Blinking a few times as she stared into Harley’s eyes, she instantly rolled off of him and landed on the spot beside him instead, suddenly feeling her heart thud against her chest as it picked up its pace, making her a little more uncomfortable and confused.
There was just something about the glint in his eyes that suddenly made her see him in a sudden unexpected way. However, she quickly shook her head vigorously before sitting up, shaking away the thought as she glanced down at Harley who was still taken aback by the sudden wave of emotions.
“No laying around, we have just an hour.” Hope chuckled nervously as she smacked Harley’s shoulder, forcing him out of his shocked state and back into reality as he turned his gaze to her, still mortified.
“Right.” Harley quickly sat up and sprung to his feet as he Hope slowly stood up as well, trying to calm her quickened breathing a little before they began.
“Let’s warm up first, got to get those tight muscles to relax a bit.” She chuckled out, though it only came out like a mouse failing to squeak out and only came out in muffled odd noises.
He simply nodded as he watched her stretch out her arms, turning her waist a little as she twisted her arms from side to side. He cleared his throat as he reached his arm over his head and behind his head, pinning it there to stretch out his arms as well. His eyes wondered around the room aimlessly as he tried to picture the look in Hopes eyes once more when they fell. Unfortunately for him, Hope wasn’t an easy read when it came to romantic emotions. He didn’t know what she’d look like or how she would react because she’s never seen him as a man before.
So he wouldn’t know if she felt anything at all, the way he did.
Not that it felt like a jolt or a shock or something completely new, Harley had always looked at Hope as a woman since they had gone past the age of being young teens. On the days approaching his mating ceremony, he had approached countless women his age and most of them were extremely beautiful and elegant. Daughters of well-paid trainers, daughters of the chief in the army pack, daughters of foreign alphas and daughters of countless packs. He was in fact a very charming and good looking young man. Perfectly cut short brown hair and nutty brown eyes to match. He also had a well outlined jaw that brought his chiseled features and high cheek bones, defining his overall beauty all together. Adding all that, Harley ad always been a very masculine man with a fairly built body from all the solo training he had been doing over the years and not to mention, the sparing he had done with Hope from time to time since they were little. Harley had never really had troubles with keeping up his body this way since he dearly loved to fight Hope most of the time.
Even without much of what he looked like now, years before he could think of his mating ceremony, many girls his age tried charming him with their food gifts as they believed the way to a man’s heart lies in the stomach. However, when the time came for Harley to find his mate, even after all the delicious things he had been given from the other girls, Harley still couldn’t find a mate for himself. Whether it was his own will or he was finding it hard to find someone to suit him, everyone found it shocking that he had lasted his long without finding a mate already.
“Who is she?” Hope suddenly asked as she glanced towards Harley who raised his brows at her in question, looking rather confused at the question. “I mean the girl you want to marry. You never told me about her and I’m even starting to wonder if I’m really your best friend. I mean… Best friends should be able to tell each other things right?” She asked as she watched him look away uncomfortably. “How old is she? Is she a foreigner? Is she an alpha’s daughter? How old is she? Is she English? Is she funny?” She chuckled out when she notice he was only getting more uncomfortable with each passing question, looking more resistant to answer the questions. “Okay, okay.” She chuckled, waving her hands around when he didn’t answer a single question. “Have you meant her before or is this the first time you’ll be meeting her?” She asked as she glanced down at the ground. “At least answer that one.”
“I’ve known her since forever.” Harley said out in a muffled tone as he bit onto his lower lip, trying to suppress the shocked glance Hope had just given him.
“Since forever!?” Hope asked as she glanced around herself. “Is it Ria?” She asked in a whisper as she tiptoed towards him, getting him to frown as she grinned out widely. “It’s Ria isn’t it!?”
“No.” He hissed out, shoving her away from him as she laughed out and clasped her hands together in excitement.
“It’s definitely her!” She giggled out as she took some steps back while he faced away from her in annoyance. “Your face got all red the moment I suggested it was her. You sly dog, did you think I wasn’t going to find out!?” She laughed out, shaking her head as she gave herself a pat on the back for a job well-done. “I mean, she’s really pretty, you’ve known her for so long and she’s currently not with us right now since she was sent to collect the pack’s medicine last week. But she’ll be back by sundown tomorrow.” She chuckled now, staring at Harley’s tensed back as he continued to stretch quietly. “Wow, that took me a while to figure out huh?” She asked as she noticed Harley still remaining quiet. “Don’t worry so much Harley, o won’t say anything to her. You’ll tell her how you feel yourself, I won’t intrude.” She chuckled as a smile spread across her lips. “Go get married before you get too old you big oaf.” She chuckled as she punched into his shoulder, getting him to frown slight as he let out a suppressed sigh.