“I’ve heard it’s just full of drama.” I state, still looking at him and he chuckles lightly.
“It can be, but it’s also a good way to blow off some steam.”
“Have you ever gone?” I ask and he nods. “Only as supervision, never as an attendee.”
“Why? You haven’t found your mate yet.” I question and he shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t have a specific answer for that, but it just never appealed to me to attend before.”
“I still don’t know.” I trail off, but Nate grasps my hand, tugging me ever so gently towards the door. “C’mon, you can talk to Tobias about it, he’s gone multiple years. Are you good?” He asks and I nod.
As we head over to the door, I can’t help but ask, “Really? He’s gone multiple times?” Nate nods as he chuckles again before opening the door and we walk out together back into the living area to where Tobias, Kane and Evie are sitting and talking.
They stop chatting and turn to us as they see us emerge from my room, and I can’t help but blush since there is no way I can hide that there’s something going on between Nate and I anymore from the three of them, although I’m sure Tobias already knew.
The smile I get from Evie makes me feel warm inside as Nate and I sit down, joining them.
“Ivy is torn on attending the retreat.” Nate says after a short moment of silence, and looks over at Tobias, who clears his throat and looks at me.
“Honestly, Ivy. It’s one of those things that turns out entirely how you make it to be. Some have gone to cause drama; some go to have fun with no strings attached and some go just to get away from the fact that they haven’t found their mate yet.”
“You should go.” Kane says, turning to face me. “You’ve gone through enough. Screw Cole. Live your life.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll go.” I say before turning my head to face Nate, poking a finger on his chest. “But only if you do. I need someone I know there.”
I see Nate smirk as he outstretches his hands and rolls his neck. “I guess it’s settled then. We’re going. Time to pack.”
I look at him puzzled. “Pack? You mean now?” He nods as he gets up from beside me on the couch. “Everyone who is attending is leaving tonight by town car to the airport.”
“Oh crap. I’ll have to get my stuff together then.” I say, standing. I go to head back to my room, but Evie stops me as everyone else disperses.
“You sure you’re okay?” She asks and I nod. “I’ll manage. I always have. Just some days are harder than others.”
“I know. Nate seems to be helping you quite a bit and I blush. “I can’t deny that, but I feel like I’m using him.” Evie shakes her head. “Don’t think like that. It’s good you have a sounding board and another person in your corner.”
“I guess.”
“I hope you have a wonderful time at the retreat. Kane and I will see you when you get back.” I smile and hug her, and she whispers into my ear, “If you don’t jump that Alpha King of ours, I swear I’ll hurt you.”
I back away from her my mouth wide open in shock and she winks before walking away.
That bitch!
I roll my eyes and head back into my room after saying goodbye to Kane and Tobias as well and pack all my belongings into my suitcase once again, noticing how everything has already been neatly washed and folded already. I guess someone did laundry while I was here.
I pull out some comfortable clothes, some black leggings and a purple t-shirt and my white pullover hoodie and place them onto the bed when I hear a slight creak of my door.
I stand completely still as I know it must be Nate since everyone else had left us for the evening. My guess is confirmed when I feel him come up behind me, wrapping his arms around my tiny frame and pulling me back into him. His damp hair tickles my neck as he trails kisses from my neck to my shoulder, clearly having just freshly showered.
I shiver as he whispers into my ear, “Need help getting that dress off?” I nod, not saying a word, and bite my lip as his hands trails down my exposed back to where the clasp and zipper sit at my lower back. I feel the change in pressure as he undoes the clasp and zipper, and he turns me to face him.
I can’t hide the redness in my face as he stares at me so intensely.
“Lift your arms up in front of you.” He says lowly, his husky tone making me shiver.
He’s commanding me.
I do as he asks, and he tugs lightly on the sleeves of my dress, slowly inching each of them off my arms, letting them hang loosely. He then reaches up behind my neck where the last clasp is and once it’s undone, the top of my dress falls, exposing the black lace bra I’m wearing and I hear a low growl come from him as his hands go lower, pulling my skirt off my legs, leaving me in just my stockings, underwear, and bra.
He leans his forehead into mine, closing his eyes. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I say softly, and he smiles. “Good thing. You keep me on my toes.”
“Should I also mention that you’re going to be the death of me?” I say and he raises his head to look at me directly. “Why do you say that?”
“Have you seen yourself?” I say bewildered and he laughs out loud.
“I guess we’re going to be the death of each other then.” He leans down and kisses me softly, and I wrap my arms around his neck as he lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. He sits me down on the edge of the bed and grabs my shirt and pulls it over my head, same with my sweater.
He then grabs my leggings and gets them over my feet, pulling them up as far as he can while I’m sitting, my face bright red with how close he is to me.
It’s been ages since anyone has touched me and he’s driving me insane. This is so embarrassing!
I stand and pull my leggings up the rest of the way and he places my hand in his and leads me back out of the room, carrying my bag.
“We’re taking my private jet to the island for the retreat.”
“Excuse me? Did you say your jet?” I say in astonishment, and he nods. “I don’t get to use it often so I figured we could tonight. Sound okay?”
I nod and smile. “Yeah of course it does!”
We continue to walk out, and I can’t help but let the giddy feeling wash over me completely.
Ivy’s POV
I gasp as the island comes into view from the window of the jet and I hear Nate chuckle lightly.
“Does your family own this?” I ask and he nods. “Yeah, it’s our personal vacationing spot, and where we hold the retreat after the mating balls each year. There’s a full town here with locals that have lived here most of their lives, but also staff that my parents hired to maintain the mansion grounds.”
“There’s another mansion here?”
He nods as he makes his way over to me, leaning over me in my seat and pointing out the window, his body dangerously close to mine. “It’s at the most northern part of the island, up and away from the main town, Eswall.”
I gaze out the window where he’s pointing, and I can see a large mansion off in the distance. “Is that where everyone is staying?”
“Yeah. The mansion itself has over 30 residential rooms, plus multiple other areas, including game rooms, and a full theatre room.”
“No wonder you use it for the retreats, it sounds massive.”
“There’s also a local nightclub and restaurants in Eswall that provide other types of entertainment and things to do, but yeah it’s a decent little spot for people to unwind.”
It’s then that the private stewardess comes out from the front of the jet and informs Nate and I that we will be landing soon and that we should sit and put our seatbelts on. We do, and soon enough the jerk of the jet’s landing gear hitting the landing strip at the local airport makes reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
I’m on an island with the Alpha King.
Nathaniel’s POV
The excitement I felt when Ivy agreed to come on the retreat was hard to contain, to say the least. I feel like her and I have made so much progress. She’s opened up to me, and I to her, aside from the giant secret of her being my mate which I haven’t revealed yet, for personal reasons.
Tobias warned me that I should tell her sooner than later, but honestly something is holding me back. I’m not sure if it’s the potential of her rejecting me or my title; as well as hers and our responsibilities as a royal mated pair, or if it’s just plain fear of having a mate. I always thought I would be alone, but that’s clearly not the case and to be honest it’s taken some getting used to.
I keep looking for her, wanting to be near her. Brushing up against her gently, being in her proximity. Kiba seems to be much calmer and at peace since we found her, and it’s given me a new sense of clarity. I know I’m selfish for not telling her and basking in all of this on my own, but I just can’t bring myself to tell her yet. This whole situation that seems to be arising concerning her and her safety is also a major factor in not revealing who she is to me. She’s already under some sort of threat and revealing to the whole werewolf world that she’s my mate may put her in even more danger.