Page 15 of Ignited By My Mate

It’s like I’m the center of his world. I’ve never had that before. I was always on my own, always an afterthought.

Not with Harris, though. He cares about me. He wants to know me.

“So,” I start, clearing my throat. “What’s the plan for today?”

“I thought I’d show you around town. We can go for a short hike to this waterfall and hang out. Talk.”

“Talk,” I repeat.

“Yeah. I’d love to get to know you more.”

His words are so wholesome, and I smile as I finish my breakfast.

“I’ll just get my shoes on.”

He nods, standing to clean up the wrappers and empty coffee cups as I head to the bedroom to grab a sweater and my shoes. I slip them on and join him by the front door.

Harris holds his hand out to me, and I don’t hesitate as I slip mine into his.

We spend the whole day together.

He takes me hiking through a quiet forest trail that ends in a small waterfall. He points out trees and plants I’ve never seen before, and I tell him more about my job as an overworked marketing assistant back in the city. We skip rocks, eat trail mix, and laugh like we’ve known each other for years instead of days.

He doesn’t push. He doesn’t mention mates or shifting or fate.

But thetensionbetween us? It’s everywhere.

It hums beneath every glance, every brush of his arm against mine, every time his voice dips low when he says my name. It coils in my stomach and flutters in my chest, electric and impossible to ignore.

By the time we head back to the cabin, the sun’s setting, casting long shadows across the trees.

Harris walks me to the door, and I linger on the porch, not ready to go inside.

“I had a great time today,” I say softly.

“Me, too,” he replies, hesitating. “There’s something else I should probably tell you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not about to shift again, are you? Because I can only handle one fainting spell a week.”

He chuckles, the sound low and warm. “No shifting. Just… something you should know.”

I nod for him to go on.

“There’s something called the mating heat,” he says. “It happens during the full moon—tomorrow night. It’s part instinct, part biology. The bond between mates gets… stronger. Sharper.”

My mouth goes dry. “And what does that mean?”

His eyes meet mine, glimmering like gold. “It means that when the moon rises, I’ll experience an overwhelming need to claim you.”

My heart lurches in my chest.

“Claim me,” I repeat.

“It’s not something I’d ever force,” he says quickly, stepping closer. “I’dnevertouch you unless you wanted me to. I just… wanted you to know. So you’re not blindsided.”

Silence stretches between us for a moment.

Thick.

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