Can The Caged Bird Sing?

Chapter 9 Bonding

---Evelyn's POV---

We sway around the grounds just enjoying each other embrace, as if we have been dancing together for years. I love the music that's playing it's so calming that I somehow feel more comfortable around this stranger.. but I guess he's not a stranger anymore since I know his name now.

I do have to say that I do love the way he is holding me and looking at me as if I'm the most beautiful woman over here.. even though I know I'm not, it's the way he touches me that makes me feel as if there is something more to this dance.. creating a moment in our history with just us two, that I know I will never forget.

"So no mate yet?" He asks me as I shyly but sadly shake my head. "Thanks for asking Quinton, but No I have been doing these for 5 years now and no such luck.. I don't know if I'll ever find my mate." I say probably too sadly as he nods at me in understanding.

"Call me Quinn.. But I do have you beat there.. I have been doing these for 7 years and still nothing." He playfully states as I nod at him before carelessly replying. "At least with you being a Beta there might not be as much pressure for you to find a mate like it is for me."

He shrugs his shoulders as he states. "Well my brother who is the Alpha leaves me in charge most the time because he is traveling trying to find his mate because of that pressure.. but he talks about leaving all the time and if he actually does, that means I'll be next to take the lead.. but that's not why I want my mate.. but I'm starting to think like you that I will never find my mate, my father thinks I should just pick a chosen mate." He says a little sadly.

"Well even if you just ended up having to choose one, any shewolf would be lucky to have you.. I barely even know you and already appriciate you so much.. You're amazing in every sense of the word." I say smiling at him as he scoffs at that.

"I didn't do anything that no other man wouldn't do for you." He says to me as I just shake my head before replying probably too honestly once again because that's just how I do things. "I do everything for everyone around here but no one does anything for me so it's refreshing to say the least.. thank you."

"But you're a Female Alpha? That's hard to come by.. you don't find it that often at all so you should be being pampered and cherished.. but with how sweet and stunning you are no wonder that guy from over there wouldn't leave you alone.. he probably wants what every man over here wants from you." He says to me as my eyebrows scrunch at his comment and his eyes go wide in realization. "Not that!.. I meant a dance or chance to talk with you! I'm so sorry I didn't mean it like that.. I'm sorry just poorly worded. I sound like such an idiot." He says to me looking mortified as I can't help but giggle at him being so nervous.

We continue to dance around but after him acting like that, I'm feeling less nervous because it's like he is just as nervous as I am.

"It's ok.. that guy was actually my goddess given mate and we will just say he tricked me to get what he wanted from me and then he rejected me after.. so I don't know why he keeps harassing me.. I just figured he would leave me alone after that but no.. but luckily you were there to help me." I respond shyly as I watch his eye brows meet together in the middle not understanding.

"Wait he was your mate? Got something from you?.. then rejected you?" he asks clarifying from me as I nod not wanting to answer this outloud.

"He didn't.. you know..?" He asks me as Justin pops up out of no where. "Yes I did get what I wanted in bed and that's all she was good for, hence why I rejected her right after I was done with her." He flaunts his information as he just prances away from us like he won this and in a way he did by bringing this up.

I'm mortified now as I feel my face heating up to the point that I could put a tomatoe to shame. "That's awful.. I can't believe someone would do that to their own mate.. and you of all shewolves.. That's not fair." He says declaring what I already know and hate about my life.

"I have found out plenty of times that life's not fair.. thank you for your concern.. but I know in my heart I will eventually find someone who can actually appriciate me like I deserve.. or that's at least what I'm hoping." I say to him as the song ends but he doesn't let go of me, as the next song starts and he continues to dance with me around.

That action surprises me because I thought he was just being nice to me but he actually sounds remotely interested in me as he just wants to continue to dance with me.

"So what do you do in your spare time.. Evelyn." He asks me sweetly just pretending not to notice that it's a new song and he still hasn't let me go. "I don't get a lot of spare time being honest, because I do all the cooking and cleaning in the pack house but I do like to cook or just run as much as I can in wolf form.. it's so relaxing for myself." I reply to him as he humms in response.

We spin as he asks me, "You like to run in wolf form? So do I.. my wolf Tyberious loves to run and he is my best friend so I do it as much as I can but I haven't had as much time as I would like to admit lately.. you know, with my brother being gone, I have been taking on the Alpha roles.." He says to me as I smile and nod.

"My wolf's name is Myra and she enjoys it just as much as I do because she is my best friend as well.. without her I wouldn't have lasted this long... honestly." I say the last bit a little shyly as I can tell he notices that comment.

"Well I wouldn't want to do any of this with anyone else girl." Myra says to me so sweetly making me smile at her response.

"So has your father had you doing these tasks your whole life?" I just nod not knowing what else to say to that. "So what does your mother think about you being treated like an omega?" He asks me with offense in his tone.

"She died the day I was born because of me.. hence why my father hates me and keeps me busy with this work.. he says I owe him after taking his mate." I say under my breath but it honestly feels good to get that off of my chest.

This song ends as another begins and he doesn't move a muscle away from me again, just loving dancing with me and I don't mind one bit. I keep expecting him to run full speed after getting to know me but no.. he just keeps asking more and more. This moment seems so special to me that I just wish I could make time stop so we could enjoy this moment together without interruption.

