Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Amelie

"What just happened," I ask Inari. I am completely in a panic.

I can feel Inari's excitement. We are not going through the same emotions right now. "We have been blessed with a second chance, mate. I didn't think it would be possible. The moon goddess must have wanted to correct what happened. We have a new mate! Go back in. Go back in."

I try to calm down when I see dad and Celeste coming down the back stairs. "I'm OK. Just in shock. I'm fine." I try to reassure them.

Celeste rubs my back, "is it true? Is Gideon Alois your second chance, mate?" I can hear a mix of happy excitement and nervousness in her question.

"Yes, there is no denying what that was. It was the mate pull and sent. I didn't know it could be that strong." I am still trying the calm down and catch my breath.

"How do you feel about that, kiddo?" Dad is more concerned. A lot has happened to me in the past six months, and I am now mated to the Druit Gaurd Alpha, meaning I will become a Luna.

I look at him. I am honestly at a loss, "I don't know what to think or feel right now. I'm just trying to process."

"That's understandable. Just calm down. Let's go back inside and talk with Gideon." I jump back at dad's suggestion.

"I just need some space right now." I turn and run for the tree line. I need to go to my spot and clear my head.

I cannot shift, so I'm walking the slow way to the clearing. The whole time Inari is just telling me to go back and repeating mate over and over. "Please stop! I just need some quiet for a little bit." She hisses at me but stops yammering and reseeds to the back of my mind. I'm almost to the clearing. It's early March, it's still chilly, and all the plants are just sprouting.

I sit down on a rock and just look up at the sky and scream as loud as I can, just letting it all out. I don't hate Gideon; I don't know him. I'm not scared of him, but I'm afraid of the relationship. Tate's and I relationship was only good for three years before it went terrible. I don't want to live through that again. What if he ends up hating me? I have this ugly black scare now. Can it be overwritten? How can I even look at him, knowing what I've been through? I just sit and think.

I'm pretty sure he has kids from his first mate. Am I ready to be a stepmom? How old are they? Will they even like me? Why was I mated to a warrior? I am an artist by trade, a gardener, and a cook by hobby. I don't know anything about fighting. Well, I guess I could not say that, but that's the only fight I've been in. I'm no expert. I hear a twig snap and lookup. It's Gideon.

"How did you find me?" I don't know if I'm ready for this talk.

"I followed your scent, and I've seen you here before." He looks away shyly.

I gasp and put my hand over my mouth, "the night of the Heir Ceremony. I thought someone was out there. You saw me… naked!" I turn beet red.

"Yeah, I did." He pauses, "can I sit next to you?" He looks embarrassed. Why is he embarrassed I was the one naked.

I let out a breath, "Yeah, I guess we have a few things we need to talk about." I scoot over and pat the space next to me. I was not going to run away, and it was not fair to him. We are both in this together.

Gideon sits down. I can tell he wants to touch me but is holding back. I appreciate he is being a gentleman. "Well, I guess we should get to know each other. How do we want to do this?" I stop and think for a second. "Oh, I got it. Let's play truth or dare."

He smiles at me, and I about to die. That smile is beautiful. I can smell his strong eucalyptus scent, and I am instantly at ease. "Truth or dare? Like the kids game?"

"Yes! Don't be a stick in the mud. I can't have a mate that can't have a little fun." I smile back and push his shoulder with mine. He's a mountain of a man and doesn't budge.

"OK, I'll bit. You go first truth or dare?" I can tell he's just as nervous.

"Truth." I am not ready for a dare yet.

"Why did you run away from me?" I can see the hurt in his eyes. I feel horrible I wasn't trying to hurt him.

"I was scared. Not of you but of the mate pull the whole mate thing. I know you are aware of what has happened to me and so I got scared and ran. I'm sorry." I look down, hoping he accepts my apology. I look back up, and he's just sitting thinking for a moment.

"I understand that. Honestly, Ulv took over, and it was pure instincts for me." He takes a deep breath out.

I give him my best devious look. "OK, your turn, truth or dare?"

"I'll keep it going, truth." He chuckles at me. His laugh and smile warmed my heart. Slowly I was letting my guard down.

This will be easy. I have a million questions, "How did your first mate die?"

"You noticed. Mandy died three years ago due to complications in childbirth. She gave me beautiful twin girls. They just turned three eight days ago, and their names are Rose and Daisy." He is beaming with love talking about his daughters. I think about what he said eight days ago. I felt off that day, like someone was missing me like I should have been somewhere else. Their names, too, I felt obligated to grow roses and daisies this year. What games are you playing, moon goddess? I don't want to say anything. I'll sound crazy, so I just hold it in. I was being pulled to him and his family and didn't even know it. Or was it just a happy coincidence?

