Page 18 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince
“No,” he simply states. “I am very pleased that my mate has such a strong will.” A smirk curls around his lips. “Makes it more interesting,” he adds.
I can’t help but blush.
He doesn’t give me time to be too embarrassed, though. In a sudden change of mood, he leans back a bit. “Tell me about yourself, Annalise.”
I feel a bit surprised. “What do you want to know?”
“Your pack, your family, friends, college?” he offers. “I already know that you are friends with Finn.”
I nod. “I just got to know him recently, though.”
Liam tilts his head. “He was very happy to have met you and your friends,” he explains.
“You two have a good relationship, right?”
“I like all my siblings,” he affirms. I nod immediately. I can relate. “However, I don’t think he was too happy that I joined him tonight. Probably too nervous about the fuss I always create.”
“No, he was just worried about you. Mentioned your tight schedule beforehand.” I bite into a heavenly California roll, sighing with joy. When I look at him again, I almost choke on it. His eyes are dark. He leans forward a bit, his arms resting on the table. It’s the first time I notice them, the muscles stretching beneath the sleeves of his shirt. I swallow nervously. Goddess, I want to touch him. “Don’t tease me,” he mutters, his voice husky.
“I have two siblings,” I blurt out. “And my friends Ella and Dave. And well, you know Finn.”
“All right,” he sounds amused. “I am listening.”
Good, I have something to talk about. In my panic, I ramble on and on. If Liam is bored, he doesn’t show it. He doesn’t say much either but going by our conversation tonight, that’s not unexpected. He seems to be more of a quiet and brooding type of guy.
It’s only when the waitress politely tells us that they will be closing soon that I realize it’s far beyond midnight. “What about Emerson?” I ask. “Shouldn’t we bring him some food?”
“You are worried?” Liam asks evenly.
“Of course, I am. He has been waiting for hours.”
Liam nods. To my surprise, he looks content with my answer. “Emerson hates sushi. I told him to go and grab something he likes. There is no way I would let him wait outside for hours, and I had no intention of letting you leave before midnight anyways.”
I blush slightly. He can sit here with me, not even changing his expression one bit, hardly talk, and then he says something… like that.
When he leads me back to his car, he frowns. “I don’t like parting with you,” he says bluntly. “I am not comfortable knowing that you are sleeping somewhere else. I should take you back to my pack. Of course, you can have your own room there. I won’t force anything on you.”
“But I have a test on Monday,” It’s not even an excuse. I freaking need to study, or I won’t pass. “And I need to work on a paper for my law class.”
“You have a test,” he muses and stops next to the car.
I nod.
“That’s your reason for wanting to stay at the dorm?”
Again, I nod, feeling slightly surprised. “Of course? What other reason would I have? I mean… you are my mate…” It’s only natural I want to be close to him, but I need more time. And I have my own obligations to meet.
He doesn’t answer, but he seems weirdly content. He taps his fingers against his leg. “You are not ready to mate yet, and I respect your boundaries. But I am not one to beat around the bush,” he starts.
“I noticed,” I say with a smile. When he reaches out his hand, I take it. It’s like I am on autopilot, like I am no longer one with my body.
This is not happening.
“I, Liam Alcott, accept you, Annalise Preston, as my mate.”
This is not happening!
I clench my fingers around his hand, my body flooded with sudden relief and joy. I thought he would reject me. I believed he was just being nice, he… I am so silly. We are mates. We were made for each other. He feels it exactly like I feel it. The desire, the longing… and most importantly, the feeling of belonging.
