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Maybe I shouldn’t say his name again.
A few moments passed while we ate in silence before he finally explained. “A mate run must occur for a male shifter to take a mate. When there were still female wolves, nature would take over and send the male running to his fated mate when the time was right. When he fell in love without fate’s intervention, he could force his run in an attempt to force his magic to pair them.”
He continued, “I attempted to outlaw forced mate runs when I found out Serae was bringing you to us. Outlawing them would ensure that the male fate chose would mate with our first compatible female. The command nearly caused a war, so I withdrew. While the others prepared to force their run, I relaxed with those who felt the same way I did about it.”
“And then fate started it for you?”
“Correct.”
“But the other guys are still going to try to kill you?” I checked.
“Some.”
“Why?”
He lifted a shoulder. “You are the first compatible female. You would be desired even if you were the ugliest creature we had ever seen.”
I scowled at him. “You’re a real asshole.”
“And yet my den is the safest place for you.” He took a bite of his food.
“If you don’t want a mate, why not just let them fight it out and hand me over to the winner?” I asked him, gesturing toward the land above us with my utensil.
The look he shot me was dark and deadly. “You are mine, and I do not share.”
At least I hadn’t walked into a wolf shifter orgy, I guess. Some people would be into that, but I wasn’t one of them.
“Theoretically, you could let me go. I don’t have to be yours, right?”
“The bond is not permanent until you claim me as well, but youwillclaim me. I could let you go after the eclipse erases our bond if I so desired, but I will not. Fate paired us, and now, you will remain beside me through the rest of our immortal lives.”
“Good way to win me over,” I muttered, stabbing another bite of my food.
Apparently there was a way to remove the bond—but we weren’t going to deal with it.
“Your human rules make everything more difficult. If you claim me now, I will do whatever it takes to satisfy you in every way.”
“Yes, howdifficultof me to expect a guy to actually like me before I seal my life to his,” I shot back.
“Fate makes the decisions, Ezra.”
“Not for me, it doesn’t. If you want to blindly trust your fate, go ahead. Humans make their own futures.”
He dipped his head slightly. “I will convince you to see things my way.”
“Sure you will.” I took another violent bite.
His bite was slow and measured. “You’ll tell me what you like and dislike as I feed you your meals.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
“I guess. I liked everything here.” I gestured to the almost-empty plate, and he nodded.
“Most shifters do.”
“I’m not a shifter,” I reminded him.
“Not yet.” Ivaylo stood, waiting for me to finish my food. When it was gone, he took the plate from my hands and strode back to the kitchen.
“What do the female wolf shifters do for their mates, if the males always feed them?” I called out to him as he went.