"OK, Amelie, I gave you my truth. Now it's your turn. Truth or dare?" He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

I giggle like a little girl. He honestly makes me feel at ease, "OK! Let's see what you got! Dare!" I am feeling confident suddenly.

He thinks for a second and looks at me with a smirk; I look back at him, tilting my head at him. "I dare you to let me kiss you." My eyes widen; I was overconfident. I stand up, but he pulls my arm back, and I fall in his lap. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. Apart from me wants to run away, but a more significant part is holding me back. It wants to stay with him. He wraps one arm around my waist, and with the other, he reaches up and touches my cheek. It's the first skin-to-skin contact. My body instantly is set on fire. Just his touch has me weak. He pulls me close and gently kisses my lips, waiting for me to kiss him back. I can't help myself.

I quickly wrap my arms around his neck. I cannot help but feel the intense sparks coursing through my body. This was nothing compared to Tate. This was stronger intoxicating. I feel his tongue roll across my bottom lip, and I pull it into mine. I can't help but let out a moan. His's kiss alone was thrilling. His deep green eyes flash red as he pulls me in tighter. I run my hands through his sandy blond hair. I feel his right hand go up the back of my shirt. The feel of his ruff hand on my skin leaves a sensation I didn't know I would enjoy. Then both hands are under my shirt, and his hands are on my ribs right under my bra, holding on to me. I know he's holding back and waiting for permission to keep going. I have to pull back. I wasn't ready to show all of me. I remove his hand out from under my shirt and lean back a little.

"But the dare wasn't over yet." He says coyly and nuzzles into my neck. I could already tell I was not going to be able to get enough, ever. I had to slow down before I lose my composer.

"Let's head back. We can take our time getting to know each other. It's not like I'm going anywhere." I give him a gentle smile. I didn't know what the future would hold, but I know I would be with Gideon whether I wanted to or not. Inari and I couldn't survive the rejection even before the mating process and marking.

He touched my cheek again, and I lean into his hand. "You have no idea how many times I've dreamed about being here with you, holding you and touching you. I don't know if this is real or a dream." He pulls me in for another kiss. I gladly let him take my lips a few more times.

I pull away and stand up. "It's not a dream. Come on. I'm hungry, and I am sure you are too. I'll make you something. I'm sure everyone else has eaten already." I pull him up; well, I try. It's like a mouse moving a lion. He chuckles and stands up, pulling me into his arms as he stands.

"You can ride on my back. I'll leave my clothes behind that tree." He points to a nearby tree that is way too small to provide him cover. "No peeking." I can't help but laugh. I am amazed this giant warrior Alpha is kind, sweet, gentle, funny, and my mate. Oh, and I was peeking! He saw me naked it was only fair!

I act like I am looking the other way as he takes off his jacket then pulls his henley over his head. My jaw drops; I forgot how perfect he was, remembering back to the heir ceremony. "Thank you, goddess, for this new beginning!" I can't help but look with thirsty eyes. He looks over his shoulder, and I quickly look away. We are playing a silly game of cat and mouse. He takes off his jeans, and all that is left is his boxer briefs. They hugged every curve, and I just wanted to grab that perfect butt.

This was bad. After our kissing than watching him undress, I could feel myself wanting him more and more. I am sure he could tell, even smell it, but he wasn't pushing me farther. I appreciated that. The underwear comes off, and yes, the back of him is perfect. He looks over his shoulder again, "Hey, I said no peeking."

"Oh, shift already!" I snap. If he stands there naked any longer, I don't think I can take it. He shifts. I go and pick up his clothes and greet his wolf. "Hello, you must be Ulv. You're beautiful." I reach out to pet him, and he nuzzles into my hand.

"He's perfect. Maybe one day we can run together. I can't wait to mind-link with him." Inari was in love. Ulv was a stunning black wolf with ruby red eyes. He was larger than my dad's wolf too. He turns and crouches down.

"Oh, you are calling me short!" He looks at me and tilts his head like yeah, I am. I get on his back, and we head back down to the Packhouse. We stop at the tree line, and I set his clothes down behind a large tree. He gets dressed, and we start to walk back. He moves closer to me with each step and takes my hand in his, interlocking our fingers. It's a small thing, but it feels so inmate. Is this what the mate bond truly feels like? If it is, I don't want it to stop.