He interlocked our fingers. My stomach churned, I couldn't help but grin. I remembered the time when I saw him. I never considered him to be so close to me, my mate.
I squinted at him. His easy smile settled peace within me. The fear I felt about the transaction washed away. I could deal with anything with him. I had felt something from him from the start when I saw him in Wolf form first, like I had known him forever, it didn't make sense at first, but now I knew. Mate!
"And you hungry? We can go out for dinner." He smiled.
A deeper sense of calm washed through me, "Dinner?"
"We can cook at home." He suggested.
I halted to look at him, "I really wanted to go out today, but not anymore." I said.
He motioned for me to continue walking toward the maze of trees and I fell into step along with him. My friends gave us privacy. The fresh air felt so good against my skin, the smell of grass, soil made me forget all the worries, "You can cook for me," I blurted. My cheerful smile returned which I shared only with my sister.
"Cook for you, " He kissed my head, "Sure," He nodded.
"Thanks," My stomach was doing flip after flip. His curled hand around me was creating all the fuss in my body.
His body stiffened as he suddenly pulled me back. His gaze fixed ahead. His gaze flashed fire. He was using his werewolf's eyes to look for something.
Before I could open my mouth, he motioned me to stay quiet.
"No danger, King," A loud voice boomed from behind the trees.
I shifted on my feet to have a better look. Was he a danger? Dastien's body language said a lot. Dastien snarled in a language I couldn't understand. His low grumble turned the calm atmosphere into a horror one. I could see him better as it wasn't dark. His hair was almost dark, his eyes were pools of dirty ice, His gaze turned to me, his eyes met mine for a moment and he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
I shivered. Dastien growled at him, his eyes cutting daggers.
"I didn't mean to scare the queen, King. It's my nature. I'm helpless." His head remained bowed while speaking.
"This creature doesn't know to smile," Dastien whispered.
''What do you mean by saying, this creature?" I couldn't push the question away.
'He looks human. He can be a werewolf also.
"I'm from Dark Realm, Queen. A dark creature. I'm learning the human ways, " He said and forced a smile. It felt like a scowl.
I stared at him. I noticed his pointed ears, sharp nose. He looked a little weird, but not alien.
"Ok," I drawled, "I'm not queen. My name is Emma. So, I prefer Emma." I said, forcing a smile. He looks cute but his habits made him a bit scary.
He chuckled first and then a frown covered his broad forehead. He bowed, almost bending his back, "I can. But I don't have a death wish." A little pause, "Queen," He cheerfully said it.
I tried to walk ahead. Dastien wouldn't have allowed me near him if he'd been dangerous.
A grin slid across my face, "What are you? You don't look like a werewolf," They had a strong body, but he had lean, beautiful skin but he acted a little strange.
"Dark creature. A demon." He smiled awkwardly.
I halted and blinked, "I haven't seen a demon before. Do you shift too? Do you have red eyes and big sharp teeth? Scary!" I asked.
Dastien wrapped his arm around my stomach from behind and pulled me to his chest, "Believe me, chérie. You don't wanna know." He said.
I glanced at him, "Is he ugly?" I asked in a low voice. When I felt the creature's eyes on us, a frown on his face too. I smiled at him.
He returned it awkwardly.
"You don't wanna know," Dastien said.
"He's not dangerous?" I asked. He nodded immediately. I found his icy gaze on us, "What's your name,"
He blinked as considering over the question, "I don't have a name, Queen." He blinked and I felt sadness.
I stared at Dastien. Couldn't he show some sympathy and respect to his people? He didn't even say 'thank you' to those who did things for him.
"Ok, your name is Burt." I smiled, hoping he would like the name.
"I have a name," He said in a dreamy tone, "Thank you so much, queen. Thank you," I heard him giggling.
"Does he copy his moves from movies?" I asked in a whisper, smiling.
He recoiled with a soft kiss on my cheek, "He's your bodyguard," He announced, making my eyes dilate in fear.
"No, " I squealed.
"Is queen..." Burt halted.
"Tais-toi, boeuf." Dastien growled.
"No, I'm already finding excuses to get out of the academy. You want him to follow me like a shadow. That's not happening." I shook my head.
"He won't follow you." He said.
"But he'll watch over me and so he'll tell everything to you. I hate it, " I pressed my lips together in irritation.
