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Aside from the bed, I only saw an intricately engraved dresser to the side, a small bedside table to my left, and the small chair Luca had been sitting in. There was no other decor, not even pictures hanging on the walls to show that this place was lived-in, that it was a home.
“Where am I?” I brought my eyes back to Luca, not surprised that he was still intently watching me. I gave him a small smile, and said, “I’m not going anywhere.” Because I knew that was his worry.
And obviously I didn’t mean literally, seeing as I was sitting in this bed, injured. In my heart, the truth was I wanted to be here with Luca. I knew once I'd left the “safety” of the estate to see him, everything would change.
I was afraid of the unknown, but I’d anticipated it.
And a part of me really wanted him to know that I was here, forever, however long it was for.
He let out this long, harsh breath as if he’d been holding it in this whole time. He looked tired. Exhausted.
“You’re still in Scotland.”
I figured as much, seeing as I’d only been out for a few hours. He wouldn’t have been able to travel that far in that timeframe.
“But where is here in Scotland?” I glanced around the room again. It reminded me of my parents' estate, with the craftsmanship they didn’t use anymore in modern structures. I bet the rest of this home had touches of Gaelic inspiration, maybe tartans, banners, family crests.
My eyes landed on the large hearth across from the bed. It was as wide as it was high, the fire inside a roaring entity within it. But given the size of the room, it made sense that you’d need a fireplace that large to keep it warm.
“It’s one of our properties.”
I snapped my head in his direction at his choice of words.
“One of our properties?”
“Moorehill House is about five hours from where your parents live.”
I didn’t miss the fact that he hadn’t claimed that as my home too, but where my parents lived. But I knew for a mated Lycan, once he found his female, they would always be linked. His home was hers and vice versa. There was no “other.”
And I was shocked at how… right that felt inside me.
Because although my parents' estate would always be a home to me, I also knew what I was getting into with Luca when I left my room… when I left the property and went to my mate. I knew everything would change. I just hadn’t anticipated or expected it would change this much.
Or feel so good.
“It’s one of the properties I bought decades ago.”
“One of the properties? How many do you have exactly?”
He seemed to really relax a little bit then, and I had a feeling he was getting comfortable with the conversation, maybe feeling a bit more at ease that I wouldn’t drop dead in the next second. That had a smile pulling at my lips.
As I watched him, took note of the bunched muscles easing, a little less severe, I relaxed too. But the sheer magnitude of his size had my pulse skipping a bit. Despite the pain… arousal was still very strong within me.
“Before I knew who my mate was, and when I was searching, hoping and praying to whoever was merciful enough to bring me my female, I started acquiring properties around the world, amongst other things.”
He was so serious, as if he had wanted to tell me this his whole life. And maybe he had.
“I wanted… I wanted you to be able to pick where you would live with me. All I want, Ainslee, is to please you. And since I hadn’t met you yet and didn’t know your likes or dislikes, I wasn’t sure what would make you happy.”
My belly tightened, butterflies moving around my stomach, a sign of my anticipation and excitement. I’d never felt this way before, this intoxicated sensation that made all other emotions seem tame, as if I’d never truly been living until this moment.
“You did that, all of this, for me?” It sounded stupid coming from my lips and filling my ears.
“Ah, my sweet girl.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine, closing his eyes, his breathing becoming easier the longer he was pressed to me. “I will always do anything for you.”
If I were a human, this would seem crazed. If I hadn’t witnessed firsthand the love and intense connection mates had, I would’ve thought his words were rushed, insane even. Because to care about someone so immensely you would die for them without a second thought—after only just meeting them—seemed like fantasy.
But not in our world. In our universe, it was what we all strived for, to find our other half, the missing piece to our soul.
