A Date (end)

ALEXIS

"That was unlike you." I smiled gently, setting down my fork. I dabbed my mouth with a napkin before placing it on the table. "Why don't we talk somewhere else?"

Xavier smiled as he set down his spoon. He stood up, grabbed his car keys, and left the building with me. We walked along the street with no destination in mind.

Occasionally, I glanced up at him and noticed the deep furrow in his brows. I couldn't help wondering if my question had touched a sensitive part of him. Lowering my gaze to the pavement, I regretted bringing it up. I hadn't meant to stir up painful memories.

I bit my lip, trying to think of something to say, when his voice suddenly broke through my thoughts. Before I realized what was happening, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him.

"What were you thinking?" he asked sharply, breathing heavily.

My eyes darted around before freezing on the open ditch just inches away from where I had been about to step. My eyes widened as cold sweat spread across my body. I turned back to Xavier and saw the worry etched across his face. His brows were tightly drawn together, but there wasn't a trace of anger in his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," I whispered, my heart racing. "I got distracted and didn't realize where I was going."

The rest of my words died in my throat when he cupped the back of my head and pulled me into his embrace. It felt as though everything inside me shattered, and every wall I had spent months building crumbled into pieces.

My wolf howled as an unfamiliar sensation surged through me. My body grew warmer while a familiar scent drifted into my senses. My eyes widened when countless thin red threads bloomed into view. One thread in particular was tied around my pinky finger.

Slowly, I traced it until I realized the other end was wrapped around Xavier's finger.

No...

It couldn't be.

He slowly pulled away from the hug, disbelief written all over his face.

Did he know too?

Could he feel the mate bond between us?

"Alexis," he muttered.

At that moment, I knew Xavier had felt it too but this bond was different.

My gaze remained fixed on the crimson thread connecting us, and for reasons I couldn't explain, my heart overflowed with happiness.

Mate, my wolf growled.

He's my fated mate.

"I-I..." I quickly stepped away from him, putting as much distance between us as I could.

I wasn't ready for this, not when I was still broken.

"It's alright, Alexis," Xavier said gently, raising both hands in surrender. "It's okay."

I rubbed my arm as I looked into his eyes. The pain in them only made my guilt worse. The mate bond pulled at my heart, urging me toward him with every passing second.

No.

I didn't deserve something like this.

I couldn't go through the same nightmare again, only to be abandoned when I was no longer wanted.

I simply couldn't.

I couldn't trust anyone—not even myself—to fall in love again.

"Hey." His soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Would you like to have a drink with me before work starts?"

I opened my mouth to refuse, but when I realized he was deliberately changing the subject, I understood that he didn't want to make me uncomfortable.

I appreciated that more than he probably knew.

"Sure." I smiled faintly. "Where did you have in mind?"

He tapped his jaw thoughtfully before looking down at me.

"How about your house?"

"Huh?" I blinked several times. "My house?"

He nodded, his lips curling into a sheepish smile.

Hell no.

"Sure," I heard myself say instead.

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist, catching me by surprise. Ever since I'd met Xavier, he had always had the habit of holding my waist or hugging me whenever he sensed something was bothering me.

I smiled despite myself as his fingers gently squeezed my waist while he led me toward my house.

We arrived in no time.

"Stay here while I go upstairs to change," I said. "These heels are killing me."

He nodded without saying anything and headed toward the bar area. He had been here enough times to know his way around.

I glanced around to see whether Mom or Dad was home, but thankfully, they weren't.

After slipping into my room, I sent Mom a text asking where they were.

Her reply came almost immediately.

[I'm with your father. We'll be back in two days. Make sure you take care of everything before we return.]

A chuckle escaped my lips.

"They still act like they're on their honeymoon."

I pulled my hair loose, letting it fall down my back before unzipping my skirt and changing out of my clothes.

Standing in front of the mirror, my eyes drifted to the mark on my stomach.

A sigh escaped my lips as sadness slowly settled over me.

I gently rubbed my stomach, and the emptiness I'd spent months trying to bury came rushing back.

My baby would have been several months old by now. My vision blurred with tears, but I quickly wiped them away.

Then my eyes drifted to my own reflection.

My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin.

A strange warmth spread through my body, sending an electric sensation across my skin.

My wolf howled again only then did realization strike me.

Fuck.

My wolf was entering her heat.

And even worse...

My fated mate, Xavier, was downstairs.

"I have to do something before—"

A strangled moan escaped my lips as my legs instinctively pressed together.

I hurried into the bathroom and turned the shower on as cold as it would go, hoping the icy water would wash away the overwhelming desire burning through my body.

It didn't help.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Xavier asked for what felt like the hundredth time as he poured a drink into my glass.

I nodded frantically, pressing my thighs together as another sharp wave of pain shot through me. My entire body felt like it was on fire.

Fuck.

"I don't think you are," he said quietly as he set the glass down and stood.

I immediately stepped backward.

Inviting him here h

ad been a terrible idea.

My vision blurred before I could stop myself...

I crashed my lips against Xavier's, kissing him like a starving woman.