Unknown Wolf

A Night of Firsts

"I realized today that I don't know much about you. I know what most of the world knows about who you are and your family, but not who Lucilla Louise Grey is. What is your favorite color?" He asked.

I giggled at the overly normal question, and he dramatically shrugged.

"We have to start somewhere. Mine is dark blue, but I'm starting to have a fondness for green." He smiled, staring at me. I knew he was talking about my eyes, and I blushed slightly, turning away.

"I love the color green like the leaves and growth of the forest, but I also love the color blue like that of the sky or water." I turned back towards him to see him watching me contently.

"I didn't know your favorite flowers, so I had Arthur set out these. They were my mother's favorite roses and lavender."

"Like the bath salts and oils upstairs. They smelled so lovely of lavender, rose, and sage." I smiled thoughtfully.

"Yes, that used to be her guest room my aunt had set up and decorated for her when we stayed the summers here."

"I love the room. My favorite flowers are sunflowers, roses, gardenias, and lilies, but I just like flowers in general. I love gardens. I've looked through a lot of books at different famous gardens and ones with general knowledge of gardening. I've just never had one of my own."

"Well, when we get to our new home, consider it yours. You may decorate or garden however you see fit. As far as you finishing school, you'll have to do it all online, but I'm guessing that's what your father was having you do at home." He said as he cut into his steak.

"Oh, I graduated high school early. I was taking some college courses before I found out I was a wolf. I was in my junior year of studies, but my father and Aunt wanted me to focus on training and learning about the werewolf world after that." The food was absolutely delicious. Arthur even got how I liked my steak right.

"Really?" Rowen questioned, seeming quite impressed.

"Well, when you're basically locked away with nothing else to do, but concentrate on studies." I shrugged. "My escape was reading about the outside world I was never allowed to explore. My father had difficulties after my mother's passing. He wanted to keep me safe at all costs but also buried himself in work to cover up his pain. I look just like my mother, and sometimes I think it can be too painful for him."

*********** Rowen's POV

I couldn't imagine losing Lucy, and I barely had any time to get to know her. Everything they say about the mate bond has proven to be true. It's like a magnetic pull towards her that I couldn't fight even if I wanted to. That's the opposite of what I want with Lucy. I want her as close to me as she'll allow at all times and still crave more.

I can't imagine the pain her father has endured losing her mother. His daughter truly was the only thing keeping him going. Losing her would completely break him, and as my brother suspected, he probably wouldn't live through that second loss. I tried to clear my head from those thoughts.

"I've already decorated your room. I decorated it like my mother's here. It was done before I knew of you. I guess my way of putting my mother in my house, but you may decorate it however you like. One of the ladies from town helped decorate the house for me, so it didn't feel empty."

********** Lucy's POV

I felt an unexplainable wave of jealousy wash over me at the mention of another woman, and I glared at my food, not touching it. I looked back up to see him with a knowing smile spread across his lips. In my anger, I just turned my head away from him staring at the corn fields in the distance.

"Lucy, my house is your home. You may change anything in it you like however you wish. You are now the lady of the house. The one I have been waiting for."

I slowly turned back towards him, and the gentle smile remained upon his lips. I had an uncontrollable urge to kiss him and feed upon his mouth. I wanted to bite that smart lip. I shook those thoughts away and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I really don't know what's coming over me. I'm not normally like this. To tell you the truth, this is all overwhelming." I responded.

He sighed and placed his hand on top of mine ever so gently as if trying not to spook a wild horse. Sparks traveled on my skin, where he touched me. His blue eyes stared into mine, and it was almost as if he stared into my soul. It should have been unnerving, but I felt a peace about it.

"I know this is all a lot to take in and confusing. You have these emotions and feelings that you don't quite understand yet, and if they are anything like the ones rushing through me, they can be very intense. Please, never apologize for them. I just hope one day you can accept them, and me. I'm willing to go as slow as you need me to and be as patient with this situation as I can. Lucy, you are my whole world now, and all I want is for you to be safe and happy."

I couldn't help it. The little girl in me gushed at his words, but the part of me that was more untrusting and questioning still held back.

"What if it's a lie? I have to protect my heart."

Sesi, "You know deep down it's the truth. He is your true mate. Why are you fighting it so hard?"

"What if it's all a trick. I don't think I can handle that pain."

Sesi, "I don't think it is a trick. He seems genuine. Stop fighting so hard what you already know."

I rolled my eyes internally.

********** Rowen's POV

I know she questions the mate bond still, but I can see she is feeling it as intensely as I am.

"I know this isn't going to help ease your mind or your confusion right now, but it would be awkward to show up in a small town with my new 'wife' not even wearing a set of rings." I pushed the small box towards her.

All I could do was pray it didn't scare her more than she already was. She looked down at the box without moving, just staring.

"They were my mother's. My father never bought her a set. She was gifted my great-grandmother's. We can get them sized tomorrow if they don't fit." My whole body tensed with fear on how she would take this. Would this push her farther away and scare her off?

Kane, "Have faith in her wolf. Sesi will guide her."

"I hope so..."

********** Lucy's POV

I was in shock staring down at the seemly innocent little box. The meaning behind it all and the fact that they were his mother's rings, family rings. I was frozen in place.

