chapter 7

PATRICK

It takes all my self-control to refrain from leaping over the table, sweeping her into my arms, and claiming her. Her enticing scent fills the room, overtaking my senses and clouding my judgment.

I forget everything about the party and the night as soon as I lay eyes on her. Nothing else matters to me then, only the she-wolf sitting before me- my mate, my to-be Luna.

I had dreamed of having a mate of my own and having a family with her for so fucking long. I had almost given up on that dream a couple of years ago when it felt like I was out of luck. Usually, wolves found their mates in their early twenties, and it was said that once you were past thirty and mateless, you were to remain mateless for the rest of your life.

Once I turned thirty, I accepted my mateless fate, even though it was hard for me to do so. But somehow, I came to terms with it and learned to accept and live with it.

Seeing her tonight is nothing less than a blessing, a miracle for me. Yet, she is looking at me with disapproval in her eyes. There is another unknown emotion in her I can't recognise. I wonder why she is resisting me. Doesn't she want a mate too?

On top of that, she claims that Gabriel will propose to her tonight. The thought immediately raises an inferno inside me. I want to find him and rip him to shreds, even though he is innocent. I can't help the waves of intense emotions taking over my logical side like a tsunami.

I have just met her, and I am already a mess. It terrifies me to an extent, but at the same time, it excites me in an unfathomable way. The mating bond seems to be working its charm on me already.

"When did you meet Gabriel?" I ask her, using every fibre of self-control in my body to stay logical. I don't want to scare her away. I need her to like me, to crave me the same way I am craving her already.

"Just a few days ago," she shrugs, leaning back and fixing me with her burning, determined gaze. It makes me feel weak in places I don't know I can feel weak.

This damn female!

"And you decided to get married?" I ask, finding her answer somewhat irrational. It seems as if she is trying to test me. I won't be surprised if that were her primary intent, but I can't help but wonder why.

"Yes, it was love at first sight," she says with a suggestive smile. "A whirlwind romance. I cannot wait to be with him." She speaks dreamily, making me thirstier for Gabriel's blood. My wolf is already plotting to kill him, but I try my best to keep my logical side working.

I keep reminding myself that Gabriel is innocent. He didn't know she was my mate, and once he does, he'll remove himself from the picture altogether. I can tell he had figured it out already when I interrupted them, which was why he had left in haste.

"I see," I mutter." Then why did he leave you?" I point it out, and she frowns at me, getting her defences up.

"You scared him away," She snaps.

"Rightly so because you're mine now," I state.

"No, I'm not!" she says, her voice sharp and her eyes murderous. For some strange reason, I find that immensely attractive. Her fighting spirit kindles my desire for her. She is one glorious female, and I feel like the luckiest man to have been paired with her.

They say good things take time, and looking at her, all my years of loneliness and disappointment feel worth it. I was indirectly being prepared for her, and I can't feel more blessed. I must have done something to impress the moon goddess. I can't wait to take her home, make her mine and give her everything she could ever demand. I am finally prepared for a mate... but she seems oddly guarded!

"You don't seem pleased to be my mate," I comment, examining her.

"You're not what I asked for," She mutters. I cock an eyebrow, feeling a pinch in my heart, but at the same time, I want to listen to her. If there is a way I can make her like me, I would do that no matter what. I need her to like me... to love me, or else I won't know what I'll do with myself.

A mate's rejection means a painful existence. The thought of her rejecting me sends another wave of intense emotions coursing through me. No, I won't let that happen. I'll work hard to win her heart no matter what.

"Then what did you ask for?" I ask her, "Tell me, and I'll provide it for you... anything," I state. I might as well have offered her a blank check, but I don't care. She is invaluable, and no amount of money or wealth matters to me if I can't have her.

She laughs in my face and says, "You don't know what you're talking about." It feels like a challenge.

"I don't?" I test. "Then tell me what you're talking about," I demand, ready for a challenge. She is my challenge, and I am more than enthusiastic about conquering her, about making her mine no matter what.

She laughs again, mocking. Her eyes twinkle with mischievousness, setting my loins on fire. I thought I couldn't crave her more, but I don't mind being proven wrong. I am already discovering so many new things about myself, and it thrills me. I wonder what else she'll make me learn about myself and, eventually, about her. I can't wait to find out!

Did I already mention that I feel blessed to have her?

"You're underestimating me," I comment, dishing back her challenge. "I'm the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. There's nothing I can't do for you," I tell her fiercely. She smiles at me again, but this time, it is different. There is a knowing look in her eyes that I can't ignore. If anything, it makes me more curious and hungry for her. I want to know everything about her.

"I see," She says, "I'll think about it, but I must leave now. I don't like my boyfriend to keep waiting!"

GISELLE

"You're underestimating me," he insists, giving me a pointed look. "I'm the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. There's nothing I can't do for you." He challenges me; if anything, it makes me want to laugh louder.

