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Ren opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. Therewassomeone in the woods. He wasn’t going crazy at all. He knew then why his wolf had suddenly started acting crazy.
“Welcome to the pack, Lucian,” Ren said.
Then he walked straight toward the woods, a happy, curious growl rumbling in his chest.
Kismet.
His mate was named Kismet.
CHAPTERTWO
Kismet Thorburn lifted the goblet to her lips and took a slow sip of dandelion wine, looking around the room and trying to hide how bored she was. Her father was a highly decorated member of the fae military, and no one liked parties to celebrate achievements more than the fae. There were military balls every few months, for one victory or another. Her father had joined the military when he was a teenager. He was known as alifer, a womb-to-tomb male who wanted to do nothing else but serve. And since he was unmated, he always asked her to be his date, and she always played the dutiful daughter and stood with him.
After the receiving line, the speeches by other highly decorated males in the military, the handing out of medals and awards and other such niceties, a seven-course meal was served followed by dancing well into the evening.
She normally would stay for a dance with her father and then discreetly leave, finding a place to portal home so she could get out of her ball gown and into something comfier, like leggings and a well-worn t-shirt. But she’d been feeling strange all day, and she knew it had less to do with her lack of interest in the military ball and more to do with the dream she’d had of a wolf with dark-gray fur and a white patch on his chest. She’d spoken to the alphas of a wolf pack in Wilde Creek and discovered the name of a male fitting that description.
Ren.
She’d been tempted to open a portal back to Wilde Creek since she’d learned his name, but she’d held back. It had been driving her slowly crazy, though…the idea that Ren was her mate.
Not that fae had mates, per se. Traditionally, parents chose appropriate mates for their children when they were old enough. Thankfully, by the time she’d come along, that tradition had all but disappeared, and fae were allowed to choose their own mates based on whatever criteria they had. Her father, no matter how old fashioned he was, had promised he wouldn’t choose a husband for her unless she asked. And she wasn’t about to do so. Her father knew a lot of military males, and because of his high rank, she was a sought-after bride. A male who was son-in-law of the prestigious E’lahn Thorburn would be respected by proxy. She’d had too many marriage offers to count, and not once had she ever felt like anything but a stepping stone to a male’s military success. She didn’t want a male to choose her for a mate because he wanted to get in good with her father. She wanted to be chosen because the male couldn’t live withouther.
She wondered if Renwouldchoose her. Just because she’d had a dream about him and believed he was her mate based on nothingbutthat dream, didn’t mean he would feel the same way. If she could ever get up the nerve to go to Wilde Creek and seek him out.
“Ugh, this dress makes it hard to breathe,” her best friend, Keyarielle, said in a loud whisper as she joined Kismet. “And I’ve got an underwire poking my right boob.”
Kismet stifled a snort as her friend fiddled with the dress, which was as elaborate as hers, all layers of silk covered with pearls and crystals.
“I warned you about the dress,” Kismet said. “If the balls were any fun, I don’t think we’d even have time to think about the uncomfortable dresses, but these functions are the very definition of boring.”
Key waggled her brows. “I can think of some balls that are fun.”
Her bestie was one of those people who could turn anything into a dirty comment. “I swear,” Kismet said. “Your mind gets dirtier and dirtier every time we talk.”
“It’s why I’m so charming.”
“I’m not sure that’s accurate.”
Key leaned against the wall and slipped off her shoes. “My dad is trying to get me to see the benefit of marrying one of the lieutenants.”
“Some of them are handsome.”
“Meh,” Key said, tucking a lock of silvery-blonde hair behind her ear. “Good looks are only part of what I’m looking for.”
“What are the other parts?”
“Hotness is like sixty percent important. Then niceness, honesty, and bedroom skills are equally important.”
“Does your dad know the percentages?”
“Heck no.” She looked aghast. “He thinks the most important thing a male can do is provide for his bride. As long as the males who are interested in me are in the military, he believes they’ll make good mates just based on their jobs.”
“I think there’s a lot more to a mate then good looks and niceness.”
“I also said bedroom skills.”
“Oh, okay.” Kismet chuckled. “Be serious.”
