Chapter 3

My breath caught in my throat as the low baritone rang in my head and heat flooded my face, my breath coming out shallow.

Maybe it was from the fact that he acknowledged I was his and even noted that he had been waiting for him, or was it the sultry tone in which he had said it?

I had never taken any liking to male voices, but this may soon be my new obsession, and goddess help the day he would get to moan my name.

“H-hy.” I murmured shyly, my earlier bravado evaporating fast into thin air.

I had always dreamt of the day I would see my mate and how I would run to him and hug him. How he would likely kiss me and promise me heaven and earth before he whisked me away.

Now that I was in front of him, I could do no such thing.

He towered easily above me, his aura so strong and powerful that my wolf wanted nothing but to bend her knees and bare her neck.

The man carried himself with such grace and excellence that even the black tee and gray pants managed to exude as much power as if he were in a suit.

“Are you—” His words were cut short as his eyes glazed over, and I took the opportunity to truly stare at him.

My eyes flickered to the slightly overgrown beards that fill his chin. I wasn’t really a fan of beards, and I would have to tell him to trim it a little.

His hair was cropped in an undercut, his hands tucked in his pockets as he went into a mood of concentration.

Apart from the fact that he was deviously handsome, there was an unmistakable presence to him, one I hadn’t felt since my own alpha.

My eyes widened, my brain suddenly forming the relationship, and I gasped.

He was the alpha!

“I have to go, Ryan.” His words cut through my thoughts, but I was still spellbound from the realization. Not only had the goddess managed to vindicate me, but she had also managed to give me the best.

Words couldn’t form in my mouth, not even to correct him that I no longer go by Ryan; instead, I watched him go, trying to cram as much of an image of him into my brain as I could until he was out of sight.

It wasn’t until his scent faded with his departure that I remembered he had asked us to meet in the garden later that day.

I contemplated going to the garden straight away, too eager to meet up with him. For a moment, my mind went to Thalia, but I dismissed it as soon as it came.

Even if I met up with her, my thoughts would constantly drift to him, leaving me unable to concentrate.

Left with no choice, I chose to go home in hopes that I would get to complete the shower I had missed out on earlier.

It was a miracle he hadn’t called me out on my strange scent, probably too excited at finding his mate, but I wasn’t going to risk it anymore.

I headed home, slipping quietly through the empty living room and straight to my room. Shedding my clothes, I stepped into the shower, letting the hot stream of water wash over me.

Reaching for the loofah, I lathered a generous amount of body wash on it, scrubbing my body until I could hear the squeaky sound, and when I came out, I was all red.

I stared at the wardrobe, searching for something decent to wear, but every outfit hanging there had been gifted to me. My hand curled into a fist, my lips twisting into a frown.

I wanted something of my own, something worthy enough to impress my mate, but all I found were clothes that felt foreign, as if they had no right to be in my wardrobe.

Scanning my collection again, I managed to dig out a plain pair of jeans, one Raina had worn only once. Her fat ass hadn’t been able to squeeze into them, so she had dumped them on me.

I paired the jeans with a ribbed brown crop top, dried my hair, brushed it back, and I was ready.

Slipping downstairs, I found my parents curled up in their love chair. One glance was enough to decide they weren’t worth my time, so I breezed right past them.

“Ryan, you will come back here right now!” Mother yelled, her voice carrying through the living room, but I was already at the door, my finger closing in on the doorknob and shutting it with a bang.

Fresh air rushed into my lungs as I came out, my mouth slightly opened as I took it in greedily. I took another minute to just gather myself before I headed for the garden.

My chest was pounding against my ribcage as I neared the area, my feet skipping lightly on the grasses. Anticipation crawled in my throat, everything within me ready to meet my mate.

I managed to keep myself in check and settled under the shade nearby, waiting. Minutes ticked by, the quiet only punctuated by the chirping of the birds, when a familiar scent drifted through the air.

It was faint but unmistakable, and my eyes caught on a folded piece of paper tucked on a tree. I reached for it, unfolded the note, and began to read.

“Dear mate,

I am unable to keep my promise of our meeting, as I am swamped with work now, but we will meet at the bonfire slated for this evening. I can’t wait to see you.”

My fingers gripped tightly on the note, my eyes going over the scrawl written until I was sure I had memorized every word and every pattern of the stroke.

His scent clung to the piece of paper, filling my head, my brain, and clouding everything, and I brought it to my nose, inhaling deeply.

I managed to stabilize myself after sniffing it like a hundred times, and I went back to my former position.

He had said he missed me and wanted me to meet him at the bonfire. Going back home was out of the option again, so I was just going to wait here until it was time for the event.

And finally I would get to have my mate to myself.