The Golden One

Should We Start With Introductions?

I don't speak, instead I raise my hand to pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. A pounding behind my eyes takes me by surprise.

Great, a headache already and I've been awake for a f*****g hour.

In my head I repeat a mantra I've just created to stop me biting back at every little thing Christopher says or does.

This is really hard for him.

Keep the situation calm.

Be the bigger person.

"Should we start with introductions?" I keep a level tone, softening my expression.

He shrugs back at me like a petty child.

For f***s sake.

This is really hard for him.

Keep the situation calm.

Be the bigger person.

I cough.

"I'm Meila." He nods. I withhold another eye roll. "You are..." I start him off but he just stares at my feet. I sigh, feeling defeated. A sting starts in my eyes and a lump forms in my throat. Why does it have to be so difficult? I blink ferociously trying to stop the tears from falling.

Why was I so close to tears? Anger? Frustration? Heartbreak? Probably all of them and more.

Still blinking back tears, I turn my head and watch the fire dance. I really didn't know why I was getting upset, I'm not normally one to cry.

I feel his eyes on me as he seems to realise that this is hard for me too. My skin tingles under his gaze causing some of the hairs on my arms to rise. I feel a tickle come over my heart and I bite down hard on my lip to distract myself from this strange feeling. All this from a look?

"Christopher." I jump at the sound of his deep and melodic voice. “My name is Christopher.”

When I turn to look at him his demeanour has completely changed again. He is now leaning forward, elbows on his knees with his hands clasped between his legs. His brow is furrowed in concern, gorgeous green eyes staring right at me.

Acknowledging how his gaze affects me, how I feel his pain and sadness and how my skin has a constant tingle in his presence, I let how a deep sigh. He is my mate. I may not feel it in the overwhelming sense that he does but there is no denying a connection. A connection I haven't felt with anyone before, not even Michael.

At the realisation I match his pose but hang my head, allowing a solitary tear fall to the ground.

He reacts while the tear is still falling, dropping to his knees right in front of me reaching for my hands in comfort. I sniff, looking at his hands in mine. A perfect fit. Of course. Warmth travels through me from my fingers to my heart and it literally skips a beat.

Well f**k.

"Meila?" His voice is soft and gentle. I sniff at the sound of my name coming from his lips. My name has never sounded better. Not even in the middle of steamy, hot shower s*x- my favourite- with Michael. My thoughts wonder to what it would sound like if Christopher said it during—

Well f**k again.

We've been in each other’s presence less than half an hour in total and my body's reaction has gone from excruciating pain to wanting him to pounce on me now and scream out my name. De-f*****g-lightful.

His index finger softly presses under my chin guiding my face up and my eye line to his.

"I'm sorry." His glassy green eyes are filled with sincerity. He takes both his hands and brushes stray golden locks of hair behind my ears then cups my face, staring deep into my eyes. Little bolts of electricity spring through my skin and travel down to my stomach which is now acting like a gymnast during her floor routine at the Olympics.

"This isn't how I thought meeting my mate would go." His voice continues at it’s soft and gentle level. I like this Christopher, he makes me feel calm. My eyes flick away from his to the floor. I feel guilty because after Michael and I became serious I stopped thinking about my mate at all. I assumed I'd never have one. And now I've put us in this predicament by ignoring a bond that is destined for us all. I was just too impatient to wait for mine.

"You do feel it don't you?" He half asks half begs.

I force myself to bring my eyes back to his, my face still cupped gently in his hands, his touch simultaneously making me hot and keeping me cool.

"Y-yes." I stutter. An instant smile crosses his face and damn is it gorgeous. "but..." his smile fades as I continue. "I'm confused. It's not as strong as everyone described a mate bond to be. I don't have an urgent or immediate pull towards you. It's like a low level tingle."

He stands abruptly and returns to his seat, resting an ankle on his knee, his chin leaning on his hand while rubbing gently at his stubble. His eyes travel over my body while deep in thought.

