Chapter 8

Kai POV

After notifying the hotel staff to collect my things from the room I'd checked into earlier and take it to the honeymoon suite, I went looking for Cameron. Knowing that I wouldn't have to find another room after smearing that blond human's scent all over the sheets was a relief. This hotel was probably booked out tonight and Cameron would question the reason for needing another room if I had to try book at another hotel. Fuck, all the top tier surrounding hotels were provably booked out tonight. I knew they would make a plan to cater to the future alpha king, but was grateful to have avoided the hassle regardless.

I found her chatting to her cousin, Nate's new mate, and a few other girls from her pack. Two of whom I'm sure I'd screwed on previous visits to the Northwest. Cammy was giggling and glowing radiantly as she had been all night, either not knowing or not caring about my past discretions. Cammy. That's what everyone was calling her. Leaning on a wall, I watched my girl. Fuck, she was beautiful. I had obviously noticed her before. How could I not? Legs that looked as good as sin, the curve over her shapely hips and the snatch of her tiny waist. And her boobs, as plump and shapely as her tiny body allowed. But she was too young. Or so I had thought. Younger than my 22 years. And I had believed her to be younger then her actual age previously. Now I realized that it was her innocence making her seem so young. So untouchable. I felt apprehensive around her and it irked me just the tiniest bit that her innocence placed so much weight on my shoulders, making me vulnerable in front of Alpha Gerald tonight. Although I held respect for the man, he was still beneath me.

I'd always had easy girls and never cared if I hurt their feelings before. The type that flocked to me and allowed me to pick them up with little to no effort on my part. But she wasn't an easy type of girl. She was delicate, like a little flower. The type of girl that I had no experience with. And I didn't want to hurt her. I was afraid that I would. No! Fuck, -that didn't feel right. I would protect her. I wouldn't be with her the way I had always been with girls. She was mine. Not some one night stand. I could give some of myself to her. Treat her right. Be gentle and do shit that good men did. For her, I could try to be a good man, right? Was it even possible to not treat a girl like her right?

She must have sensed my internal debacle because she looked over at me and gave me a shy smile. That blush that I was already addicted to coloring her cheeks. I could feel her joy grow warmer and softer as she held my gaze. She wanted me around her. That made me smile at her in return.

I slowly approached her and offered her my hand. Which she took. "Ladies, I hope you don't mind me stealing my mate away for a few moments?" I asked, all chivalrous and shit. Making them giggle and oooh and aaaah. Cammy's blush flushed red and she buried her head against my shoulder for a moment before flashing her brillant smile at me. For me. That smile on her beautiful face was because of me. I'd put that there. One of the girls placed her hand on my bicep and giggled, "Oh Kai, you're always such a sweet talker!" her voice dripping with innuendo and shamelessly hinted at familiarity with me. I glanced over her head at Cammy's grandparents who were watching us. Her grandmother was wearing nearly an identical smile to Cammy, obviously not noticing what the slag in front of us was doing. But Alpha Gerald's gaze bored into mine, reiterating the warning in our earlier conversation. I shrugged off her hand and gave her a hard gaze that made her instinctively step back. I looked back at Alpha Gerald and gave him a slight nod, showing him that I was serious about honouring Cameron. She will never feel beneath any under woman.

I glanced back at her. She was looking uncertainly at her slag friend and back at me, obviously picking up on the tension in the air. I led her onto the now empty dance floor and away from that shit. I began to sway us around while she laid her head on my chest and my arms circled her waist. I was astounded that such a tiny woman fit against me like we were two parts of a whole. I grazed my nose on the top of her hair. She smelled so good.

I knew I was stalling, by dancing with her while her party guests stood on the outskirts of the dance floor watching. They wouldn't leave until both the mate-bonded coupes left for the night out of respect due to our high statuses.

Nervous. Her innocence made me fucking nervous. I didn't want to do the same shit I always did. With her, tonight would be more than just sex. Tonight we would be sealing our fate. Because after tonight, I'd never be just 'Kai' again. I would always have someone to look after now. The nerves didn't stop the heat that coursed through my body at having hers pressed up against mine. And like fuck did it do anything to calm the beast inside. If anything, it spurred him on, pushing me to claim and mark her as my own.

"Let's get out of here." I whispered in her ear.