CHAPTER Five

Kieran’s POV

“Are you going to get a mate this year?”

That was basically the question that ruined every mating ceremony as far as I could remember. For many ceremonies, I remained mateless, angry, and felt stupid, just like a toy in fate’s hand. And over the years, I began to lose the confidence and hope that I would ever find a mate. 

But the moment I met her, there was something in me that told me she was special.

And when I kissed her, I realised she was special indeed. The memories of that night hung to me like a second skin. 

A stranger. Yet, she had felt like someone I had known my entire life. I couldn’t shake off the softness of her lips against mine, the heat of her body, and the way her eyes searched into my soul. 

I knew she was special.

And now, I’ve discovered she is my mate. And she is pregnant.

Aurelia.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Now that I’ve found her, I wanted to spend more time with her. I keep feeling it in my heart that she would vanish again because I am used to being a mateless wolf. 

Now, I couldn’t wait to show her off to my parents and let the whole world know that, I, Kieran, had a mate. 

I stood in the sky rise penthouse that overlooked the city, staring through the window and thinking of what this meant for me. For someone who had spent long mateless years, it was like a dream.

That evening, I strolled over to Club SDA to watch my mate serve drinks at the bar with a perfect smile. Her scent was captivating. 

Roses and wildflowers.

Now, I get to feel what every wolf felt - that mate bond attraction that made one do crazy things.

“If you keep watching me, I may not be able to do anything tonight,” Aurelia said with a smile as she moved towards where I sat, watching her.

I raised my hands slightly in surrender. 

“I’m only here for a drink.”

She was prettier tonight. Her green eyes was just a perfect pair for her black hair and her smile was irresistible.

“Well, you’ve been toying with that one glass cup for over an hour.”

I tilted the cup, staring at the drink without interest. My main interest was standing right in front of me, wiping a glass cup clean and smiling at a new customer.

“I didn’t know you kept count,” I said when she was done pouring him. “I came to make sure no one is flirting with my mate.” I dropped the cup and stared at her intently.

A small smile appeared on her face and was quickly replaced with a frown. 

“If you’re going to be watching me all night, then I might lose my job.”

My reaction to her statement was a naughty smile. There was something about her that brought out the boyish nature in me. 

“Do I make you super uncomfortable? Do you feel your heart  palpitate?”

I could see that she was stifling a smile. I didn’t know much about her but I was dying to know everything about this woman who bore my pup and who was magically my long lost mate. 

“And what if I say you don’t?”

I emptied the glass cup and refilled it again. “I’d know you’re a pretty bad liar.”

Another customer walked up to the bar and she got distracted from me for a while. My hand traced the rim of the glass cup while I watched her steadily, as though she would vanish the moment my eyes were not trained on her. 

“I have a job offer for you,” I finally said. “...if you’re interested.”

She was shaking her head. “I’m gainfully employed, Kieran.”

I raised a brow. “Even though it comes with huge benefits like getting to see me all day?”

She chuckled. “That’s one mighty benefit.”

“So, what do you say?”

“I love it here, serving drinks in a bar.”

I could almost feel the livid edge in her tone. She was my woman and I was one of the city’s hottest billionaires and soon to be out of the top chart of the city’s most eligible bachelors. I wanted her to get all the best care she needed, especially now that she carried a pup for me. 

“Will you gve it a thought.”

I got a firm “No” from her as she continued wiping glass cups. 

Her shift was finally over and I was more than pleased to have her to myself after watching her smile at every man and woman that walked up to her for a drink. 

She threw a jacket over her body and was heading out of the bar. 

“Can I drop you off?” I asked.

She stopped outside, contemplating an answer to my request. 

“So you get to know where I live and torture me with unwelcome visits.”

That was one funny way to put it. But she was irresistible. I didn't know why she fought the bond between us so badly, but I knew she felt every bit of attraction I felt for her. Our night together had shown the great spark we shared. 

I reached for her hans. 

“You are pregnant, Aurelia,” I said, my tone on the borderline of concern. “Let me take care of you in every way that you deserve.”

She was still contemplating.

“I promise that I wouldn't vivit until you invite me over. I just want to keep you safe.”

“Isn’t that what-”

But she stopped mid sentence, pursing her lips. “Fine,” she said. “But you’ll drop me a few blocks from my house.”

I could feel her hurt and fears, but I couldn’t understand why she felt them. I wanted nothing but to protect her and constantly be with her. 

I look her hand, letting her scent ground me, as I walked over to my waiting Bentley. I chaffued her in and sat beside her while the car rolled towards the direction she gave to my driver.

