Chapter 11

Ollie's POV

I wake slowly to the smell of bacon and coffee drifting through the apartment.

For a second, I don’t move.

Everything feels warm. Heavy in the best way. Rain taps softly against the windows while sleep still drags at the edges of my mind.

Then I feel her.

Soft against my chest.

My arm is wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her against me like sometime during the night my body decided letting go wasn’t an option.

And honestly?

Even half asleep, I know immediately that I don’t want to.

I breathe her in slowly.

Vanilla.

Rain.

Her.

The feeling that rolls through me is immediate and terrifyingly calming all at once.

"Mine."

The word slams through my head so suddenly my eyes snap open.

Not my thought.

My wolf’s.

Possessive. Certain. Ancient.

"Mate."

Every muscle in my body locks.

"No. No, no, no."

I stare down at the girl curled against me, her dark hair spread across my pillow, her body tucked perfectly into mine like she belongs there.

And my wolf practically purrs.

"Mate."

Holy shit.

My heart starts pounding so hard I’m convinced she can feel it through my chest.

This can’t be happening.

Not now.

Not in Boston.

Not with a girl I met in a bar six hours ago.

My brain immediately short-circuits into chaos.

"She’s a wolf.

How is she a wolf?

Why is she here alone?

Does she know?

Did she feel it too?

Oh my God, did I manhandle my mate in a crowded bar like some possessive psychopath?"

I internally recoil.

Fantastic.

Absolutely phenomenal first impression, Ollie.

Terrify the girl immediately.

Genius.

Meanwhile my wolf could not sound more pleased with itself.

"Mate."

"Mine."

"Protect."

“Shut up,” I think aggressively.

The worst part?

Everything suddenly makes sense.

The pull toward her the second I saw her across the room. The panic when she disappeared. The way my body relaxed the moment she touched me. How natural it felt holding her through the night.

Like I’d done it a hundred times before.

I’m so unbelievably screwed.

Then she freezes against me suddenly.

Awake.

And judging by the spike in her heartbeat, she’s realizing exactly how wrapped around me she is right now.

"Cute."

No.

Not cute.

Focus.

I need to act normal.

Normal people don’t internally combust because they woke up cuddling their mate.

She starts carefully trying to wiggle out of my hold, inching forward slowly like she thinks she can escape without waking me.

My wolf instantly protests.

"No."

Before I can stop myself, my arm tightens automatically around her waist, pulling her back against me.

Idiot.

A rough groan leaves me as I bury my face closer to her neck, still halfway asleep enough that my mouth works before my brain does.

“Mornin’, Megs.”

The nickname slips out naturally.

Like I’ve been saying it forever.

The second it leaves my mouth, her entire body short-circuits.

Heat floods her skin so fast it nearly makes me laugh.

And suddenly she’s scrambling violently out of my arms like the bed caught fire.

“Ihavetopee,” she blurts in one panicked breath before sprinting toward the bathroom.

The door slams shut behind her.

Silence.

I stare at the ceiling for three full seconds.

Then drag both hands over my face.

“Oh my God,” I whisper to myself.

"Mate", my wolf says smugly.

“This is bad.”

"Perfect, actually."

“She barely knows me.”

"Ours anyway."

I sit up abruptly, panic fully setting in now.

Because this isn’t some little crush.

This isn’t attraction.

This is permanent.

Life-changing.

Soul-deep.

And she looked overwhelmed enough last night without me suddenly dropping “surprise, cosmic wolf bond” onto her before breakfast.

I fall back against the mattress dramatically.

“I am so fucked.”