9. Thirty Days To Win Her
1612 Words
Charles
Her face goes pink the moment I tease her, and I swear it hits me harder than anything. She looks mortified, chewing on her bottom lip, and all I can think about is how damn sweet she looks doing it.
I almost feel bad for enjoying this.
“It didn’t happen,” I say, leaning one elbow against the counter. “You can relax.”
Her breath leaves her in a rush as if she has been holding it forever. She looks up at me with those bright emerald eyes, searching my face.
“Really?”
“Yes,” I say, keeping my tone firm. She needs to hear this clearly. “I wouldn’t take advantage of you. Drunk or not. That isn’t who I am.”
Her shoulders drop slightly, and then she smiles. Not a big smile. Just a small one that lifts her mouth and lights up her eyes in a way that hits me straight in the chest.
I should not feel this affected by a smile. Yet here I am, standing like an i***t, relishing it.
“Once again, I’m sorry,” she says, rubbing the back of her neck. Her red hair catches the soft cabin light and looks like fire. “I didn’t know what got into me.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You looked cute.”
Her eyes flick up, stunned. Good. I meant it.
“And for the record,” I add quietly, “I’m glad that guy is away from you. You deserve better.”
Her lips part slightly, and there is something warm in her gaze now. Something curious. Something I should definitely not be thinking about at nine in the morning.
I clear my throat. “I’m going to get the car ready.”
She nods quickly. “I’ll go grab my jacket.”
I watch her turn and walk toward the room, her emerald eyes still a little dazed. There is something about the way she moves, a softness mixed with fire, that makes it nearly impossible not to stare.
And I do stare. Until she disappears inside the room.
Only then do I exhale, straighten up, and head for the door before I think about her any more than I already shouldn’t.
The cold air hits my lungs the moment I step outside, but it does nothing to calm the chaos moving under my skin. I grip the car door handle and let out a slow breath, trying to force my wolf back down.
Being close to her… being in the same bed as my mate and not being able to touch her the way I want… it is torture. Pure, maddening torture.
My wolf paces inside me, snarling, restless. He wants her. Wants to mark her, claim her, pull her into us and make sure the entire world knows she belongs here. With me.
He also wants to hunt down the bastard who broke her heart and tear him apart piece by piece.
I drag a hand through my hair and finally open the car door.
My phone rings instantly.
Eric. Figures.
I answer. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Alpha,” he says, sounding far too cheerful for someone who woke me up last night through the mind link.
“What’s going on? And why are you calling instead of mind linking?”
As a werewolf, I don’t need gadgets to communicate. My pack and I speak through the mind link…silent, instant, and only for those who share our blood and bond.
A laugh slips through the line. “You’re in human territory. I figured you’re supposed to blend in. Humans use phones.”
I roll my eyes even though he cannot see me. “Just say what you want. I know why you called.”
“I want details,” Eric fires back. “Your mate. How is she? Good looking? Smart? Temperamental? Tell me everything.”
Of course. He has been dying to ask since last night.
“She’s…” I pause, because even thinking about her makes something inside me soften. “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And she’s sweet. Smart. A veterinarian.”
Eric whistles. “A vet. Not bad. But… Charles… she’s human.”
A growl slips out before I can stop it. My wolf rises instantly, hot and angry. Humans. Weak. Unfit to be Luna. That’s what the elders think.
But I don’t give a damn what the elders think.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, voice low, final. “When the time comes, the pack will accept her. They have no choice.”
Eric knows that tone. He drops it immediately.
“So… what’s your next plan? Thirty days pretending to date your own mate?” He snorts. “That sounds like agony.”
He has no idea.
“I’ll manage,” I say. “Last night was… difficult.”
Difficult is an understatement. Her body against mine, her fingers in my shirt, her breath on my neck. My wolf nearly took control. It took every ounce of discipline I have not to pin her beneath me and mark her right then.
“But you didn’t kiss her,” Eric reminds me, amused. “Proud of your self control.”
“Patience,” I say. “I’ve waited this long. I’m not letting my second chance mate slip away now that I have her. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she falls for me.”
A low hum comes through the line. “She’s human. Your charm might not work on her.”
I straighten. “What do you mean? My charm works on humans and she-wolves.”
“But you’ve never dated a human,” he points out.
“It doesn’t matter,” I answer. “I’ve done my research.”
“Oh this I have to hear,” Eric says, amused.
“Humans love dates. And outings. I’m going to give her the kind of romance she has only seen in movies.”
Eric bursts into laughter. “I would pay good money to watch you trying to be romantic.”
I ignore him. “That reminds me. I need you to run a background check on her. And on her ex. Everything you can find.”
“Yes, Alpha. I’ll get on it.”
“Good. How are things over there?”
“Peaceful,” he says. “We went out for a Christmas run last night. Pack’s happy.”
“Good.”
I look toward the cabin. They’re probably waiting for me. Molly’s probably wondering where I am.
“I have to go,” I say. “We’re heading out for breakfast.”
“All right. Go win your mate’s heart.”
I shake my head and end the call.
My wolf stirs again, eager, impatient, wanting her touch, her scent, her everything.
I take another steadying breath and open the car fully. I start the engine just to warm the car, then step back out into the cold. The air is sharp and quiet, the kind of silence that settles deep. Only three cabins sit on this stretch of land…a young couple, a middle-aged pair, and an older gay couple. I checked on all of them earlier, just routine. Nothing suspicious. Just humans living simple lives.
The door opens behind me, and Lily steps out first… with Snow tucked in her arms. The tiny Chihuahua is bundled in a ridiculous pink sweater, her big eyes blinking at the cold. Molly follows her, pulling the door shut and locking it.
And then I forget how to breathe.
Her red winter jacket hugs her body, her blue sweater peeks out from underneath… but those damn skinny jeans cling to her ass perfectly. Heat punches straight through me, my pants tightening without warning.
She’s walking toward me, not doing anything except existing, and my wolf is practically clawing to the surface.
“We’re ready,” she says, giving me a small smile.
That smile shifts something inside me. I inhale slowly, steadying myself, then open the passenger door for her.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, cheeks pink from the cold…or from me. She slips into the seat, and I close the door.
I open the back door next. Lily lifts Snow proudly.
“She wanted to come,” Lily says, like it’s the most important announcement in the world.
Snow wiggles her tiny body in agreement probably.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Lily adds.
“Of course I don’t,” I tell her, buckling her in with Snow on her lap. The Chihuahua immediately curls into a ball of shaking, soft fur.
I shut the door and move to the driver’s seat. The car is warm now, too warm… especially when I look at Molly.
Her hair is up in a messy bun, leaving her neck exposed. Pale, smooth, soft. A perfect place for my mark. A pull tears through me…instinct, need, claim.
She notices me looking. Her breath stutters, and her cheeks heat even more.
Good.
She feels something too. It's probably the mate bond.
A slow grin tugs at my mouth before I face forward and shift into gear.
The car rolls down the snowy path. Lily pets Snow in the backseat, humming softly while the Chihuahua purrs.
But all I can think about is the woman next to me.
Today is day one. The start of my plan.
Let her think this is a fake relationship. Let her believe she’s leaving in thirty days.
She’s not.
My Luna and second chance. And this time, I’m not letting her go.
- Writer