Instead, I smile at him and wonder if he'll say the same if he knows who I am. I guess not, but at the same time, new ideas sprout in my head- of how I can fuck with him now that I know he is my mate and how eager he is to get me. Hmm... it already feels exciting, and I need to consider it.

But for now, I don't trust myself with him in the same room, especially with my wolf growing more eager to get closer to him. His pheromones are also growing more potent in the room with every second. I am afraid if I stay there longer, he might make me go into heat, mainly because he is an Alpha.

His wolf is mighty and domineering. He'll want to secure me as his mate as soon as possible by claiming me. I need to get out of here before it is too late.

"I see," I nod, "I'll think about it, but I must leave now. I don't like my boyfriend to keep waiting," I tell him with a devilish smile. Speaking those words feel like I am shoving a knife in his heart, but I love it, especially the slightly defeated look on his face. However, the determination is still in him. I can feel it radiating off him. All the more reasons to fuck out of here as soon as possible!

As time passed while we were together, I imagined all the ways he could please me. However, I didn't want those fantasies to overpower my logic!

"Your ex-boyfriend," he corrects me possessively, his body tensed like a predator about to charge after its prey. I might as well have been playing with fire, but I don't care. I want to irk him, but my efforts seem to be in vain.

For an Alpha who has found his mate, he seems highly in control and rational. This is unlike the other alphas, who immediately turn into animals and won't stop until marking their mates. I have heard some traumatic stories about such mating, and it has always made me wish never to have an Alpha mate. The moon goddess has done me wrong!

However, the way Patrick maintains his calmness, it means he is damn powerful. I shouldn't have cared, but I fucking like it.

"Whatever, I need to see him," I tell him, getting up to leave, but he remains seated. His body is tenser than ever. I keep an eye on him as I head towards the door. "And don't fucking follow me. I need time to sort this out!"

"I understand," He utters, getting up, but before he can reach out and haul me against him, I step out of his reach. He gives me a disgruntled look but makes no effort to get me. Instead, he unlocks the door for me. "But when can I see you again?" He asks, bringing back his business tone as we step out.

"I don't know," I ignore, determined to get away from him as soon as possible.

"Giselle," He calls for me, instantly making my heart flutter in my chest. Everything inside me aches for him, and my wolf howls woefully, displeased to leave him so soon. Leaving feels even worse because I can hear the longing in his voice.

"We'd need to meet again," He states.

"Yeah, yeah," I wave my hand, trying to act casual and unbothered, but inside, my heart is breaking to leave him. Even though I hate him, I love pushing his buttons and waiting for his reaction. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem like the person I expected him to be, which ignites my interest in him.

I half expected him to force himself on me and mark me without my consent like most of the alphas do with their mates upon meeting, but he has been respectful of my boundaries and choices. It oddly makes me want to look forward to meeting him again.

Maybe he is putting up an act to impress me. I won't be surprised if that was the case, but at the same time, I remind myself that he could have easily forced himself on me when we were alone in the private conference room. Again, I don't want to read too much into it. That might make me focus too much on his positive attributes, and I need to avoid that now.

He is still my enemy and the man I hate the most. One of the most important missions of my life is to ruin him, and I am not going to let some rose-tinted glass put on me by my hormones and the damn mating bond ruin the work of my life.

Nuh-unh. Not happening on my watch.

"Giselle," He calls for me again. He has followed me outside the hotel, which I dislike. I want to turn around and tell him to stop following me, but something inside me tells me that will backfire. "I'm serious about you."

"I'm making no promises," I respond, standing by the road. I look around and realize I am at the back of the hotel. The road there is rather empty. Why did I get here? Of course, I got too distracted because of him. Fuck him!

Finally, my patience snaps, and I turn on my heels to give him a murderous glare. All he does is stand there and look at me as if I am the biggest puzzle of his life that he can't wait to solve. Hah! I'll do a number on him soon to see if he still feels that way.

"Leave me alone, Patrick. I don't want to do this," I snap.

"All I'm asking from you is a chance. Tonight wasn't great, but I want to make it up to you. We can start afresh again," he offers, stepping closer to me. His dark eyes hungrily search my face for a sliver of hope, but I am determined to give him none. "I will be what you want me to be," he adds, a glint of something indistinct in his eyes making me pause for a second and consider.

He must've read the expression on my face because he gives me a slow, handsome smile. I try not to stare too much at his lips and focus on glaring at him.

"Are you available tomorrow?" he asks me eagerly, stepping closer. I should've stepped back, but I don't.

"No, I need to go now," I boot.

"I'll have one of my men drop you home," He suggests.

"So that you could find out where I live?" I accuse. He cocks an eyebrow at me, a hint of challenge in his eyes.

"Giselle, before you get home tonight, I'll have discovered everything about you," He says. I laugh at him, yet again.

"I'd love to see what you get."