Twisted Fate Book 2: Longed for Mate

ANOUD

I had planned to meet my mate after his dinner. When I asked if that was a good time for us to talk, he simply nodded and walked away.

I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about how our training session had gone. Ralph had twisted my words, making it seem like I was calling him weak. Truth be told, I could take him down without breaking a sweat.

He had a slight weakness in his right hip. It wasn’t a limp, but it was noticeable if you paid attention. He might be mad at me now, but if we had fought, he would have been on the ground in no time.

After lunch, I did another border run and then spent hours preparing for our meeting. I showered, shaved, exfoliated, and moisturized. Now, I was sitting naked on my bed, eating a delicious stew and brainstorming ways to convince him to accept our bond.

The challenge was that he was an alpha. I had to prove to him that I could be an asset to the pack, that I could lead. I had ideas about strengthening training and increasing protection for the pack.

I also had contacts that could help with their whiskey sales. But was that all I had to offer?

I heard Ralph and David laughing down the hallway, back from dinner. We had this whole section to ourselves, so they could be open with their affection. It was sweet, the way a mate bond should be.

We were all together when it happened, celebrating David’s eighteenth birthday on one of the secluded royal islands. The moment he turned eighteen, the boys embraced, disappearing into the bedrooms and emerging fully marked and mated about ten hours later.

They never resisted the bond. They later confessed that they always knew they were gay, each harboring a “hopeless” crush on their straight best friend. They still laughed about hiding their erections during training. It was honestly sweet.

Their laughter was my cue to go and see my mate. I dressed in loose trousers and a silky top that left my arms bare. I chose a deep green lacy bra and panties. If he was going to reject me, I was going to give it my all.

I was at his door in no time, shivering slightly at his commanding “Come in” after my knock.

Here goes nothing.

“Anoud, thank you for coming,” he said, gesturing for me to sit on the sofa. He took a seat across from me. “I need to start by saying that my hesitation has nothing to do with you. The prince made some comments about your looks, your darker complexion.”

I groaned. “I’m so sorry. I mentioned our first meeting and how I was thinking of changing my appearance to fit your type better. I didn’t mean for him to call you out. He’s just a close friend and gets possessive.”

“No, it really has nothing to do with it,” he said, looking me straight in the eye. “You are every fantasy I’ve ever had. You are perfection.”

“Wh-what?” I was taken aback.

“Perfection. Every single thing about you. I love your eyes, your face. I love your hair and your beautiful soft skin. I love your strong body and your curves. Fuck, I really love your curves,” he said, biting his lip and closing his eyes for a moment. “I also love your voice, the way you move. I love that we share a passion for Whiskey, and no doubt more passions.”

“I don’t understand. I can feel that you want to reject me. You push me away every time we are intimate. You said it was a mistake after you went down on me. How can you say I’m perfect? What else is wrong with me that makes you want to reject our bond?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“It’s me, Anoud. I can’t give you what you deserve in life. I want to give you a chance to choose a mate who can,” he sighed. “I’m giving up my alpha title to my sister in a few years. I won’t be able to provide for you the way you deserve. I might become a warrior, but I won’t hold any rank once she takes over.”

“Okay, I mean, I think you’re a great alpha, but what you do with your life is your business. I make enough as an elite that we could buy a small home here or build one if the pack will grant you some land. I don’t need to live in luxury.”

“No, it’s more than that.” He hesitated, and I felt a wave of sadness from him. “I’m handing over the pack because I can’t have children. I can’t give you a family, Anoud.” His pain was evident.

“I understand that’s a tough reality, but we are meant to be together, Rion. Children are not a guarantee in any relationship.” There was a flicker of hope in his eyes, but he quickly extinguished it.

“No. I won’t take that from you. I’ve already taken too much. We must reject each other tonight.” His face was filled with dread and determination.

What could I say to that? None of it mattered.

“Mate…those are not reasons to give up our bond. The Goddess put us together so that we could overcome these things, comfort each other, and love each other through this lifetime.”

I stood up and straddled him, pulling off my top before looping my arms around his neck and leaning down for a kiss. He sat stunned but quickly caught up and stood us up, pushing me down on the sofa and pulling off my shoes and trousers in one.

Oh fuck, the look he gave me.

He ran his nose up the curve of my hip and I heard a rip as he roughly tore my panties down. Groaning, he was between my legs again. His hands roamed round to my ass, groping tightly over my thighs and then up to my waist. They didn’t stop moving as he licked and sucked on me.

“Rion, please!” I shouted out as he paused to blow cold air against me, and my whole body convulsed as the pleasure snapped.

Flipping us, I took his lips, my hands making their own exploration and tugging his shirt free. In no time, I had pushed it off his shoulders and pressed my almost bare torso against his. We were both shocked a little at the pure pleasure of just touching, the intensity of the bond had us panting for more.

His hand ventured down to my center, fingers exploring me with a gentleness that contrasted with our earlier fervor. His other hand found the back of my head, gripping it firmly as he assumed control, pulling me into another searing kiss.

“Ride me, move on my fingers. I want to watch you unravel,” he commanded.

And unravel I did, swiftly and intensely, a sharp cry escaping my lips as waves of pleasure washed over me. His fingers never ceased their tantalizing dance on my most sensitive area.

He held me close as I trembled atop him, lost in the throes of ecstasy. I had thought I’d shattered his reservations, that I’d persuaded him to accept me. But I was mistaken.

As I regained my composure, I slid down his body slightly, my hands eagerly reaching for his belt buckle. But he caught my hands, pulling them away with a roughness that startled me.

“No. Stop.”

“What?”

He rose to his feet, hastily pulling his shirt together and buttoning it up. I watched him, utterly bewildered.

“There’s someone else. I can’t be with you. There’s someone else.”

His words were devoid of emotion. His gaze averted. Only after he’d spoken did he meet my eyes, as if hoping the eye contact would lend credibility to his words.

As the seconds ticked by, he hardened his expression. But he couldn’t hide from me.

I knew it was a lie.