“Yeah, right.”
“Please...”
“No.”
“Why not?”
I let out a sigh. “I said no.”
“That’s not an answer.”
A year has been plenty of time for Rylan to become even more annoying. Right now, he’s trying to convince me to go to dinner with him tonight, at some fancy restaurant he likes.
Personally, I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in a room full of snobs.
I tell him this, and he just smirks. I knew he wouldn’t get it.
From what I can tell, he gets a kick out of watching me squirm whenever he suggests something.
Honestly, I think he’s gotten too used to having me around.
But I’m working on a plan to change that.
“Come on, Dawn,” Rylan pushes. “Someone’s already run a bath for you.”
A low growl escapes my throat. I don’t like being told what to do. Rylan is just a spoiled alpha who doesn’t act like one.
If anything, he should be wearing white all the time and have a couple of doves sitting on his shoulder.
That’s how I’ve always pictured him.
Not this tall, slim, yet muscular guy who likes to wear sleek black clothes that show off his waist and broad shoulders.
I spin around, happy to show Rylan that I’m not backing down.
He was right about the bath. It’s not just any bath, but the fanciest one I’ve seen in a long time.
Little rose petals float on the surface of the water like tiny boats. The air smells like roses and lavender.
I had to check the bathroom to make sure no one was hiding in there before I could undress.
I take off my clothes slowly, letting the soft satin slide off my skin.
I should be thankful that Rylan is giving me some space. If he was making me stay in his room with him, I might have killed him.
As I dip my foot into the bath—the warmth sending a shiver up my leg—I silently thank Rylan for his wealth and his ability to spoil me, even if it does make me feel a bit guilty.
Poor Lucy.
Slowly, I lower myself into the silky water. The scent wraps around me like a comforting blanket, pulling me down until my shoulders are completely under water and my neck rests on the edge of the tub.
Okay, this I can handle.
The water isn’t cold and harsh like the streams I used to bathe in. There’s no mud or slime, and no sticks poking me in the back.
And then there are the roses and lavender. You don’t find those in the forest.
“Oh Rylan,” I whisper. “I’ll never tell you this, but thank you.”
I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until I woke up.
The water had cooled, and I had slid down until I was lying completely under the water, my ears submerged.
I sit up quickly, pulling my heavy, wet hair with me. How long was I asleep? Long enough for the water to cool and my fingers to wrinkle.
A knock on the door startles me. “Hey... you okay in there, Dawn?”
Rylan. Damn it.
“Uh, yeah,” I say, standing up. “Can you give me a minute?”
Rylan might be surprised that I’m being nicer and more accepting of him, but I blame it on just waking up.
I’m also completely naked, and I’m not sure if I locked the door before I undressed.
Rylan doesn’t say anything else, but I hear him walk away.
I grab a thick, soft towel and step out of the bath to dry off.
I wish I hadn’t fallen asleep because now my hair is soaking wet, and no matter how hard I rub it with the towel, I can’t get it dry.
When I walk into the bedroom, towel wrapped around me, I’m surprised to see Rylan sitting on the edge of the bed.
The window behind him lets in the soft light of the sunset. How long did I sleep?
Lucy is already spending her first night without me, and the guilt sinks deeper into my heart.
Rylan, however, doesn’t seem bothered. The shadows from the window highlight his jawline, making him look a bit scary, even though he looks shocked. And I know why...
He’s looking at my hands, which are holding my towel to my chest, then down at my bare legs, still slightly wet.
“Dawn,” he whispers, his voice a bit rough.
I’m not exactly confident about my body. So having a guy stare at me like that makes me uncomfortable.
Rylan seems to feel the same way. When he sees my raised eyebrow, he feels the need to explain.
“I shouldn’t be having these thoughts about someone,” he says, his eyes revealing his emotions.
Inside, he’s beating himself up, trying to be the perfect alpha.
The fact that I can see this shocks me as I realize what it means.
There it is. His weakness.
He’s my mate... Of course I can see and feel these things. He can, too.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. His presence has a way of pulling me in, making me feel like I’m under a spell.
He shakes his head quickly. “Nothing I should be... there’s a dress waiting for you. I hope you’ll like it.”
And just like that, he’s gone.
I’m left standing there, wrapped in a towel, trying to make sense of what just happened.
Part of Rylan is trying to honor his faith, trying not to entertain thoughts that the goddess wouldn’t approve of, at least not until we’re mated.
But there’s another part of him that’s fighting that, a part that wants to give in to his natural instincts.
Maybe if I was even slightly interested in taking our relationship to the next level, I’d enjoy the challenge of breaking down his self-imposed barriers.
The dress that’s been picked out for me is breathtaking.
The fabric is a deep, royal blue, with a bodice that’s designed to accentuate curves I no longer have, having lost them after living in the forest.
As I slip the dress on, watching the gemstones sparkle in the light, I feel beautiful. I’m not that frail girl anymore.
In that moment, I feel strong. I feel like I can handle this.
Thoughts of Lucy fill my mind as I make my way back down the stairs, the dress swishing around my ankles.
Rylan is waiting for me by the main door, every inch the gentleman, and for a moment I almost forget that I’m a captive.
“Wow,” Rylan says, his face filled with awe. “You look stunning.”
I’ve never been the type to try to make myself look better than I am. If something looks good on me, that’s a bonus, but my damp hair shows that I’m not overly concerned about my appearance.
I can’t let him see me falling under his spell, accepting the idea of being his mate.
“You too,” I reply, my voice flat, but I know I mean it. I can’t help but admire how good he looks in a suit, how he manages to make it look both casual and formal at the same time.
He extends his hand to me. He’s wearing gloves.
He’s protecting himself from what he felt earlier in the bedroom.
He links his arm with mine and opens the door for me. The night air is a shock, cold and crisp, and I think of Lucy without my warmth.
As we step outside, I get a better sense of our surroundings. The well-lit courtyard has a sleek sports car parked in it, one door open to reveal a leather interior.
It’s a bit intimidating, considering that for the past year my only mode of transportation has been my own two feet, bare and calloused.
Rylan guides me outside, his demeanor calm. I could pull away from him right now and make a run for it. Isn’t he worried that I might shift and try to escape?
Of course not, he’d catch me easily.
“Watch your step,” he murmurs as I climb awkwardly into the car. The interior smells strongly of leather, and for a moment, I feel a bit dizzy.
If I could, I’d do anything to get out of this situation, to get back to my little sister.
“Where are we going?” I ask, not wanting to be left in the dark any longer.
Rylan smiles slightly, his handsome face lighting up. “It’s a small dining place. Maybe you’ll like it.”
I don’t say anything else until we get there. The restaurant isn’t in the city center, or even near the city.
It’s a quaint little place that’s not very crowded tonight, and the sight of it stirs a bit of excitement in me, even though my stomach might not agree.
The food might be too rich for me.
Rylan helps me out of the car, never letting go of me for even a second, leaving no chance for me to escape. Not that I could in this dress…
When we reach the door, Rylan stops.
“Tonight, you’re mine again,” he whispers in my ear, before he pushes the door open.