Sesi, "Open the box. He is trying so hard for you. Don't be rude." She fussed. She was pacing with excitement in my head. "Nothing is going to pop out and hurt you. You're being ridiculous." She continued to whine.

I finally reached forward for the green velvet box and slowly opened it. I gasped. It was beyond beautiful. The engagement ring had a gorgeous emerald in an oval cut surrounded by a halo of diamonds that continued down the band set in rose gold. The bridal band that went with it had small emeralds with halos as well that alternated with rose gold ovals centering two diamonds each. I had never seen another ring set like it before. I stared mesmerized by the beauty of it in the small velvet box.

Rowen gained my attention again as he came around the table towards me, asking, "May I?"

I stammered out a tiny yes, and he gently slid the rings in place. They fit perfectly. I loved them, but my heart ached as I was still unsure and afraid.

Rowen looked down at me, concerned. He kneeled next to me, so we were face to face, and wiped a tear I didn't even know had escaped away.

"What's wrong? If you don't like them I can buy you something else." He looked sadden by my reaction.

"No, they are perfect." I replied, and I could feel my own heart break.

Rowen looked so confused, "I don't understand. Why are you crying?"

I sniffled a little, "It's all fake. It's so perfect. I want it to be real, but I know it's all just to make our cover seem real. My heart can't take all of this. I just wish it wasn't this way. Why can't my life be normal?" I began to really cry. I couldn't help it. I couldn't hold it in any longer.

Rowen wrapped me in his arms, holding me close to his chest. I could hear his heart beating steady surrounded in his warmth, and I began to calm. He looked into my eyes, and I saw a sadness in his as well. He wiped my tears again from me cheeks and lifted me up into his strong arms, holding me close to his chest. I felt safe in his grasp like a small child being carried to bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck and breathed in his scent.

When he reached my room, closed the door behind him, and laid me on the bed. Scooting in next to me, he wrapped his arms around me and gently rubbed my cheek, staring at me.

"This doesn't all have to be fake, Lucy. I'm head over heels in love with you. I wouldn't give you that ring set just to make our cover seem more real. I could have bought a different set today. I'm sorry if it overwhelmed you. It's special to me, and it just felt right to give it to you." He gently took my hair out of its ponytail and began to brush through it with his fingers as he had become accustomed to here lately.

"My great-grandmother was human, as I told you before. She was an amazingly strong woman, and my great-grandfather was smitten with her the moment he laid eyes on her. He was also human, so there was no mate bond to push him towards her. He just full-on loved her. She had red hair like my mother and I when she was young and the most beautiful green eyes. He was so lovely sick for her, but was himself a poor man. She was the most beautiful girl in their village, and her father owned several businesses in town. My great-grandfather wanted to earn her by becoming a self-made man, so to speak. He worked hard to build up his career to make something of himself so he would be worthy of her. Everyday stopping in her family store where she worked. Finally, he had become a prominent businessman in their area and had bought a beautiful house he knew she would love. He had this ring set made custom for her. When he went to ask her out, she told him she already had a boyfriend, and his heart broke. He didn't give up and continued to pursue her. He told her one day she would be his wife, and he wouldn't rest until she was his. My great-grandmother said he was the most stubborn man on the planet, but he eventually won over her heart. They were married for 65 years before he passed away. She said he put the emeralds in the rings because they reminded him of her eyes."

He turned and looked down at me, "Lucy, I have been under your spell since the moment I laid eyes on you, and one day you will be mine. I want only you until the day I die."

My heart fluttered at his words and the sincerity in them.

******** Rowen's POV

I couldn't take it anymore. She thought I didn't want her. That this was all just a cover. I wanted her more than anything.

I stared at her with her eyes filled with tears, and her pain was killing me. Her flushed cheeks and soft lips were just calling for me. I couldn't control myself any longer.

I put my hand in her hair behind her head and leaned forward, kissing her lips. Feeding at them and trying to claim dominance over them. My body and wolf want more. Surprisingly, she melted under my kiss. I took advantage of her moment of weakness to slip in my tongue, invading her mouth and massaging her tongue with mine. She fell more into my kiss and let out the softest moan. Goddess, did I want to continue. I wanted more, but this was a slippery slope. It took every ounce of strength I had in me to pull back from her.

She sat back wide-eyed at a loss for words and touched her fingers to her lips in surprise. She was the most beautiful being I had ever laid eyes on sitting before me, and her sweet scent engulfed me, pulling me in. Nothing I wanted more than to continue and take claim of her. I wanted to continue to kiss her and explore her body to make her feel things she had never felt before. To see her face the first time my d**k was deep within her. To hear her moan my name. That's it. My self-control was slowly fading. I need to get out of this room before I lose it.

I took a deep breath, "Goodnight, Princess."

I softly kissed her forehead and turned to leave. My hand on the door knob when I heard her utter in the smallest voice, "Wait."

I turned back towards her as she stammered, "I - I... that was.... Goodnight Rowen."

I smiled softly at her. My heart was longing to stay, but I knew it was better to leave. Before, I did something too much and lost control. No matter what she might say, she isn't ready for more, and if I move too fast, it could push her away.