Three

Kiara’s POV

I ignored his question, stomping over to my bed and dragging his sneaker-covered foot off my sheets. “Caden!” I growled and he raised his hands in surrender.

“Sorry! Sorry! I was worried!”

I rolled my eyes. “And that’s why your dirty shoes just HAD to be on my bed?”

His smile was sheepish. “Well, I had to be comfortable while waiting for you. Do you know the lies I had to come up with to get the Luna off your tail? You would’ve been wolf-kebab by now if not for me!”

I rolled my eyes again and went to the bathroom to change out of my clothes and into my nightwear. I could smell him on my shirt. I touched a hand to the spot on my neck where he’d bit me.

To my relief and frustrating disappointment, there was nothing there. Not even a scar to remember it by, almost like it never happened.

Caden wouldn’t shut up about wanting to know where I was, and I myself wanted to talk about this shocking development with somebody, so when I got back into the room, I climbed the bed and sat cross-legged to narrate the entirety of what happened, leaving out the more…intimate bits.

He sat there, his eyes widening, mouth gaping with every detail I gave. When I was done, he blinked at me.

“So in summary of your night of adventure, you went on a run and got kidnapped by a smoking hot vampire who turns out to be your mate, as confirmed by your very horny, very much into him wolf?”

“Shhh!” I hissed throwing one of my pillows at his head and glancing at my room door to make sure no one was going to come bursting through.

He dodged it and snickered.

“I was not horny!” I fumed. He raised a brow and a blush colored my cheeks. He laughed. “Stop that! I didn’t say he was hot either. Just strong.”

“Mhmm. Like you would be this worked up over a man that didn’t look like a Greek god. All that pale skin and the dark eyes.” He fanned himself with his hands, wriggling his brows at me. I glared and reached for something else to throw at him

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop. No need for more violence.” He said quickly and I dropped the teddy bear I was going to use as a weapon. “Are you gonna tell your parents?”

This was the million dollar question and I wasn’t sure about the answer. Should I confess that I had finally found my ever-elusive mate? Or did I just keep silent and find a suitable enough werewolf match to make them happy and try to build whatever life I could with him?

Inside me, my wolf growled, clearly not liking that suggestion any more than I did. Would they be okay with me having a Vampire mate after everything our family has suffered at the hands of a Vampire?

“Honestly, I don’t know. We’ve been waiting for my mate for years now but no one expected… this.” My confusion must’ve been clear in my tone because he was silent for a bit.

“Well, okay. I’ll keep your secret till you decide.” He said and I smiled at him.

“Thanks, Cade.”

He managed to wait a full minute before accosting me again. “So…What else did he say? Did you guys kiss?”

“We did not kiss! We just─” I broke off, immediately regretting starting the sentence.

Caden’s eyes narrowed at me. “You what? Had sex?”

“What?! No! Goodness! He bit me. That’s all.”

His eyes widened again. “He what?”

I shrugged, a tad defensively. “That’s how I knew he was my mate.”

“Oh my god. That actually sounds hot as fuck. When are you seeing him again?”

“Well, he asked me to come tomorrow, but I’m certainly not gonna do that.” Caden gave me a disbelieving look. “What? I won’t!”

He shrugged then snickered. “If you say so.”

“I do! I hate Vampires!” I reminded him.

He only smiled. “I wonder if your wolf does too.”

I was going to argue some more but he yawned and stretched. “Okay. I’m beat. I’ve been up waiting for your ass. Now I need my beauty sleep. Naturally, you will take the floor.”

“Naturally? It’s my room!”

“Yes and if you were in it when you were supposed to be, I wouldn’t have had to lie here and make many tremendous lies on your account. PS, if your mom asks you about a bachelorette party, tell her it went great.”

I groaned. “You did not!” I shrilled and it was his turn to shush me.

He snickered. “Don’t worry. I didn’t. I told her you were having an illicit affair instead. She was sort of relieved about it.”

“Caden!” I growled and he snickered again before burrowing deeper into my bed, drawing the duvet up to his chin.

“Goodnight Kiara. Hope you enjoy the floor.” He said in a sing-song voice. I rolled my eyes and waved my middle finger at him.

“Fuck you asshole.” He cackled.

***

The following day, at about two PM on my birthday afternoon, a knock came at my door. I raised my head from the book I was reading and told whoever was there to enter. A maid opened the door and poked her head inside.

“Miss? Your dress is finished. The Luna says you should come downstairs to try it on.”

I groaned. “Just tell her I’m in the bathroom or something. I’ll do it later.”

“You will do no such thing!” my mom’s voice snapped just then as she came up behind the maid. Unlike the girl, she entered my room and glared at me, hands on her hip. “Kiara! Your party is by 7!” She shrilled.

“Okay, okay. I’m coming!” I whined, climbing from my bed. “It’s not like I haven’t tried four dresses already,” I muttered under my breath and she immediately whirled around to glare at me.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Nothing. I’m very grateful for you taking the stress to make sure I look wonderful tonight.”

She eyed the innocent expression on my face. “Caden claimed otherwise but I know you weren’t at any mutual friend’s house last night. Do you want your father to know you weren’t at home as well?” Her voice was as sweet as mine had been just no.

I shook my head rapidly. She smiled. “Good. Now shut up and go try your dress.”

I hurried past her. “Yes, mother!”

Two hours later, my mom was droning on and on about preparations. Our manor was bustling with people from designers making finishing touches on their ostentatious decorations, to waitstaff readying cocktails and setting up all the food and drinks we would need.

By seven PM when the party was scheduled to start, the entire house was ready and I was stuck in my room being prodded, slathered, sprayed, and layered in make-up, hair products, dress, and heels. I barely followed their instructions, my mind drifting constantly to the Vampire who was my mate. I couldn’t lie, I wanted to go to him. Badly.

My fingers pricked with the need to touch him. My lips yearned and tingled, wondering what his kiss would feel like. My wolf was restless and it was stressing me out, making me snap and snarl at every little thing. She was frustrated. She was irritated. She was hungry. So hungry. Not for this party or any food, I realized with a sinking feeling. For him.

Gritting my teeth and clenching my fist against the desperate burst of need that just exploded within me, I forced my mind back to the scene at hand. I had my birthday party to attend. There were guests to mingle with and wine to drink. I would not spend a single second worrying about that bastard.

“Okay, Miss. We’re done.” one of the maids that had been fussing with me finally said and they all stepped back as a collective to examine my work.

I turned, to see myself in the mirror, approving of the woman that stared back at me. The dress was very flattering, a lovely ice blue that brought out my eyes with multiple aquamarine stones and beads woven into the fabric.

The neckline plunged deeply, though not too much before my father had a heart attack. Seeing the effect of the finished dress almost made me believe all those hours had been worth it. My jet-black hair had been curled and pinned up, exposing my neck to the night air.

I tried not to think of the other things my neck was very much exposed to do. Tried not to think about him seeing me like this. Instead, I let my maids rush me out of the bedroom since we were now well and truly late and sauntered down the stairs to the ballroom where my party was taking place.

I’d barely entered the room before Caden rushed up to me, throwing his arms around my shoulder and doing a very terrible happy birthday song. I rolled my eyes and tried not to die of laughter.

Through the cheers and festivities, I couldn’t help but keep looking over my shoulder, the distinct feeling of being watched, haunting me the entire night.