by L. P. Dover
I laugh, but there’s no humor to it. “Do you have a few minutes?”
“Ah, hell. That bad, huh?”
Stacking up my drawings, I move them to the corner of my desk and stand. “It’s not bad yet, but I have a feeling it will be soon.” He doesn’t know anything about Knox or Kara, so I fill him in on everything that happened two hundred years ago to my recent interaction with Kara.
“Shit, Z,” Micah grumbles. “Do you need me to come back to Wyoming?”
I leave my office and walk into the living room. “No. Keep on your search. The others and I have things handled here.” Do we? I don’t know, but I can’t let him give up on the other royals.
“Is there anything else going on?”
He’s the only one of my brothers who doesn’t know about Amelie and me. “Yeah, there is,” I say. I clear my throat and look out the window. “Amelie’s my mate.”
“What?” he shouts. “How did that happen?”
“I’ve known for a while,” I admit. “The green stone Laila brought me from the Hereafter shows Amelie’s face to me. I feel the bond between us.”
“That’s great, Z. I’m happy for you.”
I snort. “Don’t be happy yet. Amelie doesn’t feel the mating signs yet. I only do because of the stone. We’ve been together a couple of times over the past two weeks, and nothing. I don’t know what to do.”
Micah chuckles. “Be patient. It’ll happen when the time’s right. When are you going to see her again?”
The clouds start to roll in, blocking the waning sun; it’s almost time to meet her. “Tonight. We’re going for a run, and she’s cooking dinner.”
“Damn. A lot has happened since I left. Have you kissed her?”
“No. We’ve barely touched. I know Amelie’s attracted to me because I can sense it. But, trust me, brother, it’s killing me keeping my distance.”
“That’s the problem. If you fight against your need, the rage might start settling in. Take a chance and go for it. She’s your mate.”
Easier said than done. If she doesn’t feel the connection to me yet, I can’t force it. But if I get the chance, I’ll show her exactly how I feel. The rage is a serious thing with male wolves, and I’m lucky enough not to have experienced it yet. Unfortunately, Sebastian suffered from it before he mated Tyla. If it gets too bad, a lot of times the wolf has to be put down. I’ve seen it come to that before.
“Good luck tonight, Z. You might be mated by the time I get back.”
The next full moon is in less than two weeks. If Amelie’s not feeling the mating signs yet, I doubt we’ll be mated by then. “I don’t know about that,” I say, “but hopefully, you’ll be back soon.”
“I hope so too. Tell everyone I said hello.”
“Will do.”
We hang up, and it’s time for me to leave. I go outside, and I can smell the approaching snow. We’re only supposed to get about an inch tonight, but the ground is still partially covered from the precipitation last week. I sprint across the field behind my house and into the forest. Amelie’s cabin is only about two miles away when I cut through the woods. Driving over there on the roads takes longer.
When I get close to her house, I don’t conceal my presence. I can see her through the trees, pacing back and forth and looking even sexier than before with her caramel-colored hair pulled back from her shoulders and dressed in a skintight tank top and pants that hug every curve of her body. The need inside of me burns like flames all over my skin. I want her more than anything I’ve ever desired in my life.
Taking a deep breath, I push those feelings as far down as they can go. I step out away from the trees, and Amelie jerks her head in my direction. “There you are. I knew you were close.”
“I’m not late, am I?” I call out.
She shakes her head, grinning that bright smile of hers. “Not at all. I figured there was no rush. Not unless you have other plans tonight.”
Walking up to her porch, I look up at her. “Nope. I’m all yours.”
I can’t hide what I want anymore.
Amelie averts her gaze and smiles. “I would say it’d be fun to shift, but then you can’t talk if we do.” She turns her mischievous smile back to me. “It’s been a week since we’ve spoken, so I have a lot to talk about.”
It’s hard not to smile when she’s around. “I’m good with that.” Beaming, she bounces down the stairs. “You seem to be a lot happier today. Did something happen?” I ask.
