Talk

Wren.

“You’re my mate, Wren.”

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Those four little words strung together had managed to render me entirely speechless.

I was his mate.

That couldn’t be right.

My mind was reeling as I tried and failed to absorb the new information.

He invited me up to his apartment to finish the conversation after I had what could only be classified as a grade-A freakout in his car, and I followed him without uttering a single word.

I was sitting on his couch while I waited for him to tell me this was some prank.

Well, I was sitting.

Ryan had decided it was better to hover rather than sit.

He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, his jaw set as he watched me.

“I’m sorry if I’ve taken you by surprise. Believe me, I would’ve waited if I thought it was best.”

“So you decided just to blurt it out?” I tilted my head. “That doesn’t seem very smart, Alpha.”

“I told you not to freak out, didn’t I?”

“Yes, well, that wasn’t a warning.”

I ran my fingers through my curls and dropped my hand on my lap.

I was too young to be mated.

Too early in my break-up to want to commit to someone else. Much less a supernatural.

Sure, kissing him was nice, and I might’ve been hoping for something akin to a hookup earlier, but this?

This was too much.

“We’re mates, Wren. No matter how many times I say it, it doesn’t change.”

“I get that part. But how are you sure I’m your mate? What if there’s been a mistake? Think about it, tonight isn’t the first time we’ve been at the same place, so why is it only now you’re recognising the bond?”

He tilted his head and carefully pushed closer. “Our wolves are the ones who recognise the scent of our mates”, Ryan explained softly, his deep voice carrying a quiet certainty “Before tonight, I’ve never been close enough to you for my wolf to catch your scent. But when you kissed me tonight, that changed. You’re mine, Wren.”

I shook my head. “No. I can’t be yours. I can’t…” My words caught as I stood up and began pacing. “I don’t even know you.”

“You weren’t so bothered by the fact earlier.”

My face heated when I caught the implication of his words. “That was different,” I said, and he moved, taking one smooth step forward.

I could practically touch him with how close he was standing.

God, he smelled good.

I shook my head slightly.

Focus.

I stepped back, needing space to breathe, but ended up bumping against the armrest of his couch.

“And I’m not looking for a mate. I just caught my boyfriend of two years with my best friend. And up until an hour ago I was pretty sure he was my soulmate.”

“Clearly he’s not.” He scoffed. “He cheated on you. Put you down. Called you names.” He clenched his jaw. “If it were up to me, he wouldn’t still be alive for all the hurt he’s caused you.”

My heart stuttered. “Gee, that’s really sweet and all, but you’re not exactly different from him.”

Ryan’s conquests were as legendary as his hockey stats.

Everyone knew Ryan wasn’t the type to settle down. He was the golden-boy Alpha. The kind of guy girls bragged about sleeping with, and others wished they could sleep with.

He might stand here and judge Shane for what he did to me, but what’s the guarantee that he won’t do the same thing?

Because we were mates?

Nothing he’s said so far has proved that a mate bond means loyalty or compatibility, and I couldn’t risk that.

I wasn’t ready for another heartbreak, and knowing Ryan’s reputation, one would be inevitable.

“I’m nothing like Anderson.”

Ryan’s voice dropped into a low, deadly register as he straightened to his full height.

His sheer presence crowded me, dominating my space until I was forced to tip my head back.

His eyes flashed amber, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Literally.

“You say that now, but believe it or not, Shane was nothing like himself either.”

He was kind once upon a time, and he loved me. So forgive me if I didn’t immediately drop my guard, simply because he believed we had some special bond.

The air in the room grew thick, heavy with the aura rolling off him in waves.

“I don’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to do.” He reached up gently, cupping my cheek in his large, rough palm, and I let him because the contact felt too damn good. “The mate bond doesn’t automatically force us together, but it does make it impossible for me to want anyone else. So, no, sweetheart. I won’t cheat on you because you are all I want.”

My lips parted.

I didn’t know what to say to that.

“And as for my reputation.” He brushed his finger over my bottom lip, and I shivered. “You really shouldn’t pay attention to rumours.”

I swallowed and lowered my gaze to his mouth. “And end up uninformed like you? No thanks.”

“Hmm.” his other hand fell on my waist, and he pulled me in.

How was it that just a single touch from him could turn me into…this?

He dipped his head. His breath mingled with mine as his pinky finger hovered in the gap between my top and jeans. “I really want to kiss you again,” he murmured.

I really wanted that too.

But I couldn’t commit.

He had to know that if I were to let myself fall, it would simply be for a night.

“Can I?”

“No,” I whispered even though I was already pushing up.

“Why?”

“You’re a terrible kisser.”

He grinned teasingly and pressed his forehead against mine. “God, you’re beautiful.” His gaze fell to my lips. “Even when you lie to me.”

The hand on my waist tightened just enough to anchor me to the hard planes of his body.

The heat radiating from his skin left no doubt about how much he wanted me.

And I wanted him too.

Desperately.

But then, he stepped back.

I shook my head and my hand bolted up to grip his forearm before I could stop myself.

He arched a brow, the teasing in his smile replaced by something much darker.

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”

I pressed closer, feeling every nerve in my body ignite under his heated gaze.

He was significantly taller than I was and bigger than most of the other werewolves I’d seen around campus.

Plus, he smelled like citrus and spiced vanilla.

I couldn’t think. I didn’t want to. All I wanted was to feel, and he was the only person who could make me do that at the moment.

“Kiss me.”