Zara’s POV
A warm smile was forming on the corners of my lips as I lay in bed, stretching myself languidly between the sheets.
One of the most unforgettable evenings of my life was last night. The fact that it ended so quickly and early disappointed me a little because I had so much fun.
I let out a sigh as I turned to face my bedroom window; it was still dark outside and far too early to get up.
“I thought I heard you,” Levi said in a whisper as he looked into my room while holding two cups of coffee.
“Good morning!” I gave him a warm response and motioned for him to approach. I pushed myself to a sitting position so he could sit down. “You are up early.”
“I could not sleep,” he said, passing the coffee to me.
“What time is it?” I asked, knowing that Levi did not like getting up early.
“3:45 am,” he said, getting on the bed.
“That is way too early even for you,” I said, sipping my coffee.
Last night at around nine, Nic had an urgent matter to attend to, so Ronan took me home. I went to bed, but my thoughts about our date kept coming back. I ended up with only a couple of hours of sleep.
I let out a sigh as my thoughts strayed back to the previous evening.
We had so much fun that the muscles in my face and stomach still ache from all the laughter.
Once Nic and I had signed our contracts, we walked back down the path to the amusement area. It was difficult to choose which ride I wanted to go on next because there were so many to choose from.
A couple of Nic’s pack members were working on one of the larger stands, and that caught my attention.
“Is that?” I gasped when the green and purple neon lights came to life. It was the bumper car stand.
My heart began to race with excitement. It was among my favorites. I would be thrilled to have a ride.
“It is,” Nic stated, maintaining a composed and calm expression.
Ronan waved us closer as he saw us approaching.
“All set, Alpha,” he said with a somewhat excited and proud tone. “All we have to do is test the cars to make sure they are all in good operating order.”
Was that a hint?
Nic’s eyes were sparkling with excitement as he turned to face me.
Oh, that confirms it!
“Are you up for it?” he asked, with an eyebrow raised in mockery.
“Oh Goddess, yes!” I answered, unable to contain my excitement any longer.
Nic and I were sitting in our small bumper cars with a few of the pack members less than five minutes later.
“Are you ready?” We heard Ronan call.
“I was born ready,” I muttered, keeping my eyes on Nic.
Ronan received a nod from Nic.
“Go!” exclaimed Ronan.
I drove right into Nic without giving him a chance to move. His expression was so precious. He was so surprised by that!
I threw my head back and laughed, enjoying the look on his face.
“Is that how it’s going to be?” Nic flipped his car around, shouted over the music, and began to follow me.
Before long, Ronan joined in on the fun, and we joined forces to challenge Nic. We were acting like children.
“That…” Nic paused as we left the stand, searching for the right words. “That was something else. I actually had fun!”
“Me too,” I said, roping him with my arm. “Where are we going now?”
I was unable to stop staring at all the stunning light displays after we had passed some of the more outrageous rides.
Nic drew me over to the lovers’ channel and said, “Let us do something that will make this feel more like a date.”
“So this is a date?” I asked, teasingly raising my eyes to meet his.
“Something like that,” he said, opening the gate to the stall. “However, do not tell anyone.”
I rolled my eyes at him. I liked Nic’s playful side, which was growing more and more.
Nic helped me into a small two-person rowboat that would go down a small artificial river. Although the ride was not very long, it was quite intense and even romantic.
Nic looked a bit uncomfortable in the small boat, and I felt tiny against Nic’s huge frame. Nevertheless, he put his arm around me and pulled me in.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, planting a kiss on the top of my nose. “I missed you today.”
Nic’s closeness was affecting me, and soon I could not tell the difference between reality and Nic’s honey and vanilla scent.
Nic lifted my chin and shifted his head to the side, our eyes locking.
My heart started to beat faster as Nic lowered his head and cupped his warm lips against mine.
My body responded to his kiss by heating up and causing my breath to catch, leaving a trail of my bodily fluids in my panties. I was desperate for more than a simple kiss. I wanted to feel every part of him.
Nic’s breath was as fast as mine when he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I cannot stay away from you,” he whispered in a low and husky voice. “I cannot imagine my life without you anymore.”
Nic gently drew me into his lap and planted a kiss on my forehead. He held me in his arms and wrapped them around me. I felt helplessly satisfied and sat like that for the remainder of the ride.
