11_We're A Team Now
1517 Words
Ariella POV
“Your mate,” I repeat like a parrot, trying to comprehend his words. I am talking about death, and he wants to talk about romance and flowers. I do not have time for that. That is not my purpose. Besides, just because I find him wildly attractive that does not mean I should trust him blindly.
“Yes,” he replies, smiling softly.
“So, where’s my song and dance?” I raise my eyebrows and cross my arms in front of my chest.
“Your what?” He frowns.
“You want me to stay with you because I’m your mate,” I reply. “Don’t I get a song and dance? Maybe a flex of your muscles to show off your strength? Hell, even seahorses and ostriches dance for their partners.”
“Are you serious?” He gapes at me. “You want me to do that?”
“No, Cole,” I roll my eyes. “And that’s exactly my point. Telling me to stay because we’re mates, is ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as me asking you for a song and dance.”
“The mate bond is not ridiculous,” he huffs. “It’s a sacred gift from the Goddess and I’m taking it very seriously.”
“Oh, really,” I grab his hand and drag him to my room. “You can take the mate bond seriously, but not the fact that I’m an angel which – FYI – is also from the Goddess.”
“That’s not what I said,” he protests as I slam the door shut behind us.
“You might as well,” I argue. “Because you didn’t believe me when I told you I was one. But you expect me to believe we’re mates. How can you even tell? Shouldn’t I know it as well?”
“If you were a wolf, you would’ve known instantly,” his blue eyes are blazing. “But as a human …”
“I’m not a human,” I cut him off angrily. “I’m an angel.”
“You don’t even have your memory,” he throws his hands hopelessly in the air. “How can you possibly know you’re an angel?”
“Because of this,” I pull my shirt off and turn my back towards him. “These scars are where my wings used to be.”
“And this,” I walk to my bed and take the feather from under my pillow.
“An angel visited me last night,” I hand him the feather and pick up my shirt. “She told me to kill the vampire king. I’m an angel with a mission, Cole, and I take that very seriously.”
Cole POV
Speechless I stare at Ariella as she puts her shirt on. I can see why she believes she is an angel but come on. Seriously? I have never heard of such … such ludicrously. However, I do not say it out loud, I do not want to hurt her feelings. But I am seriously considering taking her back to the doctor for more tests. The knock to her head was obviously more severe than we thought.
“Look,” she sighs heavily and sits on the bed. “I know how it sounds. I didn’t believe it myself initially, but all my arguments and reasonings were demolished by physical evidence. It is what it is, Cole. I’m sorry, but I must go.”
“Do you remember how you felt when you saw me last night?” I ask softly, sitting next to her.
“Yes,” she nods. “I felt safe, and your touch calmed me. And yes, I have an overwhelming urge to be physical with you. But that’s irrelevant right now.”
“It is relevant,” I say firmly and take her hand. “That’s the mate bond, Ariella. You’re my soulmate and every fibre of you is attracted to me. Ask yourself this. Why would the Goddess send an angel to earth and give her a mate? If you were here to simply kill the vampire king, you wouldn’t be mated to me. You’re my mate for a reason.”
For a moment, it is silent between us, and I stare at our intertwined fingers. I am not entirely convinced that she is an angel. Not because I do not believe her, but because an angel mated to a wolf is unheard of. I do not care what she is – she is my mate, and I am dying to get to know her. To love her and to see her smile. At the very least, I want a chance with her.
I want to give her what she wants … no, I will give her what she wants and needs. If that includes killing Victor, so be it. Admittedly, most women want romance and not violence. Honestly, I would expect peace from an angel and not bloodshed. Regardless of my opinion, killing Victor has been the goal for centuries.
“Okay, fine, you’re my mate,” she exhales deeply. “Now what? Because I still have a mission.”
“Now we do what we’re meant to do,” I smile, my heart leaping with joy that she is willing to give us a chance. “We do it together. We find Victor and kill him.”
“You mean that?” She looks at me with surprise.
“Of course,” I lay my palm against her cheek. “You wouldn’t be mated to me if I weren’t supposed to help.”
“Thank you,” she throws her arms around my neck.
I pull her onto my lap and inhale her scent deeply.
“Ariella,” I clear my throat and pull away slightly. “You must know that I will help you even if you don’t accept me as your mate.”
“Okay,” she has a confused look on her face. “Thank you?”
“You have a choice if you want me as a mate or not,” I explain, my insides tide into painful knots. “You shouldn’t feel obligated to be my mate. So, will you accept me?”
“I’m sitting on your lap,” she scoffs. “I thought it was obvious.”
“I’m very careful not to confuse gratitude with acceptance,” I reply.
“Well then, mister big, strong alpha,” she pushes me back onto the bed, straddling me. “It will bring me great joy to accept you as my mate.”
She leans forward and kisses me on my neck.
“You do realise it’s forever and ever,” I stroke her back and her hands slip underneath my shirt.
“I can do that,” she removes my shirt and sparks ignite over my skin where her lips caress my chest. “Forever and ever … it has a nice ring to it.”
“It also means that you’ll be my Luna,” I fight to cling to rational thoughts as her hands and lips create havoc with my body. “Which means responsibilities and that you’ll lead the pack with me.”
“Are you trying to scare or convince me?” She stops her caressing and sits up. “I thought you wanted me to accept you.”
“I do,” I say quickly, sitting upright and pulling her closer. “But you must know what you’re agreeing to. It’s only fair.”
“You’re a good man,” she cups my face. “The Goddess in her infinite wisdom decided that we belong together. So, yes, Cole Mitchell, I want to be your mate.”
“You just made me the happiest man alive,” my fingers curl into her hair, pulling her closer for a kiss.
“It also helps that you’re easy on the eyes,” she murmurs against my lips.
“You have a wicked sense of humour,” I chuckle.
“I wasn’t joking,” she wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.
I groan when she wiggles her hips against my growing erection. I release her hair and free her of her shirt. Immediately, my mouth feasts on her perfect, perky breasts, and she arches her back in pleasure.
“Alpha,” Preston mind-links me, but I ignore him. Nothing can be so urgent that it cannot wait.
“Alpha,” Preston persists. “We have a situation.”
“Handle it,” I snap and glide my hands to Ariella’s hips.
“Sir, believe me, you want to see this,” he replies.
“Dammit,” I sigh frustrated and look apologetically at Ariella. “I’m sorry, I must go.”
“Let’s go then,” she gets off my lap and picks up her shirt.
“We?” I raise my eyebrows.
“We’re a team now, right?” She winks and throws my shirt at me.
- Writer
