Didn't take you for a flirt

In the morning, I stirred from my slumber only to find myself alone in the bed. As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, a hollow space on the pillow beside me and the disheveled covers confirmed that the events of the previous night were not mere figments of my imagination.

Killian and I were now mated, bound together by an unbreakable tie, despite the absence of any genuine love between us.

If it had been Stephan, our connection would have been solidified through a blood-bond, the act of biting each other's necks serving as a mark of our belongingness. Such a bond would have woven our minds together, growing stronger as our lives intertwined.

However, this customary gesture was absent with Killian. While I felt a tinge of relief for avoiding the mark, an unexpected sense of annoyance crept upon me. I had secretly longed for the opportunity to refuse, to claim a small victory and reaffirm my loyalty to Stephan.

"Where the hell is he anyway?" Taking a soft breath, I raised my head and surveyed the room, but the handsome Killian was nowhere to be found. I felt relieved to avoid an immediate confrontation.

Yet, a part of me entertained the idea of facing him, believing it might provide a fleeting respite from the mounting tension between us. With a gentle roll, I slipped out of bed and made my way silently to the bathroom, the carpet deadening the sound of my footsteps.

Though compact, the bathroom housed all the necessary amenities. After freshening up, I dressed in comfortable attire, opting for pants and a T-shirt.

Lost in contemplation about the uncertainty of the day, the door creaked open, and Kilian stepped into the room.

"Good morning, Hailey. I heard you in the shower when I came in, so I made some breakfast for us," he greeted with a dazzling smile. Was he really the cruel, powerful alpha she had heard about? I couldn't help but wonder. He seemed almost angelic in that moment.

"Oh. Thanks," I mumbled, glancing at him and then looking away, feeling awkward in his presence.

He extended his arm, ushering me into the kitchenette. The table was set, bacon and eggs, juice and toast waiting.

"You cooked this?" I looked at him in surprise.

My father had never set foot in the kitchen, always too busy with his duties as Alpha.

"I'm not a child, I'm capable of taking care of myself," he chuckled at my expression and helped me into a chair, all while keeping his gaze on my long brown hair. Although he tried to hide it, I could sense that last night had been the best night of his life.

"And besides, I can't have you looking as lean as a stick," he jestingly remarked with a gorgeous smile. "People might think I don't know how to take care of you. I can't risk a lycan all-out war." He kissed me unexpectedly on the cheek, and his touch felt oddly casual.

My heart raced at the intimate gesture, conflicting emotions swirling within me. I was torn between the desire to resist his advances and the curiosity to explore the depths of his apparent kindness. But one thing was certain my fate was tied to his, and I couldn't ignore the undeniable chemistry that simmered between us.

I froze at the unexpected gesture, but Killian, however, sat down opposite me as though nothing had happened, and began serving while my cheeks flushed red. It was such an intimate and romantic gesture.

"We'll need a few days to acclimate to each other, to discover our likes and dislikes. Is there anything you're not particularly fond of eating?" he asked with a smile.

"Um... not really," I replied, still a little flustered.

"Good. I'm not too picky when it comes to food either. How about reading? Or watching movies?" he continued to engage me in conversation, peppering me with questions and carefully listening to my responses.

"I guess I love reading. There wasn't much to do besides read at my father's home. As for movies... well, not my pick," I replied.

"You're missing out on a lot of fun," he smiled.

"And how would you know what I consider fun?" I retorted bluntly, realizing my rudeness almost immediately. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I can't deny that you look very hot when mad," he teased, earning a gasp from me. Seems he was the flirtatious type, I thought.

"Didn't take you for a flirt," I chuckled.

"There are a lot of sides to me. You'd love most of it, if you give me a chance," he teased.

I couldn't help but admire his effort. He was being amicable and courteous, showing genuine interest in me. It seemed he was committed to making our union work.

Perhaps there was more to him than meets the eye. Maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to navigate this new chapter of our lives together.

After a while, my initial tension began to dissipate, and i found myself opening up further in my responses. Killian's smile grew, clearly pleased with my increasing engagement.

Our territories now adjoined to the east, with our packs allied, granting us endless forest to explore," Killian explained, leisurely sipping his coffee. "Personally, I find solace in traversing rugged terrain. How about you? I noticed when I first saw you that you had just finished exercising."

"Yeah, I was out with Steph... a friend," I replied, my smile fading as a tinge of sadness crept in. If only I had known it would be the last time I would be with Stephan, I would have cherished every moment, treasuring every sight, sound, and scent.

"So, this 'friend' of yours," Killian leaned forward with a smile, "was he the young male glaring at me yesterday? The tall one with sandy brown hair, about twenty years old?"

I hesitated, aware that Killian could easily gather information from my pack. My bond with Stephan had never been a secret.

"Yes, that was Stephen. He wanted to speak to my father about... becoming my mate," I said, looking away, my eyes welling up with tears.

"And what were your feelings on the matter?" Killian probed gently.

My gaze focused on my hands as I whispered my answer. "I... I had wished for the same thing."

Killian fell silent, fighting back the urge to rage against the unfairness of it all. After a heavy sigh, he responded, "I understand. You are beautiful, and it would be peculiar if no one in your pack desired you." He chose his words carefully.

"How about you? Did you have someone else you loved?" I inquired, surely someone as attractive as him would have a bevy of women swarming over him.

"Yes, I did," he lied smoothly. Perhaps if he pretended he understood how I felt, I would be more welcoming? It was a gamble, but he was willing to take it.

"Hailey, sometimes life brings great disappointments. It's difficult in the moment, but we must move on." Reaching across the table, he gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Our union is of utmost importance for the well-being of both our packs. It is our duty to make this work, agreed?" His blue eyes bore into mine, displaying his position's authority.

After a moment, I nodded, accepting the truth. We had a responsibility to our packs to make this relationship succeed.

Standing up from his seat, Killian extended his hand to me. With hesitation, I placed my hand in his warm grasp.

Encouragingly, he smiled and helped me to my feet. We had a long journey ahead, but perhaps, just perhaps, we could find a way to create a true partnership, founded on understanding and compromise.