4. Rand
Four
Rand
I feel it the instant she relaxes.
Not just physically.
Emotionally.
Something inside my mate settles.
Like she'd been standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to decide whether to jump.
And finally, she makes one tiny move towards me.
My Wolf preens.
See?
Mate likes us.
I scoff inside.
Easy.
Don't scare her.
Humans don't meet the love of their lives at six o’clock and understand it by six fifteen.
Hell, if someone had told me yesterday I'd be sitting on a moonlit beach beside my fated mate, I'd have laughed them out of my shop.
While she's gathering her thoughts, I look down at the saddlebag I brought with me.
I pull out an old quilt I keep tucked inside for late-night rides.
Spread it over the sand.
Then, I grab a bottle of water.
And finally—my emergency chocolate bar.
The one I'd been hiding from myself all week.
But hey, priorities change.
I glance over my shoulder.
She's watching me with that curious little smile.
“What?”
“You came prepared.”
“I ride a motorcycle.”
“So?”
“So you learn to keep snacks.”
She laughs.
“I like your survival instincts.”
“My Wolf insists.”
The words slip out before I can stop them.
Her brows knit together.
“Your wolf? What is that some kind of biker slang?”
I clear my throat.
“Uh, yeah, a figure of speech.”
Smooth, Jameson.
Real smooth.
I make a mental note to stop talking like I’m an actual Werewolf.
Probably good advice.
I walk back and offer her my hand.
“Come on.”
She slips her fingers into mine.
Again.
That warm little spark races through me.
I help her sit on the blanket before lowering myself beside her.
The ocean rolls in and out a few yards away.
The summer breeze carries salt and sunscreen and the distant scent of funnel cake from the boardwalk.
Maccon City has never looked prettier.
Mostly because she's in it.
“Ooh, so back to those treats.”
She beams when she spots the chocolate.
“You like chocolate?” I ask.
She gives me a look.
“Obviously.”
I frown.
She bursts out laughing.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“You are so serious right now.”
“That's one, Honey.”
She laughs even harder.
“One what?”
“One thing I've learned about you, for starters.”
She tilts her head.
“And?”
“You tease when you're comfortable.”
She blinks.
“Do I?”
“You do.”
She smiles.
“I guess I do. Must mean I’m comfortable.”
I hand her the candy. She opens it and breaks the chocolate bar in half.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
She shrugs her shoulders, causing one sleeve to slide down—and seeing all that smooth skin?
Jesus. Christ.
I feel like a teenager with his first girl.
“I’m sharing.”
Before I can protest, she holds out a piece.
“Here.”
I lean forward.
Take a bite.
Her fingertips brush my tongue.
Sweet Mother Moon.
Every instinct I possess surges awake.
A low rumble escapes my chest before I can stop it.
Her eyes widen.
“Was that you?”
“That's two,” I mutter.
“What?”
“Things you've learned about me.”
“What did I just learn?”
“That I'm losing the battle to behave.”
Her cheeks flush.
Instead of pulling away, she smiles.
Then she lifts her own piece of chocolate.
Takes a bite.
Slowly.
The warm summer air has softened it just enough that a tiny smear melts against the corner of her mouth.
My Wolf goes utterly silent.
Not because he's calm.
Because he's focused.
Mate.
Mine.
I stare at the little streak of chocolate.
Then at her whiskey-colored eyes.
She's watching me.
Waiting.
I lean closer.
“Tell me to stop, Honey.”
The words come out rough.
Barely louder than the waves.
Her breathing catches.
Those beautiful eyes dance with equal parts curiosity and mischief.
“I don't want you to.”
That is all I need.
I close the distance carefully.
Giving her every chance to change her mind.
She doesn't.
Our lips meet.
Softly.
Tentatively.
Like we're both discovering something we've waited our entire lives to find.
The world disappears.
The waves.
The boardwalk.
The motorcycles roaring down the avenue.
Everything fades.
There is only her.
She tastes like chocolate and summer.
Like hope.
Like every lonely year of my life has finally found its purpose.
She sighs against my mouth, and my heart nearly gives out.
My mate.
I have imagined this kiss more times than I can count.
Never her face though.
And never her smile.
But I have imagined this feeling—and the reality?
It’s better than my imagination.
It’s like coming home.
When we finally part, I rest my forehead against hers.
Neither of us speaks for a long moment.
I could kiss her again.
I desperately want to.
Every instinct inside me is urging me closer.
Claim her.
Keep her.
Never let her out of my sight.
But she isn't a Werewolf.
She doesn't understand why my heart is beating like it wants to leap from my chest.
Why every cell in my body is celebrating.
To her, I'm just a biker she met less than an hour ago.
To me, she’s forever.
And I know it’s too fast for her.
Way too fast.
I'll frighten her if I tell her now.
My Wolf huffs in annoyance.
But he's right.
I was born to love this woman.
Now I have to earn the right.
I smile to myself.
Forty-two years of waiting, but I can be patient a little longer.
If that's what it takes to convince Daria Woods that she isn't just the woman of my dreams—she's my destiny.