Sitting beside her was pure torture - the kind tha was pleasurable. Not only was she beautiful, her presence had a way of unravelling me. I wanted us to talk, I wanted to know about her past and the reason why she’s hesitant about her feelings towards me, BUut I could read it plainly from the way she sat that she didn’t want to talk. It was either she was avoiding a conversation or she was too exhausted to speak. 

Her lids fell, covering her green eyes, and soon, she was snoring slightly beside me. I watched her, amused, until her head fell sideways, landing on my shoulder.

“That was a smooth safe,” I said to myself. 

Quietness engulfed the car as the city blurred past us, but the tension didn’t dimish even in her sleepy state With her head rested against my shoulder, I wanted to reach for her hair and curl my fingers between the soft cascade of black tresses.

The car finally came to a halt at the bakery she had mentioned. But I didn’t want her walking all the way home alone.

She stirred from her sleep when I called her name, her green eyes glinting under the light, sparkling the flames of emotions within me. I fought the urge to kiss her.

“It’s your stop,” I said. “But I don’t mind taking you all the way home since you’re sleepy.”

She shook her head, shaking off the sleep at the mention of my proposal and sat up. Hs ehadn’t realised that she was resting against my shoulder. She readjusted her hair and reached for the door. She was out before I could offer to get the door for her.

“Goodnight, Aurelia,” I said. “Do promise me one thing though.”

She faced me, her hair dancing against the night breeze from the tree she stood under. I watched as she struggled to gather the hair away from her face.

“My hair has a mind on it’s own,” she said. “What’s the promise?”

“Tell me you’ll go over my proposal,” I said.

She frowned. “It didn’t need an overnight thought. I have already decided right there at the bar. I love my job and the last thing I need is depending on…”

She caught her breath to prevent herself from spilling whatever hurt wa buried in her heart. 

I took her hand, gently, and squeezed it. “I’m not just anybody, Aurelia. I hope you realise how much I love you.”

She nodded and turned away. But I caught her biting her tears away before she turned. 

“Goodnight, Kieran.”

I walked into my car and watched her walk into the night.

“Follow her…quietly,” I told the driver.

She didn’t even bother to look back. She walked, as though lost in her own thoughts that she was too oblivious to her surroundings.

And then, she finally stopped in front of an apartment and pushed the door open, disappearing from my view. I stared at the shut door for too long, strangely hoping that she would walk out with a smile and invite me in. 

But the door never opened. 

*** 

I could barely catch any sleep.

Not with the way my heart thrummed each time I thought about her. 

Aurelia.

I visualised her lovely face while I stared at the high ceilings, and when I closed my eyes, I saw her in my dreams. She wore a black lingerie just like that night, and she was walking up to meet me in bed. But I woke up before I could even hold her.

I stood up from bed and walked to the mini bar in my room. A rum was supposed t clear my head but it barely took her thoughts off my head. 

I knew she held on to a hurt from her past and that hurt was stopping her from being open to me. I wanted to let her know that I was never going to hurt her.

Damn, who could hurt a woman like that?

I tapped my feet while swivelling the almost-empty cup of wine. 

By morning, I had my PA send a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolate, a bottle of wine and a scribbled note to her doorstep while the business of the day took all morning.

Board meeting and new contracts. Arguments and proposal. In the midst f the office work, Aurelia quietly slipped to the back of my memory. Not untilI got back to my office and found a similar item I had sent my PA to deliver to her, resting on my table.

“Who’s this from?” I asked with a frown.

“It’s the gift you asked me to send this morning,” my PA responded.

“And why is it on my table?” I moved closer to the table.

“She had it returned.”

“Returned?”

Why would she return it, I thought. Didn't she love roses? I had thought of getting her rses because that was what she smelled like. And what lady didn’t like a box of chocolate?

I took my seat and stared at the package for a while, my heart breaking at the sight. I had looked for my mate all these years, and right now, sending back a gift I had carefully thought about, felt like she was rejecting me. 

“Did she bring this herself?” I asked my PA who stood there, waiting for instructions.

He shook his head slightly. “It was brought in by a dispatch rider.”

“Maybe she doesn;t like brown chocolates. Get her white chocolates and change the flowers to Lillies. If she hates roses, she ought to love Lillies.”

He nodded and was reaching for the package when I stopped him. There was something in the basket that I hadn’t put in there this morning.

It was a note, different from the one I had scribbled down. I picked it up and read the lines, my smile fading into a frown.