Chapter 3

Mira's pov

I stood at the gazebo outside the great hall, panting like I had just run a marathon.

In retrospect, I had.

This was not how I had planned my evening to go in any way shape or form but here I was hiding away like a coward.

I backed into one of the pillars of the gazebo and held onto it to prevent my legs from giving out on me.

I was glad that the gazebo was hidden from the main hall. It was very close to the garden and was dimly lit.

I counted one to ten as I took in deep breaths, trying to calm myself down.

Once I felt like myself again, I raised my head up to the sky and sighed.

"Let's go back to him;" my wolf, Claudia, urged.

“Absolutely not!" I shook my head, knowing that if I went in there now, I wouldn't be able to control myself or Claudia.

I needed to stay far  away from him. As far as possible.

The memory of his green eyes staring deep into my eyes caught me off guard.

Why was he so fucking hot?!

With that long black hair and green eyes and plump lips that looked like they could do unholy things to my lips and body.

I wanted him, I wanted him so much. My body ached for him and I just met him.

Was this how everyone felt when they first met their mate?

"Who was that young man you were practically all over?" A familiar voice said, startling me.

I jumped and glanced back to find Kayden standing behind me, his eyes dark as they accessed me.

There it was again, his scent taking over every rational part of my brain.

"I… I… I mean, he…he's a friend," I stuttered as he walked up to me.

I backed away from him, trying to put distance between us.

"A friend… I see." He said simply, his eyes still accessing mine like he was reading me.

I swallowed, feeling self conscious at his stare.

"Did you want something?!" I finally found my voice.

"Your mother asked me to find you so we can take a family picture together." He said in a clipped tone.

Oh, that was right.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"I followed your scent," he said. "It was too potent to miss,"

I bit my lips, unsure of what to say to that.  Suddenly, I heard Kayden groan and I looked up in confusion.

“What do you want?” I asked him trying to sound firm but it came out squeaky and small.

"Don't do that, Mira."  he said with a strained voice that sounded like he was restraining himself from doing something unholy.

We were three feet apart but it felt like we were skin to skin. I should reject him or at least bring it up!

I kept telling myself it was for the best but for some reason, I couldn't open my mouth to speak.

I was too mesmerized by him

My eyes fell on his hands that seemed to be tapping furiously at his sides and  looked up at him.

"Do what?" I finally asked after several moments of silence.

"Nothing." He whispered and in the blink of an eye, he grabbed me.

He backed me into the nearest pillar and caged me there.

For a moment, I thought he was about to kiss me but he paused, closed his eyes and whispered something into my ear.

At first I didn't catch what he said because I was distracted by his closeness.

I opened  my eyes once again  and stared  deep into my eyes as I tried to pick the meaning behind what he was saying.

"Now, listen to me, Mira. You can't tell your mother about this…about us, about me being your mate…" he pointed out and I shivered at the whoosh of my ear.

"I wasn't planning to." I breathed out, aroused by his proximity to me.

Was he feeling the things I was feeling? The need to close the distance between us and let our bodies do the talking?

The need to kiss him senselessly without caring who was watching us?

He was too close, so close that I could feel his breath on my lips.

"Good, because if you even think about it, I'll break your brittle little bones. I can't be with you, you being my mate is irrelevant.” He remarked in an icy tone that made me shiver.

He'd just promised to break my brittle bones but all I could think about was my legs on his shoulders as he made love to me staring deep into my eyes.

I expelled the thoughts out of my head immediately. This couldn't be. I couldn't allow it. I just couldn't.

"You should reject me!" I breathed out, my face heating up.

"You are right." He said and stood up straight and began. "I, Kayden Remy Darkclaw hereby reject…" he began but stopped immediately.

His eyes fell on my lips just then and he let out a low growl before crashing his lips on mine.

My hands went around his neck easily as I kissed him back, my need to feel his body against mine winning over common sense.

He growled against my lips, his mouth molding with mine roughly. His hands moved to my breast and squeezed and I screamed out with absolute need.

I wanted more of him, more of his strong solid body against mine, more of his sweet, addictive musk wrapped around me.

I wanted to feel inside me, my inner thighs were already starting to ache from the passionate and frenzied kiss.

"Please," I begged, trying to get closer as possible even though there was no more room for me to get closer

"Yes, don't stop."  I moaned as he began to kiss my neck and his grip on my breasts grew rougher and more urgent.

Just when I thought I'd get the release I desired, he broke the kiss and stepped away from me.

"You, stay the fuck away from me." He pointed at me like it was my fault. “I, Kayden Remy Darkclaw , reject Mira Frost as my mate.”

He turned around and started walking away without another word.

I placed my hand on my chest where I could feel an ache coming from within.

I watched him go confused by what just happened. He headed towards the great hall while I stood there watching and asking myself what the fuck had just happened.

Did my mate just reject me?