"I'm so sorry that's not your fault and you shouldn't be blamed for that!" He empathetically says to me as I let out a deep breathe.

"Yea, I'm not exactly one for parties like this but that's why I come here in hopes to find my mate and just hope he wants me back.. to hopefully take me away from this hell hole.. But I guess I'm not going to get that lucky." I say to him as he gets a comforting look on his face so he replies right back to me. "Don't worry you will have another chance to find him next time and if not then that means we can dance the night away together again."

I shake my head as he looks confused now. "This is my last shot actually.. but thank you, that would have been something to look forward to." I say to him sadly.

"There are plenty more party's for you to attend, this isn't the last one." He tries to explain to me as I shake my head again because he doesn't understand what I'm meaning.

"No my father had a meeting with a 'Trader' yesterday and the man is offering a good amount for me.. but my father said he would give me tonight to try to find my mate but if I don't then he is going to accept the offer to finally get rid of me.. but I honestly don't know what that means for me." I reply to him as he gets so much worry across his gorgeous face.

"The Trader? Are you serious?" He asks me as I just nod not understanding what that name means I guess.

"The trader is a bad man known for trafficking people all around.. he deals with not good people at all.. you can't go with him." He says with so much concern in his voice for me.. but what choice do I have.

"My father says I don't have a choice.." I reply back sadly as he shakes his head. "That's not right.. he would sell his own daughter?.. That can't be right.. You must have heard him wrong. I wish my father was around.. he would know what to do." He says to me in a whining tone.

"Where is your father?" I ask as he huffs out replying. "We had an attack on our pack and they killed a good chunk of our guards, took most of our money and supplies and even took my father.. So we don't know where they are.. or even if he is ok.. he has been missing for months now.. my brother the alpha has been searching for him and his mate and we have spies in search of him.." He says sadly to me as I reach over grabbing his hand to hold with comfort.

"I just know he would know what to do to help with your dad because he can't hate you like that, you're his daughter. There has to be some way around that." He declares, obviously underestimating my father hatred for me so I just shake my head.

"No those were his exact words and the Trader said I'm beautiful and voluptuous so he will be back." I say to him as he ends up pulling me closer into his muscular frame, not saying anything else in that moment. I just lay my head on his chest enjoying his calming aroma never wanting this to end.. for every second I get with him I just want another.. but I know it will soon enough.

At least I gave this mate finding thing a real chance.. I have gone to plenty of these but no luck.. But at least I can say I tried.

We continue to dance and talking here and there throughout the whole night.. We have so much in common of what we like and how we like it that I can't get rid of the smile that's plastered on my face.. He is such a sweet and encouraging man that deserves the best mate.. I just know when he finds her it will be worth the wait.

We finally get tired of the continuous dancing as he leads me away from the party and off to the side of the pack property. We have a seat on the grass talking the rest of the night away. I have never had so much fun in my entire life and I will cherish this night for life. He has made this night that could have been depressing from not actually finding my mate, and making it so much fun.

"Thanks for everything tonight Quinn.. you don't know what this whole night has meant to me.. This was somehow exactly what I needed.. well besides the mate thing of course.. but thanks for wasting your time with me.. it was unforgettable." I state to him as we watch a lot of the people leaving the property for the night.

"It wasn't a waste of time to me.. and I had a wonderful time with you as well.. You're something special Evelyn.. I won't forget tonight ever either." He says to me as I stare up at him. He smiles at me as we just stare in the most comfortable silence I have ever endured with anyone.. just enjoying each other's company. I notice him inch in closer to me and I willingly let him.. but I watch him stop as he stares at my lips. I think he waiting for an objection but he won't get any from me.

So he then continues in, getting closer and closer until I feel his breath lightly feathering over my lips. My breath hitches at his close proximity but I still don't move away or even remotely object as I see his eyes closing the closer he gets, until his lips connect with mine softly. We both lean into the kiss because at least for me he tastes so good that I could kiss him all night.

This is something I never expected to happen but I couldn't be happier about it.. It's at least something special for me to hold onto. Knowing that he doesn't have the mate bond forcing him to be attracted to me but that he is just attracted to me because he likes me is a confidence booster for sure.. That has literally never happened in my life to me. This is such an amazing feeling that I now know what I'll be dreaming about later tonight.

We kiss for a little while just enjoying this moment but not forcing it any farther which I greatly appreciate.. I half expected him to try to force s*x since that was the first thing that I experienced with sex.. but it's nice to know some men have restraint and respect for the other one in their presence. Good to know. I'm slowly building mate standards because of Quinn without even realizing at first.

We break the scrumptious kiss as we stare into each other's eyes. With the way he is looking at me it makes me feel like we could have more than just this.. that there is something being created within us at this moment.

"Well.. I'm sorry we only had tonight.. I wish we had more time to spend together.. but maybe the stars will align for us, just to see each other again." He says sweetly to me as I sadly nod at him, just wishing this would never end.

"Yea.. one could only hope.. either way.. this meant the world to me.. just everything.. I have never had a connection like this with anyone and it was so much more than I ever expected.. thank you for showing me there are amazing people in this world.. you have given me something to look forward to.. maybe I will be lucky enough to find someone at least half the amazing man you are.. Thank you." I say to him as he leans in and gives me one last kiss.