She stretches out her legs and laughs. “Christmas is next week, and today was my last day at school for the next two weeks. Plus,” she says, nodding toward her door, “I have a large bag of homemade ginger snaps waiting for us for after dinner. You have to try one. One of my students brought them to me as a Christmas present.”
“I bet you get a ton of gifts,” I say.
She holds a hand over her heart. “I do, and I love it. My kids are the best. Being a teacher can be really rewarding.” Once she’s done stretching, she moves closer to me. “You are staying for dinner tonight, right? I made a beef and vegetable soup and have a loaf of beer bread to put in the oven when we get back.”
“I’m not about to pass that up.”
Stretching her arms above her head, she looks at me and winks. “Ready?”
I can feel her excitement, and it fuels my own. “To the lake?” I ask.
She nods. “Yep. Let’s see who gets there first.” She takes off so fast she’s just a blur through the trees, her laugh echoing from afar. I run after her, knowing I’ll catch up. When I see her, I stay right on her heels, but I let her keep the lead. She weaves in and out of the trees, and I follow her, loving the sound of her laugh. The wind blows through her hair, her scent strong all around me. When we get close to the lake, she picks up her speed and stops by the water’s edge, which is now frozen over.
Hands on her hips, she turns to me, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breaths. “Why did you let me win?”
“Who says I did?”
Lips pursed, she cocks her head to the side. “Seriously? I’m not an idiot, Zayne. I know you’re a hell of a lot faster and stronger than me.”
“That may be true,” I reply, slowly closing the distance between us. “But I don’t feel the need to show you that. I’m sure there are plenty of things you’re better at than me.”
A look of concentration passes across her face. “I’m sure I can cook better.”
I smile. “I already know that’s true.”
She turns away from me and gazes out at the lake. My fingers ache to touch her, and I find myself slowly reaching for the base of her neck to move her hair out of the way. The second she begins to look at me, I lower my arm.
“We both know I decorate for Christmas better. So you might want to work on that next year.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Only if you help me. I can’t do what you’ve done in your house. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
Amelie giggles. “Most men don’t.” Her grin widens. “I wish you could’ve seen the look on my students’ faces when they came to school this morning. I wrapped each one of them a present and had it on their desks.”
Her heart is bigger than anyone I know. “You have to love kids to do what you do.”
“Oh, I do. I’m always trying to convince Tyla to leave Brooke with me. I’ll probably do the same with Laila when Sera gets a little older.” She nods up at the giant boulder. “Want to climb up and sit for a while?”
I look up at the rock. “Sure. Lead the way.”
She climbs up and sits with her legs dangling over the edge. I do the same and peer out at the frozen lake. “When you find your mate, do you think you’ll want your own children?” I ask.
Laila’s words repeat through my mind. She mentioned the idea of a second chance to be a father. Amelie would make an amazing mother, and if we complete the bond, I could get that chance. A part of me feels like it’ll never happen, but it’s something I didn’t realize I wanted
until now.
Amelie focuses on the lake. “I would love to have kids. There was a time when I thought I was pregnant.” Her smile fades, and I can see the sadness in her eyes. “I know Laila tricked me to keep me safe from Jaret, but it still hurt to know it was all a lie. I would’ve loved that baby even if its father was a psychotic bastard.” She blows out a heavy sigh. “Things happen for a reason. I know that when I find my mate, it’ll happen for me.”
“It will,” I assure her. “I have no doubt.”
A tear falls down her cheek, and she quickly wipes it away. “Why don’t we talk about happier things?” Then, when she turns to me, she smiles again. “Did your family have any special traditions around the holidays?”
It’s been so long since I’ve thought about anything like that. Sometimes it’s as if it was in another lifetime. “We did,” I reply, remembering back. “My father and grandfather used to compete to see who could make the best eggnog. Then, at Christmas dinner, everyone would gather around and taste them.”
