Page 19 of Fated
Kai’s heart thudded against his ribs as he tried to pullaway from the crowd. He searched for an escape route, but his feet remained rooted. Conversation and laughter faded to background noise, leaving only the harsh sound of his own ragged breathing.
Just as he tried to turn towards the exit, she emerged from the sea of faces, her presence as sudden and jarring as a splash of cold water. Her scent hit him with full force now—wrapping around him like a physical touch, drowning out every other sight, every other sound, every other scent, until there was nothing buther.
She launched herself into his arms without warning, soft body colliding with his in a perfect, natural fit that made Orion howl in triumph.
“Mate!” she declared, voice ringing out, filled with a joy and certainty that screeched in his ear like feedback.
Kai’s breath caught. For a moment, the world halted. His arms hovered stiffly around her perfect body, caught between Orion’s desperate need to pull her closer and his own instinct to push her away.
Beneath his skin, Orion lurched forward with startling force, his presence no longer contained within Kai’s mind but spilling outward like mist escaping through cracks in a stone wall—reaching for something beyond his physical form.
Her wolf.
The connection bypassed human thought entirely, pure and ancient—wolf to wolf, soul to soul. For that split second, Orion’s joy coursed through Kai’s veins like liquid fire, unfiltered by human doubt or resistance. The wolves recognized each other in a way that transcended words or reason—a recognition written in their very blood by the Goddess Herself.
A low growl built in Kai’s chest. The sound grew louder, more forceful, until it became a deafening roar that shook his very foundations.
“Take her, claim her, mark her—she’sours!”Orion’s primal cry echoed in Kai’s head, leaving him breathless and bewildered.
His mind recoiled in horror—thoughts tangling in resistance as Ava’s face flashed behind his eyes—yet his body betrayed him. The press of his mate made his pulse race, arms tightening around her despite himself. Where Ava’s touch had always felt like a challenge, this—this felt like coming home.
“She’s beautiful, Orion. Our mate is perfect.”The admission slipped past his defenses—past seven years of denial. A vision took hold, and Kai felt his control slip. He saw himself capturing her lush mouth in a kiss, tongues tangling in a passionate dance. Her hands would slide down his back, fingers digging into his muscles. Her ivory dress would fall away like a river of moonlight. Her hardened nipples would press against his chest, sparking goosebumps across his flesh. He imagined taking her against the wall, sinking into her heat, her labored breaths and whispered pleas echoing in his mind.
But as the fantasy reached its peak, Kai’s mind jerked back to reality, screaming in protest. He willed himself to pull back, to rein in the primal urges that threatened to consume him.
I’m not ready. This is too much.
LENA
The moment she collided with him, Elara howled in pure joy, thesound echoing through every fiber of Lena’s being.
His body was hard against hers, fitting perfectly, as if Selene had carved them from the same stone. His scent enveloped her completely now, orange and nutmeg mixing with something darker, something that spoke of power and destiny.
Elara slipped beyond Lena’s consciousness, reaching outward toward a presence Lena could feel but not quite touch. The connection was electric—wild, primal, and achingly familiar though she’d never felt it before.His wolf. A dark, powerful energy that caressed Elara’s essence like an ancient greeting. For a heartbeat, the wolves communed without words or thoughts, recognizing each other as halves of the same soul, separated by time but joined by the Goddess’s hand. The certainty in that wolf-to-wolf understanding was absolute, untainted by human fears or doubts.
“Ours.”Elara’s certainty blazed through their bond.“Finally.”The wolf’s joy was infectious, even as their mate’s hesitation confused them both. Elara whined, pressing against Lena’s ribs. His wolf called to them—she could feel it—so why did he fight?
Lena held tighter, refusing to let him pull away. Even through his panic, hope pulsed between them—undeniable in the heat radiating from his chest, in how perfectly their hips aligned as if crafted as matching pieces. Their bond flowed between them like an electric current, illuminating every cell with awareness.
“I’m Lena,” she whispered, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. His emerald-green eyes held secrets and pain she didn’t yet understand. A muscle in his jaw flexed and his pupils dilated, the scent of orange and nutmeg intensifying with a honeyed warmth that hadn’t been there before. “And you...you’re my mate.”
His breath hitched. His arms tightened around her, and for the briefest of moments, she felt him surrender—just a little—to the connection they shared.
Elara surged with hope.“Yes, let us in.”
But it was fleeting. The tension returned just a moment later. Their connection was real, but he was fighting it with everything he had as if something held him back.
I need to help him see it,Lena resolved.I won’t run. I can’t.
CHAPTER TEN
LENA
Abooming laugh shattered the haze of the mate connection. The banquet hall crashed back into focus—low hum of laughter, the clink of glasses, the competing scents of food and floral centerpieces. Everything overwhelmed her senses, harsh and intrusive, after the purity of his scent. Elara’s presence curled protectively around the mate-bond memory, whimpering as the intrusion of voices and auras tried to wash away the perfect connection they’d just experienced.
Lena spotted a mountain of a male coming straight toward them. His gaze locked on her and her mate with an intensity that made her wolf cower. His presence filled the space around them, drawing every eye in the vicinity.
“Incredible!” The male stepped forward with a broad grin, wrapping his arm around her mate while placing his other hand on Lena’s shoulder. “Selene has blessed us tonight!”
