Chapter 9: Chapter 9

NOAH

I was taken aback by how easily she accepted the werewolf revelation. I knew her interest in folklore might help, but I hadn’t expected such swift acceptance. Still, I knew we had a long way to go.

She was far from trusting me, and I was scared that revealing the mate bond might push her over the edge. She might believe in magic, but she was also a logical thinker. That much was clear.

Her interest in the supernatural was driven by a need to understand an inexplicable event in her life. The mate bond defied logic, and I wasn’t sure how she’d react to it.

“Noah, just tell me.” She sighed, clearly annoyed.

I couldn’t help but smile at her impatience and the way she said my name.

What gave me hope was the strength of our connection, despite her being human. When Sawyer mind-linked me that Evie was feeling my pain, I was both terrified and amazed.

“What do your studies say about soulmates?” I asked, trying to approach the topic logically to put her at ease.

She gave me a strange look but answered anyway.

“Different cultures have their own versions of soulmates. Generally, they’re two people who are meant to be together. Their souls were split at birth and they’re destined to spend their lives searching for each other.”

Her response was textbook-like, and I felt a surge of pride for my scholarly mate.

“Werewolves believe in soulmates too,” I started, watching the gears turn in Evie’s mind. “But we don’t see it as a curse. To us, mates are a precious gift from the Moon Goddess.”

Evie cut me off. “The Moon Goddess?”

“She’s the one who created werewolves, and she decides who gets a mate. Not every werewolf is granted a mate, and even those who are don’t always find them. It’s a great honor to find your mate. We believe that a mate is our other half, our missing piece. Werewolves don’t believe in dating or marriage; we believe in mates.”

I paused to see if she had any questions or if she was feeling overwhelmed. She just stared at me, silent and still, so I continued.

“Werewolves have heightened senses, so we find our mates by their scent. Their mate will have a unique smell that drives the other person wild.”

I could tell I lost her a bit with the scent thing.

“So, you smell something nice and then decide to spend the rest of your life with that smell?” She looked at me like I was insane.

I had to make her understand the sanctity of the bond. “It’s more than just a scent, Evie. It’s a physical, emotional, and mental reaction. When mates are near each other, they feel safe and warm and calm. They feel each other’s emotions, so they can feel if their mate is in pain or happy or sad. When they touch, it’s like fireworks explode over their entire body. When we aren’t with our mates, we feel actual, physical pain and anxiety.”

I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my voice steady.

Evie remained silent, and I could tell that I had her attention, so I continued. “Male wolves feel possessive over their mates. They believe that the only safe place in the world for her is in their arms. When a wolf meets his mate, all of his other priorities become secondary; it’s only her. She’s the most important thing in his life, and he’ll do anything, be anything for her. Meeting your mate is like coming home.”

I laid my heart bare, hoping she could feel the truth and the passion in my words and praying that it was enough to convince her.

She just kept blinking at me, saying nothing. I wanted her to say something, anything, so that I knew she was still with me.

“Everleigh?” I asked softly.

“We’re mates, that’s what you’re saying?” she whispered.

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying,” I replied, watching her reaction closely.

“That’s what you meant earlier, when you said that you could feel the sparks, too.” She was starting to connect the dots.

“Yes, that’s what we call the mate bond. You’re not a wolf, so I can’t be sure what you’re feeling or what you’ll feel in the future,” I confessed.

“And the pain I felt earlier?”

She continued speaking, and I wasn’t certain if she was addressing me. Regardless, I responded. “That was a surprise. Even among werewolves, it’s unusual to feel things that intensely.”

“And when you say you struggle to control yourself around me…” She looked up at me, waiting for my answer.

“Everleigh, you drive me crazy. Everything about you is irresistible. Being away from you, not being able to touch you—it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But if it makes you more comfortable, I’ll keep doing it. I’d do anything for you.”

It felt good to be honest with her, even if I couldn’t hold her or be with her the way I wanted to—not yet.

“I can’t think straight when you’re around,” she confessed, and I couldn’t help but grin at the thought of her being affected by me too. Remi, my wolf, howled in approval inside my head.

“I don’t usually act like this around strangers. I couldn’t understand why I was feeling this way.”

“It’s the mate bond encouraging you to trust us,” I replied, unable to hide my joy.

“Us?” she questioned, her eyes meeting mine again.

“Me and my wolf.”

That seemed to scare her.

“What?” She instinctively moved away from me, and it felt like she’d torn my heart out with that single action.

