could have continued to just sit here and watch you during a dream like that.”
Lucie blinked a few times, and then her eyes widened in horror. It was all just a dream, and yet somehow he saw it?
Moon Goddess, just kill me now.
CHAPTER 13
Lucie stared into the amber eyes in front of her. Maybe he didn’t really know. How could he possibly know, right? Unless she called out his name? Oh gosh. She had been told she talked in her sleep. She wished she could become invisible right now instead of pinned by his heated gaze.
Clearing her throat slightly, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, trying to play it cool and hide the stomach-turning embarrassment inside her.
“It’s perfectly natural. Nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s normal to dream about your mate.” He flashed her a wide, cocky smile. “It would be nice if it wasn’t just a dream …”
“What are you talking about?” Lucie said nonchalantly, even though her heart was racing.
Ryan lightly rubbed the back of his neck. He looked up at the ceiling and breathed in through his teeth, making a hissing noise. “I know, Lucie. Well … we are connected as mates. And wemust be really connected, because suddenly these visions started popping into my head. At first, I was confused with what I was seeing, but then I realized that somehow I was getting these images from you. And when I went looking for you, you were in here, sleeping … dreaming.” He peeked down at her and quickly returned his gaze upward. He knew she would be embarrassed.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you actually. And since we’re finally alone, I think this is the perfect time for that.”
