Prologue
“Ella...” He murmured, his warm breath hitting my skin. His nose slowly traced up the side of my neck, his lips dragging slowly behind it. I shiver, my mind foggy. “I need you.” He stared into my eyes, his grey orbs glistening in the moonlight. I could see myself in them, my hair tossed around and my makeup running down my face. It was what finally woke me up to the reality of what was happening. I watched tentatively as the girl in the reflection raised a hand, placing it on him.
“No.” I muttered, lightly pushing at his bare chest, my stance growing more defensive. His strong arms planted themselves on either side of me, a growl thundering through the near silent forest.
“What was that?” His eyes flashed. There was a dangerous undertone to his words, yet I wouldn’t yield.
“No.” I shoved him again, my words louder and more certain this time. They rung through the forest, a few animals scurrying around at the disruption. I could see the muscles in his body tense, his jaw clenching and unclenching. I flinch, and his gaze softens slightly. He drops his arms, taking a step back. We stand there silently for a while before he finally speaks.
“Why?” I stay silent. I didn’t imagine meeting my mate like this. I figured I’d run into his arms, immediately make love and 9 months later a mini us would pop out. Then maybe another and we’d live happily ever after. That’s how I imagined it. This was completely different. “Ella.” He pled, I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking everything out. My hands reached up to my ears, my arm pressed to my body as I slid down the tree trunk. My knees came up to my chest and I buried my head in my dress, sobbing silently. I hear leaves rustling and then the sound of someone sitting down next to me. He wraps an arm around me and I collapse into his chest. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry El. It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” My head snapped up, the wind making the tears that ran down my cheeks cold as ice.
“No. No it won’t be, but it will be better if you stay.” I paused, the wind picking up around me for a second time before I whispered the words that would bind us before any others. “Please don’t leave me, Wilhelm.”
“Never. I would never leave you, El.” His reply was firm, with no doubt. I nodded into his chest, calming. He rocked me back and forth slowly, to the rhythm of his heart beat which I could hear so clearly through my hair which was the only thing between my head and his chest. The wind went silent and my eyes grew heavy under the weight of all that had happened in the last 48 hours. The last thing I felt before I drifted off to sleep was the steady rocking of him carrying me towards his house. “Go to sleep, El. I won’t leave you.” His promise echoed through the night.