"Is it strong for you?" I ask sheepishly, now feeling strangely uncomfortable at the space between us.

He doesn't respond for a few seconds, still deep in thought. I sit on the edge of my seat anticipating his response.

"Yes. It's everything people described to me and more." He says in a matter of fact tone. "The undeniable pull to you, the unmistakable connection to you and your emotions, the uncontrollable lust and attraction. It's all there."

I open my mouth to speak but I'm lost for words. The tingle that sat in my heart has moved a little south at the mention of lust and attraction. I clench my thighs together and shut my eyes trying to push the naughty thoughts out of my mind.

When I open them Christopher is flashing me a knowing smirk. If my body language hadn't given it away, he could probably feel my arousal anyway, and if not, he could definitely smell it.

He slowly drags his tongue across the c***k of his lips, a hungry look in his eyes. I clench tighter, the heat rising between my legs to my core. Damn, he's gorgeous. An asshole, but a gorgeous one. I cough trying to regain composure while he stifles a chuckle at my unease. He knows exactly what he's doing to me, and in all honesty I'm enjoying it as well as enjoying this cheeky side of him.

I sigh. I will not give into my hormones this easily. It's time to talk about the elephant in the room.

"We need to talk about Michael." I say sternly. He releases a heavy breath and sits forward.

"That's one way to kill the mood."  I offer him a weak smile and he reciprocates. We might actually be getting somewhere.

"He's my Beta and he's my boyfriend." Christopher nods calmly, although I notice his grip on the armrests tighten. It wasn't new information to him but it wasn't something he was happy with.

"We grew up together and we've been through a lot. I trust him with my life. I—" I stop myself, knowing this is going to hurt him. "I love him." It comes out as almost a whisper. I expect to see Christopher erupt in a rage as he has done every time before, but he's calm, even if it is only externally. That stab of pain that woke me so abruptly this morning returns to my chest. He's hurting; I've hurt him.

"Christopher, please believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you. I'm... different. I assumed when it hadn't happened in the first few years I wouldn't find my mate. I assumed fate was supposed to bring us together quickly, like the Moon Goddess had a plan for us. It was four years before Michael and I got together and even then it wasn't serious at first." I sigh, I sound like I'm trying to justify this more to myself than Christopher.

Maybe it was wrong of me to start seeing Michael. It is an unwritten rule that mates save themselves for each other. Had Christopher saved himself for me? I think it would make me feel like even more of a b***h if he had. Please Moon Goddess, tell me he is the ladies’ man he looks like he should be!

The silence is deafening. Christopher is staring off into the distance deep in thought. I let my mind wander too… Why hadn't we found each other before now? What has stopped us being drawn together?

"Wait…" A realisation creeps up on me, the realisation that when we first arrived here I knew who Carl was, I knew what he looked like. He had been to our pack many times before with his father, the previous Alpha. I had been kept hidden, no one was to know of my presence at the Night Shade Pack, but I saw everything; like a little fly on the wall.

"Your dad and Carl have been to my territory several times before I was Alpha but after my 18th birthday, I hadn't met them because I was kept hidden. But where were you? If you were my mate I would have sensed you." As I spoke his eyes snap back to mine, the green is gone and replaced by darkness. Was this a sensitive subject?

"I was... Away." He manages to growl out.

"Away?" I question, watching his jaw muscles tense making his jaw line even sharper than before.

"There are things in my past that I'd rather not discuss with you." He hisses at me. Oh my Moon Goddess, he is a ladies man. It hits me harder than expected. This was what I'd hoped for and yet it has stirred a jealous beast inside me.

"Like away on business or away on vacation sexing it up with lots of ladies." I growl at him, a fire raging in my belly. Jealousy has consumed me at the thought of him with other women. This is a little insight into how he must be feeling because, after all, who the hell am I to talk about "sexing it up" with people who aren't your mate?