Amelie’s eyes widen. “Who would win?”
“My grandfather every time.”
She laughs. “I bet that was fun. But, of course, if you have your grandfather’s recipe, you’ll have to make some. I’ve never tried it before.”
It just so happens that he never wrote down the recipe, but I watched him make it for years. So I know exactly what he puts in it. “I’ll see what I can do,” I tell her.
“I look forward to it.”
“What about you?” I ask. “Did your family have any traditions?”
She shrugs. “Not really. We opened presents every Christmas morning and had a huge dinner, but that’s about it. My mother used to paint something special and gift it to me on Christmas though. I have all of them in my attic. One day, when I have a bigger place, I’ll hang them up.”
If we complete the bond and she comes to live with me, she’ll have all the room she needs. I even have the land to give her the barn and horses she wants. There’s so much I can give her; that I want to give her.
“Speaking of Christmas,” she adds, turning a sly grin my way. “Are you going to the party at Laila and Cedric’s on Christmas Eve? I know you don’t like big crowds.”
“Actually, I’m thinking of going,” I reply, shocking her by the surprised expression on her face. “You’re more than welcome to come with me.”
She bumps me playfully with her shoulder. “I know why you want me there. You’re using me to keep all the women away from you.”
In all honesty, I want her with me to keep all the other men away from her. “Is that so bad?” I ask.
Laughing, she shakes her head. “Not at all. I’ve seen the way the other women would fawn all over Sebastian and Micah. With Sebastian mated and Micah gone, you’re the only unmated royal male in town.” She shrugs. “I don’t know though. Me being your date could either help or hinder you. It might make the women try harder for your attention.”
“I’m not interested in any of them,” I murmur.
Her heart pounds, and her need rises as she stares at me; that’s a good sign. I want to make a move, but she clears her throat and tears her eyes away from mine. “This place is so beautiful. I know you’ve traveled the world. What would you say is your favorite place?”
“I have traveled the world and seen many places. But out of all of them, there’s only one place I’d rather be.” Silence fills the air, and I wait for her to meet my gaze again. When she does, I know she can see the hunger I have for her in my eyes. I can’t hide it anymore. “Right here with you is where I want to be.”
Her breath hitches, and I make my move. My hand snakes around her neck, and I pull her close, pressing my lips to hers. She opens up to me, and it spurs me on even more. I taste her like a starved man; I can’t get enough. My cock hardens, and I pull her onto my lap, clutching her so tight it makes her moan. She wraps her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss with her tongue. I don’t want to let go, but I can feel the overwhelming sensation inside me to push things further. If I keep going, I won’t be able to stop; the need is too much, and I don’t know if she’ll be able to handle it.
Breathing hard, I break away from the kiss. Amelie sucks in a breath, and I can see the glow of my wolf eyes in hers. The thrumming in my veins is more intense than it’s ever been. I want her to say she feels it too, but I don’t think she does.
“I’m sorry,” I growl, my fingers clenching into her waist.
She slides off of me. “There’s no need to be sorry. I reacted too. It’s been a long time since I’ve been kissed, and those weren’t good memories. I’m happy to have some fond ones now.”
The burning inside of me feels like it's spreading throughout every fiber of my being. “I need to go.”
I hop off the boulder and run a hand through my hair. I don’t know if it’s the desire I have for Amelie making me feel so ravenous or if it’s the rage settling in. Either way, I have to get away from her.
“Zayne, wait!” Amelie shouts, jumping off the rock. “You don’t have to go. I’m not mad.”
Looking at her only makes things worse. I can smell her desire to be with me, but I can also sense her reluctance. I should be happy she’s attracted to me without the mating signs, but she’s second-guessing herself. Even though she’s my mate, I don’t want her regretting anything we do. Getting involved with a wolf who isn’t your mate is a serious choice, and it’s obvious she’s not ready to make that choice. I turn away and focus on the forest. My wolf wants to claim her, right here and now.
