Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
“My wolf told me she is a born luna because she came into creation after being marked.” Freja squeezed his hand lightly.
“I don’t know about any of this. This is a lot, and it’s all very overwhelming.
I think I just need some time to sort through all of this.
I haven’t lived with others since I was a child.
” Her eyes lifted up to Hunter’s. “I’m not leaving.
But I need some time. I need to figure me out. ”
Hunter smiled and continued to hold onto her hand.
Just touching her made his heart beat faster.
“Take your time. I’m here, and I’ll help if I can.
I’m still working on myself, too. This is all new to me.
I only just recently became the Alpha King, and I’m still figuring that out.
” He lifted her hand up to his lips and gazed into her eyes, pausing for a moment to see if she would object.
When she didn’t, he lightly pressed them onto her hand.
She felt the jolts of electricity ripple through her in strong currents, as if lightning had struck her very soul.
The magnetic pull between them was intense, an irresistible force drawing them together.
No wonder he was having a hard time fighting it.
She was also struggling, wanting more. He gently lowered her hand but kept it nestled in his, a simple gesture that brought a sense of warmth and connection.
Her skin tingled with anticipation at his touch, a paradox of sensations that both drove her to the brink of madness and enveloped her in a soothing calm.
She observed as a gentle, almost shy smile graced his lips, directed solely at her.
That small, yet profound gesture filled her heart with happiness.
He was smiling for her, because of her, and it was as if her heart, dormant for so long, was finding its rhythm once again, learning to navigate the world once more.
Hunter's voice flowed easily as he began to talk about his life.
She appreciated what he was doing. He wanted her to know more about him and who he was.
Encouraged by his honesty, she also opened up, sharing stories of her past. She spoke of her parents, the demons that had taken them away, and the coven that had cursed her, weaving a tapestry of her dark life and existence.
She wanted him to see her true self, a rose with thorns. To her surprise, he seemed unfazed. If anything, he seemed more captivated by her. His thumb traced gentle patterns on her hand, a silent reassurance that he was with her, listening and accepting all that she was.
“You know, Freja … we can mindlink now. Since you’re also a werewolf, you can link with the pack.
And … when you allow me to, I can accept you as my fairy mate.
This will allow you to link with Jin and Chasen, too.
Of course, me taking a mate is different from my sister.
Her mate will become the first fairy prince and future king of the fairies.
Me accepting you doesn’t make you a fairy princess, but you will still be granted the link to my guardians.
However, you are my luna, and the Queen of the Werewolves. ” Hunter watched her nod her head.
“Yes, Ember did mention that last part to me already. Honestly, it’s a lot. I’m not sure if I’m meant to be someone in a position to lead others. I mean, I’ve been avoiding others.” She smiled wryly, but Hunter gazed at her lovingly and continued to rub her hand in his.
“You are meant for this. You’re my mate.
You’re the one who is meant to be by my side.
The person who is going to fill this void I have inside of me.
You’ll fill mine and I’ll fill yours.” Hunter’s eyes changed slightly as his gaze trailed down to her lips.
He wanted to taste them. He let them linger there for another moment before he returned his gaze to her eyes.
At her pace this time, not his. He would wait for her.
What was it with this family? Both Reiya and Hunter accepted her regardless of who she was and what she’d done.
Did she deserve their benevolence? She had to admit it …
Hunter seemed very nice, regardless of the fact that he’d forced his mark on her.
It didn’t seem like that was really in his nature.
Hunter has explained his whole life to her, including being betrayed by his first mate.
Maybe that devastation was what made his wolf more aggressive about marking her.
He was afraid of losing her, so he didn’t give her the chance to reject him.
But would she have? Because she’d just assumed he was going to reject her, she hadn’t thought about what she actually wanted.
She looked at their hands locked together.
The gentle warmth that flowed between them filled an emptiness inside her.
It scared her, too. What if she lost his light?
What if his energy disappeared? It was already too late.
She was dependent on him, and she knew that if something happened to him, she would be devastated, and that scared her.
At the same time, did she dare accept this completely?
She would hold off marking him for now, but it was probably alright to get closer to him, right?
How else would she really know what she wanted?
Maybe it was her, or maybe it was the mate pull, but she gently tugged on his hand, guiding him toward her.
She watched as he stood and sat on the bed next to her, his stormy eyes glued to hers as he waited.
Her green emeralds studied his face. She squeezed his hand and then leaned her forehead into his chest. He released her hand, placing both his arms around her.
She soaked in his warm embrace. Hugs, particularly his hug, was feeling less foreign to her.
Less foreign and more desired. She breathed in his scent and felt her body ease.
The tension she was holding onto left her as she felt herself being washed with a sense of security.
Okay … if she was going to have a mate, then she guessed being mated to the Werewolf King was probably one of the best options out there for her.
“Hunter, are you sure? Are you sure you want me?” Freja whispered into his chest. How was she good enough for him? She felt his grip tighten around her as he drew her deeper into his embrace.
“You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Freja. Am I sure?
Baby, I’m so sure that it scares me. I need you.
Can’t you feel it? More than the mate bond.
Can’t you sense this between us? It never made sense to me.
The reason I suffered with my first mate.
It does now, though. I was betrayed in order to meet you, my true mate.
Knowing an ounce of the pain of betrayal and loneliness helps bring me closer to you.
Helps me understand you. This was all planned out, and I’m so thankful now that I was given you. ”
How could he say all the right things to make her melt in his arms? She was a fierce demon huntress. But in his arms, she felt like just a girl being taken care of and protected.
The power that flowed from him and around her set her at ease.
She smiled as she rested on his chest and smelled his scent.
He did make sense to her. She felt an odd sense of comfort being next to him, like the troubles of the world no longer existed.
The problem now was with this mating bond.
A tale as old as time … a self-preservation method to keep the gene pool flowing.
The bond was there to link a couple together for the purpose of strength and continuing on.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want Hunter, but she needed to sort some things out first. Maybe she only needed a few hours?
Maybe days? Maybe weeks? She didn’t know.
But she didn’t want to mark him back yet.
She lifted her head and looked into the set of eyes that could see into her soul. His perfect, stormy eyes were mesmerizing. She reached up and gently rested her hand on his face.
“Hunter. I’m here. I’m going to figure things out with me and see if I can be someone who can lead by your side.
Likewise, take this time to figure yourself out.
” She felt her fingertips tingling and she let out a soft chuckle.
“This mate bond is really strong on my end. Is it this strong for you? Or is it because I’ve been marked and have two species inside of me claiming you as my mate? ”
Hunter smiled and leaned his cheek into her hand.
He brushed her palm with his lips while staring into her green pools.
“It’s strong for me as well. It was strong before I marked you, and it’s even stronger now.
But I’m glad you’re feeling this too. I’m going to try my best to control it, but you may have to use some of your new tribrid strength on me if I can’t. ” He gave her a wry grin.
“You really marked me too soon. You have no clue what kind of person I am. What if I can’t be who you need me to be?” Freja was afraid he had some unrealistic expectations for her. She would never be the doting little woman who tied an apron around her waist and baked cookies.