He stands, clearly I hit a nerve, but how dare he make me feel so guilty at my committed relationship when he has been out sleeping with anything with a pulse for years. The thought brings me to my feet too, hands clenched by my sides.

"How dare you hold such anger to me when you've been doing much the same things with many more wome—"

"Enough!" His voice echoes around the room, I stop talking to take a breath ready to go again before he cuts me off.

"I was... taken." He says it quietly, softly. The anger is gone but the pain lingers in the air. I am so taken aback, I have no words.

"I was taken and held captive." Standing tall, his face becomes emotionless. He says it in such a matter of fact way, like he's pushed all his feelings about it away and it is a normal thing to him now.

My mouth hangs open slightly and I feel my eyes water at the thought of him being taken like that.

"Christopher, I—"

"Stop. I don't need your pity." He scoffs. But I don't pity him, I admire him. He is strong and he is passionate. The people who took him probably tried to break his spirit and put out his flame but all I see before me is a strong man filled with fire. All of the anger and annoyance leaves my body and is replaced by a need to support him and care for him. This rollercoaster of emotions is enough to make me dizzy. I slowly walk over to him, suddenly desperate for his touch. He looks like he wants to run away but he stands his ground.

I raise my hand to his cheek and brush it with my thumb, making sure my eyes are staring right into his. My emotions are yo-yo'ing along with his now, because all I want to do is hold him. The rage has calmed completely, replaced with a need to show him kindness and... love.

"You are so very strong, Christopher." I say, gazing at him in admiration. He closes his eyes and pushes his cheek into my hand, bringing his hand to sit on top of mine. We stand there for a minute before he slides my hand to his mouth and gives my palm a tender kiss. I close my eyes as the little volts of electricity shoot up my arm. We lower our hands but still hold onto each other, neither wanting to be the first to let go.

We stand there, hands intertwined for what seems like hours, staring helplessly into each other’s eyes. We both have traumas, we both have obstacles to overcome and maybe the Moon Goddess hadn't got it as wrong as I thought.

A soft knock interrupts us

.

"Meila?" Michael's voice sounds from the other side of the door. f**k, Michael!

I snap away from Christopher, dropping my hand to my side just as the door opens. I see in Michael's face that he knows something is off. His eyes fall to the floor before he speaks.

"All of the Alphas are here. The meeting will start in an hour." He says coolly before he sulks off and the door closes.

I sigh knowing I need to shower and prepare for the s**t show that is to come.

"I need to get ready." I say then turn to walk away. I feel Christopher follow me to the door and as I reach to open it, his strong hand reaches over me and presses against it, stopping me from leaving. I turn to face him and he steps closer, closing the gap between us, his hand still resting on the door above my head. My body is humming at his proximity as we stare longingly into each other's eyes. His head lowers to mine and our lips are an inch apart. A part of me wants to tilt my head a close the gap, to feel those perfect lips on mine, but I restrain myself. After a brief pause, he continues to lower his head until it is hovering just above the crook of my neck. I move my head slightly giving him more access.

What the f**k am I playing at?!

He inhales deeply and lets out a gentle growl against my neck. It feels as if flames have licked against my skin as his warm breath falls over my neck. The heat surges around my body but pools between my legs, a gentle throb starts in my core. He slowly raises his head so his mouth is next to my ear, his stubble lightly grazing my cheek.

"Please give this a chance." His voice is soft and sweet in my ear, causing the fire in my core to grow. He pulls back, his forehead nearly touching mine, and looks deep into my eyes. I bite down hard on my lip, stifling the urge to jump on him and devour him.

Damn this bond, I've literally only met him and I would say 75% of the time he's been an arsehole, but I have this want for him now; a need for him.

I nod slowly and a genuine smile crosses his tempting lips. He pulls back from me and opens the door.

"I'll see you soon, Meila." He says as I leave without a word, my heart furiously beating in my chest.

I make it up to my room and let out the breath I've been holding in. Damn I need a shower. A cold one, for sure.