“It’s okay, Evie. You’re safe with both of us,” I tried to soothe her.

“Explain it to me,” she demanded.

“My wolf and I coexist. He’s always there, in the back of my mind, talking to me. He has his own personality, his own name, but he’s more animalistic. I’m usually in control, but sometimes he pushes his way to the front. Like when I saw Sawyer touching you, my wolf was the one who attacked him.”

She looked more bewildered than she had all day.

“Your wolf took control and attacked Sawyer?” she echoed, but I could tell she didn’t really believe me.

“He’s driven by pure animal instincts. A male was touching his mate, and that made him angry. It didn’t matter that it was someone we trusted. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either, so I didn’t resist when he took over,” I tried to explain.

“That’s why you all kept saying that fighting was so normal,” she mumbled.

“I can control him, though, and he would never hurt you.” I pleaded with her not to be scared of us, while Remi whimpered inside my head.

“You said he has his own name?” Remi and I perked up at her question.

~“Mate’s interested in me!” Remi barked in my head.~

“Yes, his name is Remi. You know when my eyes turn black?” I asked, and she nodded.

“That’s Remi coming forward.”

I could tell she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of a wolf living inside my head. I had thought the mate bond would be the most unsettling thing for her, but I was wrong.

“This is a lot, Noah,” she finally said, and I could tell she was nearing her limit.

“I know it is. What can I do to make it easier? I’ll do anything,” I asked her gently.

“I just need some time to think.”

That was the last thing I wanted to hear, but I would do it for her. She stood up from the couch, and I started to panic.

“You’re leaving?” I’ll admit, my voice sounded desperate, but I didn’t care.

“It’s safe out there now, right?” she asked, glancing toward the back of the house where she last saw the wolves.

“Yes, it’s safe.” I would set the forest on fire if it meant keeping Evie safe.

“I need to take some time to think,” she repeated, heading toward the door.

She paused in the kitchen.

“You said male wolves are possessive.” I nodded. “Does that mean that you think you own me?”

I could tell she was trying hard not to spit the words at me.

“No, not at all, quite the opposite actually.” I chuckled at her. “Evie, when I say I’m possessive, I mean it in the sense that I’m insanely jealous of anyone who gets close to you. I’m also fiercely protective of your safety. The thought of you going to the grocery store alone makes me anxious until you’re safely back in my arms. I’d follow you anywhere.”

I tried to explain to her that the mate bond wasn’t about ownership. But I knew how it might look from an outsider’s perspective.

“Sounds like babysitting to me,” she retorted, crossing her arms over her chest.

I noticed that she did that whenever she felt vulnerable. It was her way of putting up a shield.

“I get why you’d think that. I won’t deny that the idea of having a wolf trailing behind you everywhere has crossed my mind,” I admitted.

“That’s not happening,” she declared.

“I know. I’m ready to meet you halfway to make you happy. We have a lot to figure out. This is uncharted territory for me too.”

Her face softened, and her arms fell to her sides.

“You’re willing to compromise?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Absolutely, love. Anything for you.”

The term of endearment slipped out before I could stop it. I saw her eyes widen and mentally kicked myself. I had been doing so well at keeping my feelings in check. Now, all I could do was wait for her response.

“Do you have a phone?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Uh, yeah?” I replied, taken aback.

“I can text you when I get home. That way, you’ll know I’m safe,” she suggested, handing me her phone.

I stared at her in disbelief. “You’d do that for me?”

“I can compromise too,” she retorted, her tone challenging.

I chuckled and entered my number into her contacts. “Thank you,” I said, handing her phone back.

Our fingers brushed as she took her phone back. A shiver ran up my arm and down my spine. From the look in her beautiful blue eyes, I could tell she felt it too. She quickly pulled her hand back.

“That’s so strange,” she murmured, reaching for the door.

“There’s no door,” she stated, waving her hand where the door handle should be.

“That’s my doing,” I confessed, grinning.

She shook her head at me, but I saw the hint of a smile on her lips.

“Can I walk you to your car?” I asked, following her.

“Sure,” she agreed, and we walked in silence to her car.

I opened the door for her and waved as she drove away.

“She’s ~leaving~?” Sawyer came running up to me, flailing his arms around.

“She’s going home,” I clarified.

“Like, forever?” he asked, pouting.

“No, just for now,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “She needs time to think and process everything.”

“How did she take it?” Sawyer asked.

“Like a luna,” I replied, beaming with pride.