I feel so giddy. Domenico has asked me to dine with him. After telling his pack about me, he hasn't really left my side. He constantly observes me without saying anything unless it's a question about my life. I have covered everything about my short life, and he seems to be soaking it in. Not just soaking it in, actually, but intrigued. But it is confusing to me since I have only ever lived in one place. I haven't seen very much of the world, and since I am so young, life is a challenge. Compared to me, he is sophisticated and cultured. But I am still excited to spend time with him. The Oracle, Alessia, and Giulia have gone to great lengths to get me a summer dress from the city. So for the first time since telling his pack, I am his mate, Domenico isn't by my side. My two bodyguards are. "Yellow is a good color for your skin," Giulia says while looking like a fashion credit. She has circled me twice while holding her chin, and my nerves are shot. They won't let me see wh
DOMENICO POV "I am sorry I walk slow," she whispers, and my heart aches inside my chest. She sounds sad, and that kills me. She is human, and while I wish she weren't, she can not change it. She isn't slow for a human. She is only slow compared to me. We are nothing alike...and I still find her to be perfect. "All humans are slow. I am only worried about your pace currently because the sun sets soon," I reply after pushing down my sorrow, and she looks up at me cautiously, making me look at her. She quickly looks back down at her feet like a frightened deer. I look away to ease her discomfort, but her heartbeat quickens even more. "Why do they teach us to call you beasts? I mean, it's clear that offends you. Have you addressed it," she asks, and my self-control leaves me. I scoff at how naive she truly is. Does she believe that because something offends me, the humans will alter their decisions? The humans do things to offend us purposefully. Jealousy is the true
The wooden floors creak as I slowly make my way to the dining hall. No matter how lightly I step or how much I try to distribute my weight the ancient wood is protesting each one of my movements. The house is completely silent except for my footsteps since most of the Lycans have either gone to bed or are out in the forest. I can only assume their Alpha told them to make themselves scarce. I know Domenico can hear me coming and that makes me even more nervous. I don't truly understand why because it's not like I haven't been on a date. I mean I lived with a man before. But this feels different...like it's the beginning of the rest of my life. I push open the dining room's beautiful original door and my mate looks in my direction instantly. His green eyes sweep over me so quickly that I almost miss them. "Yellow suits you," he whispers after a second and I blush before stepping further into the room. "Thank you. The girls said the same thing," I reply and he smirks befor
DOMENICO PRESENT I have never hated myself before this very second, but right now I could rip my beating heart out of my chest. I deserve death.I hurt my mate. I made her scream out in utter pain. I grabbed her breasts and hurt her for my own benefit. Our first sexual interaction and I destroyed it. Lust caused me to mistreat the woman made just for me. I did not take into account her human frame and I put her in danger with my carelessness. Crashes come from upstairs and my mate's guards come barging into the dining room looking for the danger. Giulia and Alessia both take in our position for only a second before focusing on me. Confusion is clear on their faces. My mate shouldn't be screaming especially while sitting on my lap. "Take her. Make sure I didn't hurt her too badly," I whisper and their eyes widen into saucers as they realize I am the reason Taylor screamed. Alessia moves forward and tries to scoop Taylor from my lap, but Taylor's sharp voice halts her in her s
I pick at my food while sending him small glances. Each look makes me feel worse about my scream. He looks utterly miserable. My chest still hurts from his enthusiastic grab, but I still feel awful for him. He didn't mean to hurt me and it's consumed our entire date."I feel uncomfortable with you just sitting there. Please say something or eat something. Can we just forget the breast thing happened," I beg and the guilt in his eyes grows exponentially. I bite my bottom lip and try to keep myself in my seat. I want to hug him and kiss his sadness away. My weak attempt at fixing the evening made him look so much worse."I am sorry. I will eat the dish with the deer if it will settle your nerves. Feel free to ask me questions," he announces sounding confident and I smile triumphantly. I know he isn't over hurting me, but at least he is going to try and move on with our evening. The pain in his eyes isn't as bad now. He looks determined to move on.I rattle my brain quickly and b
TAYLOR POV The tension emanating from the Lycans is stifling. No one is smiling or talking to one another as they stand ready to leave the ruins. They seem reserved and worried about what is to come. Domenico and I haven't spoken since our awkward dinner, but I have been around him as he has ordered the main soldiers of his pack to get their things ready. When the Oracle told everyone about Alpha Ulf's pack many of the females cried. The males had been solemn but I could tell they were weeping on the inside. When their grieving subsided a little Domenico had listed off everyone he would be taking with him to go help the remaining members of the other pack. To my surprise, the list hadn't included the Oracle. She was staying with the remaining pack members here to protect the city and the young ones. When Domenico had mentioned I was going Giulia and Alessia looked shocked. "We have to reach a safe area before nightfall. We will be traveling at top speed. Your Luna is still
TAYLOR POV The rest of the night went smoothly after the three returned from killing the enemy and the area where the pack chose to rest didn't see a single thirsty one. Domenico and the pack seemed rather relaxed as we left the camp this morning. Domenico had even kissed me before feeding me some more fish that he had caught during his night shift. At first, I was embarrassed but then I saw two other females being fed by their mates and I calmed down... It really is how the males are toward their females. "Almost there," Domenico says after a few hours of medium-speed running, and I get a little anxious about meeting another pack. He glances at me as my heart rate picks up and I smile. "I'm a little nervous," I admit and he rolls his eyes before hugging me closer to him. "My mate. No need to be scared," he says brokenly, and I somehow relax as his words reassure me. After another mile of running Dom stops and sets me down. I straighten my clothes and then look in the
DOMENICO POV Ten thousand! I pray the male's number is an exaggeration. In all my years I have never seen a horde more than a thousand strong. Another wave of cripplying panic sets in as I picture that many mindless creatures attacking my Taylor. I look over at my mate, who is about ten feet away from me, and my heart clenches so hard I have to grab my chest. Her idea is a good one and I was able to locate the blueprint of the city in Ulf's cabinet, but I am still terrified. My vulnerable mate could be stripped away from me today. I blow out my mouth hard to try and ease the pain in my chest but it doesn't budge. I am taking 38 Lycans and one human to fight thousands of half-starved thirsty ones. "Your plan is a good one... Humans are very clever in general though," Angus says and pulling my attention in her direction again.Taylor looks at the unfamiliar face curiously. Alessia who is next to Taylor looks at him too. "What makes you say that," Taylor asks and Angus shru