Page 21 of Blood Moon
“That’s the insane part about alphas.” He tilted his head, studying me, “weknowwho the best mate for us is, and in my case, it was a human girl who was thrown into a whirlwind of bullshit that even she couldn’t understand.”
“But you understood?”
“God, no.” He smiled, “I never understood how this gorgeous girl could be charmed to fall for the most egotistical, immortal vampires known in existence.”
“So,” my eyes widened, playing the story out with him, “you wanted to rescue her from these crazy-hot vampires?”
He rolled his eyes, “In a perfect world, I would have had her to myself, but somehow, the fates saw that I was destined to share something special with her.”
“Let me guess,” I whispered, loving to see this softer side of Zane, and intrigued at the knowledge that he’d felt something for me before the shaman bonded us. “Fate saw that you fathered her beautiful child?”
He became serious, licking his bottom lip. “That’s my thoughts, anyway.”
“I think you’re an amazing father.” I became more serious.
“And you’re an awesome mom.” He smiled.
“So why have you been such an asshole to me, then?” I felt myself sober up a bit by the magnitude of our conversation.
His expression darkened as he stared into his mojito. “I don’t share,” he said in a low voice. “Obviously, it took a shaman to get me into that lifestyle, but my alpha instincts and my heart both tell me that you’re mine, and that’s pretty much why I’ve been a dick—to all of you. Then this bullshit with Nakia and Bren magnified what a stupid fuck I’ve been.”
“Stop,” I said, knowing we were heading back to asshole Zane again.
“I’m just sorry,” he said with saddened eyes. “I’m trying to accept it all outside of the bond, but I swear to God, I want to kill vampires by instinct as it is. Imagine my hatred, listening to you all fucking and laughing together.”
“God, that does suck.”
He shrugged. “I’m trying to get used to it. Accept it. I know I have to stop fighting it.”
“Hey,” I reached across our table and covered his hand with mine, “it’s just us right now.” I looked out to where I heard the nightlife going strong. “Why don’t we find that dance party and let loose a little. Unless it’s dangerous.”
“We just shared a dinner with at least seventeen vampires in this room. They may have eyed why a shifter was down here and with a human, but they kept their distance.”
“Did they smell my lifeblood?” I suddenly became fearful.
“My scent is much stronger than your blood to them. You can almost say it cloaks the smell of your blood. They aren’t bonded to you, so it would take them actuallytastingyour blood to know they were in the same room as a Life Blood, which, as you know, is never going to happen if I’m around.”
“So, you’re my guard dog, then?” I teased.
Zane stood up and extended his hand down toward me, “Get up,” he drew me in close, and I felt like a limp noodle in his strong arms suddenly. He swept my hair over my shoulder and pressed his lips to my throat, and then met my eyes.
“I’m your mate, gorgeous,” he said with a smile. “I’m not your damn dog.” He chuckled. “I say we hit the club on the roof of this joint. I’ll teach you some dance moves, and hopefully, you’ll get those vamps out of your system and find some feelings for a temperamental shifter outside of some forced bond.”
“Zane,” I stopped him from pulling me out of the candlelit room. “Do you really think this is a good idea?”
“Trust me,” he said, cupping my chin, “I’m no longer making desperate, fucked-up, life-destroying decisions. If I felt for a second you were in danger, we wouldn’t go.”
“Well, if that’s the case,” I tucked myself into his side after he wrapped his arm around me, “I’m definitely in the mood to try out my new dance moves.”
“Then let’s do this.”
“I have to warn you, though, I have zero rhythm.”
He brought his lips to my ears, “Our bond may be gone, but you and I did share one night where you showed me that the rhythm and moves youdo havekick dancing in the ass.”
I laughed, “Well, if you’re up for it, maybe I’ll show you some of those moves tonight.”
I felt Zane stiffen.Shit. Too soon too fast. Shut the hell up, Elle, and just enjoy this side of him.It’s a side I’d never known with him or any of the other shifters. It was only the father of my child and me. I was leaving the supernatural shit out of this tonight and letting Zane take the lead on whatever would happen.
