TESSA’S POV
I was sweating all over when we got home.
Without a word, I proceeded into my room, and walked into the restroom to wash my face, in high hopes that the cold tap water could erase the unwanted feeling going through me.
My breathing was ragged as I splashed the cold water on to my face. I stared blankly at my reflection in the small mirror in front of me, trying to steady my breathing and convincing myself that everything would be fine, sooner or later.
I could hardly figure out why my situation had gotten worse. Two mates in one night… Fate must have found the fun in me again. Or the universe must have held a grudge against me because one night I became the most despised werewolf in this pack.
I grinned, trying to ignore the ache inside my chest. To say I was ashamed of what had happened would be an understatement; rather, I had felt great mortification in the red oak mountain.
Considering how the Alpha and Luna intervened in the situation, I don’t think I still have the strength to face them again after this night… in fact, I am not sure if I could still face any after this mess of an event that I experienced.
A knock on the door ripped my thoughts apart. I spun around and noticed my aunt leaning against the doorframe, watching me carefully.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I want to make sure you’re fine.” She sounded concerned. Aunt Alice may have appeared cold due to her vampire blood, but she was a loving family member who protected me as much as she could tonight, and I appreciated her.
I took a deep breath, and forced myself to smile. “I’m fine now that we’re home.”
“I know you are blaming yourself. I can read your mind,” she said calmly.
My shoulders sagged the moment I sighed in defeat. Aunt Alice walked toward me and held my arms. “It’s not your fault that the Moon Goddess found you so beautiful and gave you two hot mates.”
I smiled a bit because of her effort in making me smile. “Yeah, and she put me into this trouble that I’m not even sure how I can possibly resolve.”
“It’s going to be okay soon, my love.” Aunt Alice gently stroked my hair. “The Highest Priestess is correct. When the right time comes, you will be able to choose between Atlas and Cohen. Whoever you choose, we’re going to respect it.”
I winced. Remembering the grim expressions of the Alpha and Luna, I’m not sure if I would ever earn their respect. It’s not that I wanted Atlas to be my mate, as if I were to choose, I’d much prefer Cohen to him. However, it wasn’t me who had the power to decide. It was the Moon Goddess, and all I could hope for was that she’d spare me some relief when the time came.
“I see that you want Cohen to be your mate,” Aunt Alice stated.
I nodded in response. The familiar gorgeous face of the future Beta flashed on my mind, and I could not help but smile.
“You like him…” Aunt said.
“Probably, but…” I bit my lower lip and shut my eyes in frustration. “There’s Atlas, who’s claiming that I am his mate too. I can’t easily ignore him.”
Auntie nodded and offered me a smile. “I understand. It’s hard to reject one of them knowing that you haven’t felt the mate bond yet. Making an abrupt decision will only lead you into trouble.”
“I wish this would be over soon…” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“It will be, my love. For now, don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”
All of a sudden, I could smell the familiar earthy scent of someone. It lingered in my nostrils, making me look out the door. My aunt even noticed the scent.
“Alice, Tessa!” It was Uncle Harry who called us.
We both walked to where Uncle was, and I was surprised to see Atlas standing in the living room with his arms crossed.
“Atlas? What are you doing here?” Aunt Alice asked him worriedly, and then she looked out the window, probably to see if anyone had followed the future Alpha. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m here to speak with Tessa,” Atlas responded in his deep, cold voice.
His eyes focused on me, and I instantly shivered as to how he stared at me with such intensity. It must be the mate bond pull… because the last time we met in the alley I walked from, his stare nearly killed me.
“This isn’t the right moment for you to do that. Give my niece plenty of time to process this out,” Aunt Alice huffed in frustration. “Please leave right now.”
“I won’t leave until I get to speak with my mate, Alice,” Atlas said with a low growl.
I could hear my aunt sighing out loud before turning her gaze at me. In fact, they were all looking at me, making my heart beat faster again, as I was not used to such attention.
“It will only take a few minutes. After that, I’ll leave.”
“Fine,” I replied softly.
“Alice,” Uncle called my aunt.
Seconds later, they both left us here in the living room so we could talk. However, silence only engulfed us. I could not even make any movement. The atmosphere was so awkward and overwhelming for me.
There wasn’t much to talk about either… I wondered what brought him here…
His sudden movement made me gasp. He walked towards me, and my breath hitched the moment he stood in front of me, looking down on my soul with such intense emotions in his marble gray eyes.
“How are you?” he asked, and that made me swallow.
“Y-You came here to ask me that?” I asked, frowning.
He breathed hard, as if he was trying to control something within him, as if something ached within him. Could it be the mate bond pull?
“I’m sorry about how my parents reacted.” He licked his bottom lip, and I could have sworn that my cheeks flushed watching him do that, and I gulped. “It’s rare for a werewolf to have two mates.”
I didn’t understand why he was telling me this… Any hint of ruthlessness had gone from his face. Sure, he still sported a cold expression, but it wasn’t that hard and hateful. My heart raced so fast when he reached for my hand. He inhaled so forcefully that I could see veins forming on his neck, his jaw clenching as he maintained control over something powerful within him.
“Tell me what you feel,” he said, and then he grunted. “Don’t you really feel it?”
I shook my head and breathed heavily. “No,” then I answered firmly. “Your mere touch does not make me crazy, Atlas. I… I feel nothing.”
“I will make you,” Atlas said. “I will make you feel it, and when it happens, I swear I’m going to mark you as mine. Claim you forever.”
My lips parted at his unexpected statement. I swallowed, looking at his pair of marble gray orbs that felt like sealing his promise. I could feel my gut twisting, but I couldn’t look away from him.
For some unknown reason, his stare… it made me feel something…
What was he doing to me?
“I will wait until you feel it, Tessa,” he continued, and then caressed my knuckles with his calloused, rough fingers.
“What if it’s going to be Cohen?”
I didn’t know where my bravery came from, but I sure saw the pain that crossed his eyes for a split second. His eyes gleamed, telling me he didn’t like my question.
“It’s early for you to assume.”
“There’s a possibility that when my wolf awakens, I’ll feel the mate bond on him, not on you, Atlas…”
He smirked before he bit his bottom lip.
“Then you can reject me when that happens,” he said, and swallowed. “But it shouldn’t be right now.”
Trembling, all I did was nod my head. Sure, I’m not going to reject him right now. It would be unfair to him if I did so. The only best thing we could do was to wait and hope that my wolf would really awaken… even though I wasn’t sure if I could really face the reality after that.
My mouth dropped when I felt something soft. It was Atlas, who then leaned down to press his lips against my forehead, making me stunned for a brief moment.
“As we wait, I’ll prove my worth…” he said before letting go of my hand. “Good night, Tessa.”