A Mate For Christmas

Chapter 5

"She has to leave, Gideon. Today."

The voice woke Evie up. It was sharp and cold, coming from somewhere outside her room. Victoria's voice.

Evie sat up in bed, her heart pounding. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and for a moment, she forgot where she was. Then everything came rushing back. Dave. The wolves. Gideon shifting into a massive black wolf right in front of her.

"She is my mate, Mother. She stays."

That was Gideon's voice, firm and unyielding.

Evie crept out of bed and moved closer to the door. She knew she should not be listening, but she could not help herself.

"Your mate?" Victoria's laugh was bitter. "She is a human, Gideon. A weak, fragile human who will only bring you pain."

"You do not know that."

"I know exactly that!" Victoria's voice rose. "I had a mate once, remember? I watched him die. And I watched your brother Alexander lose his human mate to our enemies. I watched it destroy him. I will not watch you suffer the same fate."

There was a long silence. Evie pressed her hand against the door, barely breathing.

"Alexander's mate was killed because we were not prepared," Gideon said quietly. "Because we underestimated our enemies. I will not make the same mistake."

"You already have," Victoria snapped. "By bringing her here. By announcing to the entire pack that she is yours. Every enemy we have will see her as your weakness. They will use her to destroy you."

"Then I will destroy them first."

Evie's breath caught. The coldness in Gideon's voice sent chills down her spine.

"You are blinded by the bond," Victoria said. "You are not thinking clearly. Send her away before it is too late. Find a proper mate, a werewolf who can stand beside you and fight with you."

"There is no one else," Gideon said, and his voice was filled with such certainty that Evie felt something twist in her chest. "She is the one. The only one. And I will not send her away."

Footsteps moved closer to the door. Evie jumped back just as the door opened.

Gideon stood there, his golden eyes meeting hers. He did not look surprised to see her awake.

"You heard," he said. It was not a question.

Evie nodded. Behind Gideon, she could see Victoria standing in the hallway, her ice blue eyes filled with anger.

"Good morning, Evie," Victoria said, her voice dripping with false politeness. "I hope you slept well. I am sure Gideon will arrange for your flight home this morning."

"Mother," Gideon warned.

"What?" Victoria's smile was sharp. "She came to Paris to visit her boyfriend, did she not? Surely she wants to return to her normal life. To her normal, human world where she belongs."

The words stung. Evie wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware that she was still wearing yesterday's clothes. She probably looked terrible.

"I do want to go home," Evie said quietly. "I never asked for any of this."

Something flickered in Gideon's eyes. Pain, maybe. But he nodded. "Of course. I will arrange everything. The first flight leaves at two this afternoon. I will drive you to the airport myself."

"Thank you," Evie whispered.

Victoria looked satisfied. She turned and walked away, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

Gideon stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. "I am sorry you heard that. My mother can be... difficult."

"She is trying to protect you," Evie said. "I understand that."

"She is trying to control me," Gideon corrected. "There is a difference." He moved closer, and Evie felt that same electric pull. "But she is not wrong about the danger. Being my mate will put a target on your back. Other packs, other Alphas, they will see you as a way to hurt me."

"Then it is a good thing I am leaving," Evie said, trying to sound strong even though her voice shook.

Gideon's jaw tightened. "Is that what you want? Truly?"

Evie looked away. What did she want? Twenty four hours ago, she thought she wanted Dave. She thought she wanted her normal, ordinary life. But Dave had ripped that away from her. And now Gideon was offering something impossible. Something terrifying.

"I do not know," she admitted. "I do not know anything anymore."

A knock on the door interrupted them. Delilah's voice came through. "Evie? I brought you some clothes and breakfast. Can I come in?"

Gideon opened the door. Delilah entered carrying a tray of food and a bundle of clothes. She smiled at Evie, but her eyes were sad.

"I heard you are leaving," Delilah said softly. "I am sorry. I was hoping we could be friends."

"Me too," Evie said, and she meant it. Delilah seemed kind. Genuine.

Gideon looked between them, then nodded once. "I will let you get ready. Come downstairs when you are dressed. We can have breakfast before we leave for the airport."

He left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Delilah set the tray down on a small table by the window. There were pastries, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. The smell made Evie's stomach growl. She realized she had not eaten since the plane yesterday.

"Here," Delilah said, holding up the clothes. "These should fit you. Jeans, a sweater, some undergarments. I guessed your size."

"Thank you," Evie said. She took the clothes and went into the bathroom to change.

When she came back out, Delilah was sitting by the window, looking out at the snowy gardens. She turned when Evie entered.

"Can I ask you something?" Delilah said.

"Sure."

"Do you feel anything when Gideon touches you? Any kind of connection?"

Evie hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. Like electricity. It is strange."

Delilah smiled sadly. "That is the mate bond beginning to form. For Gideon, it hit him all at once. For you, it will grow slowly. But it is real, Evie. The bond is real."

"How do you know?"

"Because I have seen it before," Delilah said. "My parents were mates. The bond between them was so strong, so beautiful. When my father died, my mother followed him three days later. Her heart just stopped. The healers said it was the bond breaking. She could not survive without him."

Evie sat down heavily on the bed. "That is horrible."

"It is the risk we take," Delilah said. "Love always has a price. But most of us think it is worth it." She stood and walked to the door. "I will be downstairs if you need me. Take your time."

After Delilah left, Evie ate her breakfast slowly. The pastries were delicious, but she barely tasted them. Her mind was spinning.

She could leave. Get on a plane. Go back to her old life. Pretend none of this ever happened.

But could she really? Could she forget Gideon's golden eyes? The way he had protected her without hesitation? The electric feeling that ran through her every time he touched her?

And what was she going back to? Her waitress job? Her empty apartment? A life where Dave had made her feel small and worthless?

Evie set down her coffee cup and looked out the window. Snow covered everything like a blanket. It looked peaceful. Beautiful.

A movement caught her eye. In the garden below, two wolves were playing in the snow. One was gray, the other brown. They chased each other, rolling and tumbling like puppies.