As we returned to the path that led to the more thrilling rides, Ronan called out and stopped us. He sounded concerned and appeared upset about something.
Nic’s posture stiffened as he knitted his eyebrows together.
“Return Luna Zara to her territory,” he said coldly.
“What is going on?” I asked, startled by Nic’s cold attitude.
“I will explain later,” he said, turning from me to Ronan.
Nic led me to the car, unlocked the passenger door, helped me get inside, and tapped the roof of the car to tell Ronan to drive. He did not even say goodbye.
I watched through the car window as Nic shifted into his wolf and ran toward the direction of his pack.
“Ronan, could you please explain the situation to me?” I asked, but Ronan remained silent the entire time. He would not even look at me.
“That is nothing,” Levi remarked, pushing the memory out of my mind. “I have not gone to bed yet.”
I turned my focus to Levi. He appeared different this morning.
“Hold on?” I said. “You spent the entire night doing what?”
Levi arrived shortly after I did and proceeded to his room. I figured that things had not gone as planned and that he wanted to be alone.
“Louis and I took a long run,” he said. “We needed to let off some steam.”
Louis, Levi’s wolf, was a beautiful brown animal with black ears and a silver back. He had many of Levi’s characteristics, but he was far more serious.
“Why? Did something happen?” I inquired, growing anxious.
Did the son-of-a-bitch hurt Levi? Did he reject him?
“No,” Levi answered, and I squinted.
“Levi, do not lie to me!” I said, setting the cup on the bedside table. “Tell me the truth. What had happened?”
“I swear, nothing happened,” Levi answered.
“Why do you hesitate to tell me?” I asked.
Was I going to pull all the strings out of him?
With a sigh, Levi glanced down at his hands.
“I had a great time,” he whispered. “He is amazing.”
“That is great,” I said, cocking my head aside. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Uhm,” Levi muttered, almost embarrassed by the fact. “My mate doesn’t want to wait. He wants to go further.”
“Oh, I see. He desires to…?” My thoughts trailed off.
Levi nodded and raised his gaze. His eyes were begging.
“I told him I wanted to talk to you about it first.”
“How come?”
“Because, in theory, you are my mate.”
I let out a sigh as Levi thinly drew his lips together.
“I am so sorry for doing that to you, Levi,” I said, putting my hand on Levi’s. “What was his reaction?”
“He was a bit disappointed,” he answered. “But he gets it. He understands.”
I was dying to know the identity of this secret mate.
“Everything will work out the way it should,” I tried to reassure Levi. “Please give me a few days. I promise that we can conduct the rejection ceremony, and then you can claim your rightful mate.”
Levi’s lips curled into a smile. He knew that I would honor my promise.
“There is one more thing,” he said.
“What thing?” I asked, startled.
Did Levi do something he should have done?
“He wants to meet you,” Levi said.
That surprised me.
“Why?” I asked, feeling my heart starting to race.
Will Levi’s new mate challenge me for him?
Is he going to reveal our secret?
Will he even like me?
Will he feel envious of our friendship?
Will he attempt to rob me of Levi?
“Bloody hell,” Kaya hissed from the back of my mind. “Calm the hell down. You are overthinking things.”
“You should know!” I snapped. “You never had a friend.”
Kaya huffed at me and rolled her eyes.
“He just wants to meet my best friend,” Levi said. “I have told him everything about you.”
All of it?
“Have you told him about us being mated?” I asked cautiously. Has he revealed every secret?
Levi’s brows knitted together.
“He wouldn’t tell anyone,” Levi said. “He is a lot like me, so I trust him. Besides, he is not fond of Alpha Noah. He can’t stand him. He has even signed the treaty because he believes in us.”
Goddess he did! What the hell was Levi thinking?
“Wait a minute, you said he signed the agreement?”
“Yes,” Levi responded.
Was Alpha Wesley Dangers his mate?
“Did you tell him about me and Nic?” I asked, feeling my heart leap to my throat.
“I might have, why?” he asked, and Levi’s eyes flashed with an unidentified emotion.
“Alpha Wesley and Nic do not see eye to eye,” I replied. “Some business deal between the two ended badly.”
“Alpha Wesley?” Levi shrieked and looked at me as if I had grown two heads. He appeared startled. “My mate is not that crazy, old Alpha.”
“Then who is it?”
****