Talic’s POV
I knew I had to focus on the road, yet I found myself stealing glances at her. I couldn’t believe my words were enough to convince her.
Seeing how she acted and how she spoke, I was waiting for her to either reject me or kick me out of her house. Hell, I was even prepared to sleep outside for days as long as she would later change her mind and choose me.
“What’s wrong with you?” She asked as I smiled.
“I was wondering if you would allow me to hold your hand,” I answered softly.
She glared at me and shifted her gaze to the other side.
“Do you realize that once I do that favor for you, I will be going back home?” She asked seriously.
There they were, the negative words she had said to me before she decided to go with me.
I felt so happy when she agreed to join me, more so when she said that she was looking forward to meeting my pack. But then later on, I felt like an idiot when she corrected her sentence and told me how she was only going to help me out of pity. She also tried to point out how I had traveled from afar. Her telling me that she would return to her home once everything was settled almost made me lose my cool. Seeing how she was a very stubborn mate and how she would easily change her mind, I agreed to her terms and thanked her.
“I know, Edith,” I answered sadly, then focused on the road.
What was I going to do to have her stay with me? Would confessing my submission of love help? Of course not, I was still a damn stranger to her.
Then, was I supposed to ask and beg the Alpha to talk her into staying? No, that wouldn’t work because she would still say no and later use her magic to fight her way out if we were to use force.
The only decision that I could think of was a very selfish one, but also worth a try if it could make her stay.
I was going to bind her with my pup. Yes, I was going to impregnate her. When she spoke about her late pups, I could feel her intense aura and the pain in her voice. No matter what, she wasn’t the type to abandon her pup nor the father, so it was worth a shot.
I wasn’t going to take her by force, but I was going to make her want either me or sex. I was going to fuck her raw and cum into her deepest part, then later play the card of a brothered mate who couldn’t help himself. Then, once she had tasted me as I would her, I would fuck her every day and make sure to knot her.
I could choose to drug her, but that would badly hurt her and make me a monster, which I didn’t want to become. It would also betray her little trust in me and prove to her how all her mates were trash.
Perhaps what I needed to do was to take her out for a drink and make sure we both became wasted. Well, at least her.
“What are you thinking so intensely about? You seem so focused on the road yet so deep in thought,” she asked calmly.
“It’s nothing,” I answered, then chuckled nervously, refusing to look into her eyes.
She had this weird ability of acquiring information by just looking into my eyes. I wasn’t going to risk anything.
“It doesn’t look like anything to me,” she muttered as I cleared my throat.
“I don’t know how things are at the pack. I wonder if the Gamma is handling the files by now and if the Delta is training the warriors well. You see, my pack has a healer who is by our Alpha’s side, that’s why I’m a bit relieved, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay. Um… to be honest, I’m very nervous about what will happen when we reach the border,” I answered seriously.
It wasn’t the whole truth, but I really was concerned.
“Is it because you doubt my ability?” She asked as I quickly shook my head.
“No, I trust your ability completely,” I answered loudly.
“Then why did you say that?” She asked.
“Because a few of our pack members talked badly about the four of us. Not only were we the ones with high ranks, we were all mateless, and the Alpha acted blind to his own other half,” I answered and then glanced at her.
She had a surprised expression on her face.
“It’s shocking to hear that, right? I too would be if I was told that by my mate. Our pack is not cursed in any way, but I do feel like the moon goddess hates us to the core. The Gamma and Delta never openly talked about it or admitted it, but I knew they felt exactly as I did. Alone and envious of those that were happily mated,” I said sadly then frowned when she bumped her hand against the side of my thigh.
When a minute went by, she sighed softly.
“Do you want me to say it?” She asked as I raised a brow.
“Say what?” I asked back seriously.
“Weren’t you the one who wanted to hold my hand?” she asked as I quickly stepped on the brakes and turned to fully face her.
“Are you allowing me to?” I asked at the top of my voice.
“Duh,” came her response.
I quickly grabbed her hand and smiled as tingles spread throughout my body.
Feeling her heat, even if it was a little, felt amazing. It was the assurance I needed for myself that my mate was trying her best to be kind to me.
I moved her hand to my lips and planted a kiss there. She widened her eyes, then quickly turned her head, looking at the other side.
I was about to let go of her hand when she turned her head instantly and gazed into my eyes.
“It’s not…,” she whispered, cutting her sentence short.
“It’s not that I don’t like your touch, I really do. It’s just that it’s been so long since I did this with someone,” she said as I leaned in without a second thought and moved my free hand to her cheek.
“I like your warmth too. So thank you for permitting me to touch your hand,” I said, then moved to kiss her cheek when she spoke, instantly making me halt.
“Don’t push it,” she warned.
“Right, I’m sorry,” I whispered and then sat upright and started the car, driving with my free hand.
It was going to be harder than I thought. I needed time and the right moment, as well as a place to make my move on her.