"He'd be around you only when you need his help. He can sense the danger around you, "
I can only imagine terrible thoughts, him chasing me everywhere, keeping eyes on me, giving the details of my day to him. It's irking.
"Don't you trust me? You possessive werewolf!" I tucked my hair back in irritation.
He turned serious eyes on me then busted into a loud laugh. Burt seemed to be taken back by his master' move. Same with me. I rarely saw him laughing by heart.
"I trust you, baby. But I don't trust... " He didn't complete and his laughter died, "We should cook." He muttered something to Burt and began to walk back to the house.
"You don't trust who? Samantha?" I didn't know why I brought it out but she was only in my mind when it was about hurting someone. Silver had done that too, but under a misunderstanding. I got hurt.
"Is she bothering you?" He asked, his eyes blazing. They flashed amber, his jaw tightened.
I sighed, "What did you do to Max and his mate?" Samantha was the last thing I wanted to discuss with him.
"Why would I hurt my people?" He said in an impossible, calm tone.
I winced at his statement. His mood changed rapidly. My lips formed into a tight line, "Unpredictable," I muttered, pulling myself away.
I hated the spark of hope that springs to life. My shoulders slumped as I walked toward his house. Burt followed us in our steps.
His arm came around me. A real smile flits across my face. Everything is changing so fast.
Alessandro, Silver and Elizabeth were already preparing for dinner. Dastien didn't wait for anything; he grabbed the apron. My eyes fixed on him. I wasn't hoping to see him. He looked so cute. The girls would be shocked to see him walking normally.
His gaze turned straight to me. Walking around the table, he pulled out the chair. Blushing I walked over and sat down, "Thank you, "
He leaned closer to my ear, "De rien, mon amour," He said sweetly.
The heat inside me blazed. He was doing it against my will. A warm wind surrounded me. It remained with him as he walked into the kitchen.
Silver and Elizabeth walked over to the table and pulled their chairs out. They glanced at me with full smiles. I waited for their questions but nothing came.
A snort rolled through the air. My friends were exchanging looks, "Are you talking in your mind?" I asked.
"No, If you have read the book. You know better." Silver winked at me.
"Yeah! So what's this sign language?" I asked.
"Did you notice something?" Silver asked, looking at the boys.
"They are cooking." I said and caught the sad expression on Elizabeth' face, "Where's Edward?" I asked, grabbing their attention.
"On patrol," Elizabeth said sadly.
I nodded fully, "Dastien has hired a bodyguard for me," I said.
"Really!" They looked shocked.
"He can't do that," Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
"He's from the Dark Realm. I baptised him recently," I wanted to know the same reason.
They gasped and looked at Dastien with horror in their eyes.
Dastien shot them a warning look, "He's very very bossy," I said with anger. His gaze snapped to me but it turned soft immediately.
"These boys," Elizabeth suddenly sounded extremely tired.
"If you girls are getting bored. There's a television in the living room." Alessandro said, his smile preserved for his mate only.
"Sounds great. Let's catch a movie." Elizabeth didn't wait for us to get up and she rushed out of the kitchen.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
Silver kept her eyes on Alessandro. Their expressions were telling they were talking in their minds.
"Edward, she didn't want him to go." Silver whispered, getting on her feet.
I spun to look at him before leaving the kitchen.His eyes were glowing amber. I like all shades of his eyes. I can drown in those eyes happily if I let myself. There is the slightest smirk playing with his lips.
We hurried over to the couch and embraced her from both sides. Her sad face lit up, "Go he hell. Let's watch something interesting." Elizabeth said out loud. She said it intentionally.
We let her choose the movie. She picked a cartoon movie which was unexpected but we watched it with interest. After a half-hour later, Alessandro announced the dinner was ready. We headed back to the kitchen.
"Italian food," Silver scrunched her nose.
Elizabeth hit the back of her hand on her stomach, "Respect. He's doing things for you. " Silver groaned and I laughed. Elizabeth sighed deeply, "At least, he cooked for you. Mine ran away." She muttered to her, definitely annoyed.
Alessandro cleared his throat. We sat immediately. They must have heard, no doubt. Electricity rushed through my body when I perceived a familiar touch on my arm. My eyes turned to him. He sat next to me. I couldn't eat with all my feelings. Sitting calmly was going to be difficult with my increasing feelings.