Her name was Heidi.
She was the most gorgeous female I had ever laid eyes on, with long locks of gold, big eyes of sky blue, and rosy cheeks contrasting beautifully against her porcelain skin.
She was like a perfectly crafted doll, purely innocent and full of wonder. When she opened her mouth to let out a laugh, it was like the tinkering of fairy bells, light and melodious.
But I was most drawn to her lips, those full, pouty lips in their perfect color of rose pink.
I wanted to kiss them, tease them softly.
This was not like the desire I usually felt for attractive females.
This was something different, something pure. I wanted to court her. I wanted to know her. I wanted her heart.
There was no doubt about it—Heidi was a potential mate of mine.
A potential mate who I was now determined to make my permanent mate.
Was this how Syn felt whenever he looked at me? Did his heart get tied up in knots while admiration poured out from every inch of him?
I shook my head, clearing it of all thoughts of the lycan.
He would only ruin this perfect moment, the moment I laid eyes on my mate for the very first time. A mate who I actually wanted, one who I longed for and hoped to love, with the hope of being loved in return.
Heidi was perfect—a soft, colorful beam in my life of dark angles and crevices.
I took a step toward the beautiful creature and then another and another.
Her dark-haired friend stopped talking and looked up as I made my approach, causing Heidi to turn as well. When our eyes met, I felt like I could finally breathe.
It was like I had spent my whole life up until this point with my head shoved under water, struggling to breathe, to remove the heavy weight that had kept me pinned to the bottom of the ocean.
Now I had finally escaped and had broken the surface, only to find a stunning sunset over calm waters, so different from the dark, raging currents underneath.
Her blue doe eyes widened, and her mouth formed a perfect little “o” as she gasped.
Our eyes remained locked until I came to stand right in front of her. It was as if we were the only two people in that crowded café just a few blocks from Syn’s dwelling.
Heidi’s eyes dropped to the ground, and a deep blush tinted her cheeks a crimson color. “H-hello,” she stuttered out, her eyes remaining averted.
I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I found myself raising her chin to look into those sky-blue eyes again. “Hello,” I repeated softly.
We gazed at each other for what could have been seconds or hours until her friend cleared her throat. “I’m just gonna go,” she murmured, grabbing her purse and breakfast bagel.
She gave us an awkward nod and took her leave.
I guided Heidi back to the booth that they had been occupying before I had made my approach. We sat down in comfortable silence.
I wished I had asked Cleo more about her other potential mates and how she had felt the first time she saw them.
Of course, Hakota had decapitated the first one.
But though Cleo had only used the poor werewolf to make the lycan alpha jealous, I knew that Pine had been special. Was this how she had felt about Pine? How she felt about Hakota now?
Was this the reason she had taken Hakota back even after all he had done to her? Why he had taken her back after all she had done to him?
If so, I finally understood.
I understood why Syn wouldn’t stop chasing me, why he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
This was the reason.
This indescribable feeling, one that I hoped to feel for the rest of my life.
“My name is Heidi,” the female offered. She seemed unsure where to start, but introductions seemed like a good place.
I smiled. “Terrin,” I offered back.
And again we dove into silence.
Despite the fact that we were virtually strangers, the silence was not uncomfortable or awkward.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really know what to say,” she squeaked, wringing her hands nervously, as if afraid she would make a bad impression.
I reached across the table and set my hand atop hers. Her small hands were completely covered with only one of mine. “You don’t have to say anything,” I replied, “if you don’t want to.”
She stared at our hands with eyes as large as saucers, and I slowly began to retract mine, afraid I had overstepped, but then her hand lashed out and grabbed mine, halting their retreat.
She flushed at her boldness but didn’t let go. A warm feeling swept through me, and I tightened my hold on her hands.
“Heidi”—her blue eyes moved up from our hands to my eyes—“would you like to spend the afternoon with me?”
A beaming smile spread across her face. “I would love to.”
With a wide grin of my own, I escorted her out of the café, proceeding to turn the worst day of my life into the best one.