There’s so much I want to say, but I take off into the woods.
“Zayne!” she shouts. “Zayne, come back!”
I want to turn around and go to her. But instead, I cloak my energy and stay close, knowing she can’t sense me. I have to make sure she gets back home safely. She runs off toward her house, and I follow her. I wish I could tell her what’s going on.
When we get close to the cabin, Amelie slows her pace, and I can sense her sadness and confusion. I don’t want to hurt her, but there’s no telling how far things would’ve gone if I stayed. If she regretted our time together, I’d never forgive myself.
Amelie walks inside and shuts the door. As always, I keep watch over her. She eats her soup, and I figured she’d grab a book and read like she usually does, but this time she turns off all the lights and goes to her room.
I shouldn’t have left her. I’m just afraid of what would’ve happened if I stayed.
13
Amelie
My mind was on overdrive the entire night. I barely ate, and I didn’t even bother opening a book because I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it. All I could think about as I laid in bed was Zayne. His need reached new heights last night, and it was exhilarating, but it also scared me. I wanted to give in to a night of passion, to let myself go and enjoy the feel of him inside of me. But unfortunately, I have to be smart. I can’t just sleep with anyone I want, especially when that someone is my best friend’s father. There’s too much at stake.
Bringing my fingers up to trace my lips, I can still taste Zayne and smell his scent all over me. I’ve never wanted anyone so much in my life. The problem is that I know why he left the way he did. Yes, I wanted him, but he’s also a powerful wolf; he could sense my hesitation. Being the honorable kind of man he is, he left so I wouldn’t regret my actions. In all honesty, I don’t think I would’ve regretted anything at all. But of course, I’ll never know now. I’m afraid he’ll go back to being antisocial and never speak to me again.
I get out of bed and take a quick shower. It’s Saturday morning, and I have no clue what I’m going to do, but it needs to be something to get my mind off of things. The only thing I can think of is to drive into town and walk around the shops.
Once dressed, I fix a pan of scrambled eggs and fry up some bacon. Before I can sit down and eat, my phone rings. When I see Tyla’s name, I breathe a sigh of relief. Usually, I’m the one who sits and listens to everyone’s problems,
but today, I need someone to listen to me.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Good morning. What are you up to?”
Looking down at my plate, I move my eggs around with my fork. “Getting ready to eat breakfast. You?”
“Just got through changing Brooke’s diaper. So, why do you sound down in the dumps?”
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I can’t get Zayne out of my head. “I need to talk to you, Tyla. Maybe you can meet me in town, and we walk around the shops? Seeing Brooke will make me happy.”
Tyla snorts. “You’d think seeing your cousin would make you happy, but it’s okay. Brooke gets all the love.”
“You know I love you too. What I need from you is your brutal honesty.”
Tyla giggles. “You can always count on me for that. Do you want to meet in about thirty minutes?”
“Sounds perfect. It’ll give me time to finish breakfast.”
We say our goodbyes, and I eat my food, wondering what all Tyla’s going to say when I tell her what happened. Knowing her, she’s going to say I made the biggest mistake of my life letting Zayne go. Even if I ran after him, I never would’ve caught up.
Once finished with breakfast, I clean the dishes and grab my keys. The snow left only a dusting last night, but there’s still a lot left on the ground with ice patches in my driveway. My tires slide across those spots when I drive over them, but everything's clear once I get on the main road. All on the sides of the road are mountains of snow from the plows. It puts into perspective how much snow we get. In North Carolina, we had snow but nowhere near the amount Wyoming gets.
Driving to downtown Jackson Hole only takes a few minutes, and since it’s still early in the morning, there are plenty of parking places on the main street. Unfortunately, winter gets a little crowded with tourists coming in to enjoy the ski slopes. I spot Tyla’s silver car in front of the Christmas store, and I park behind her. She gets out and secures the baby wrap around her so she can carry Brooke.