Chapter 22
Randy POV
I was getting ready for my date, making sure I looked good and, more importantly, smelled good. I sprayed on the cologne that supposedly drove women crazy. It had never let me down before.
I looked at myself in the mirror, straightened my shirt, ran a hand through my hair, and nodded. “Damn, Randy. Still got it.”
I grabbed my jacket and headed toward the door. Franky was sitting nearby, getting his things together. “Hey, Franky,” I said. “Your new car is already back home. Why don't you head back with the guys? Catch a ride with them. I'll drive this one. After my date with this chick, I'll catch up with you.”
Franky looked at me like I'd suddenly grown three heads. “Man, are you sure? You're gonna be here by yourself. Maybe I should stay and make sure everything is good.”
I chuckled. Franky was always worried about something. But I knew why he was really worried. Alice. He had feelings for her. Hell, I was pretty sure he was in love with her. He'd been pissed when I'd told him she wasn't here. “You know, she might have changed her mind and gone back home,” I said. “She's probably going to show up there in a few days anyway.”
Franky sighed. I could tell he wanted to stay. He wanted to make sure everything was okay, but at the same time, he was ready to get home. “Alright, man. I guess I'll see you in a few days.”
He grabbed his bag and headed out, catching a ride with one of the guys. Finally, I was alone. I sat on the edge of the bed and rested my head in my hands. Did I really want to go on this date? For a few minutes, I seriously considered leaving too. Maybe I should just go home. I looked at the clock. “Well, it's getting to be that time. Might as well go.”
I stood up, grabbed my keys, and headed outside. Maybe I'd get lucky tonight. Who knows? And if I did, maybe I could forget about Alice for a few hours. I got into the car and started the engine. Before pulling away, I turned on the GPS so I could find the woman's house. Thirty minutes later, I pulled into her driveway.
I stared at the house. “Holy shit.” It was huge. It looked more like a mansion than a house. I shut off the engine, stepped out, and walked toward the front door. I knocked. Then I waited.
Tona POV
I really didn't want to do this. Butch had made his threat very clear.
If I didn't do what he wanted, he would kill my family. And I knew he would. Randy was my mate. My wolf had known it the moment we met, and everything inside me screamed that he was meant to be mine. But this wasn't how I wanted things to happen. I wanted to tell him the truth slowly. I wanted him to get to know me. I wanted us to fall in love naturally. Instead, I was being forced into something I didn't want.
I heard a car pull into the driveway. My heart started pounding. I knew it was him. Randy. My wolf immediately became restless.
“Mate.”
I took a deep breath. The money he'd taken from the bank had gone straight to Butch, so I knew Randy wasn't exactly rolling in cash anymore. But he still had a nice car. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I closed my eyes. Please don't let him be standing there with flowers. I hated flowers. I counted silently to ten before finally opening the door. And then I saw him. Damn. He looked good. A white T-shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.
My eyes traveled over him before I could stop myself. I nearly licked my lips. My wolf was going absolutely crazy. “Mate. Mate. Mate.
Mark him!”
She wanted this just as badly as I did. But I couldn't. Not yet. I wanted to explain everything. I wanted to tell him why I was doing this. But I couldn't. I had no choice. I opened the door wider.
“Come inside.” He smiled and stepped through the doorway. “I hope you don't mind staying in tonight. We can have dinner here and watch a movie.”
“My type of woman,” he said with a grin. “What's for dinner?”
I smiled. “I hope you like seafood. I made shrimp and steak.”
I pointed toward the table. “And I'm hoping you like your steak rare.”
“Oh, I do.”
We sat down and began eating. The conversation came easily.
Every now and then, our eyes met across the table, and something inside me twisted. This man was my mate. I could feel it. And somehow, even though I was lying to him, I was already becoming attached. When dinner was finished, Randy surprised me by helping with the dishes. For a few minutes, everything felt normal. Almost like we were a regular couple having a regular night together.
Then we settled onto the couch and put on a movie. John Wick.
Neither of us was paying much attention. We were far too distracted by each other. It didn't take long before we were kissing. My hands slid through his hair as his arms wrapped around me. My wolf was practically screaming. “Mate.” Mark him.” Make him ours”
I pulled back for a moment, looking into his eyes. There was something about him that made it difficult to remember why I was doing this. Then my canines slowly emerged. It was time. I moved closer, my heart pounding. My shirt came off, revealing the red bra underneath. Randy's eyes darkened. I leaned toward him and whispered in his ear. “Take it off me. It's a little tight.”
I gently nibbled his earlobe, then ran my hands down his chest.
He shuddered. “Damn, woman,” he murmured. “You keep this up, and I won't be able to stop myself.”
I swallowed hard. I'm sorry. He didn't know what was coming. He didn't know that when he woke up, his entire life would be different.
He didn't know what I was. Or what he was about to become. I leaned closer, pressing my lips against his neck. My heart broke a little. Please don't hate me forever. I took one last breath. Then I struck. My canines sank into his neck. Randy cried out, his body going rigid as he tried to push me away. But I was stronger. Much stronger. I held him until his resistance weakened.
Eventually, his body went still. I released him and gently licked the wound, allowing it to begin healing. His eyes slowly opened.
“What did you just do to me?”
I looked into his eyes, knowing there was no turning back now. “Don't worry, my love.” I softly kissed his lips. “When you wake up, you'll be one of us.”
His eyes widened. “One of you?”
I smiled sadly. “And we'll be together.”
He stared at me for several seconds before pulling me closer and kissing me again. That night changed everything. We did things that I don't even think humans would do, he was large, very large, and i loved every bit of it. But when morning came, Randy didn't wake up.
His body had already begun changing. He would remain unconscious for several days. And when he finally opened his eyes again, he wouldn't be the same man who had walked through my door. He would be one of us. And I could only pray that when he finally understood what I'd done… he wouldn't hate me forever.