Chapter 15 I Wish Were Mate
/Edlyn/
The moment breakfast was over, I escaped to get ready for the shopping.
No one stopped me, though I could feel Nelson’s eyes trailing me all the way to the stairs.
My chest was still tight from the tension, from his stare, from everything.
I just needed space.
And maybe a minute to scream into a pillow.
I’d barely made it to my room when a low, commanding voice called my name.
“Edlyn.”
I froze.
Of course. The universe couldn’t give me a single break.
I turned halfway, my hand still on the doorknob and there he was. Nelson.
He looked… tense. His jaw was sharp enough to cut steel, his eyes locked on me like I was prey he couldn’t decide whether to protect or devour.
Before I could say a word, he moved. Fast.
He pushed the door open, stepped inside, and pinned me to the wall his hand braced near my head, his scent flooding the small space like smoke and wild forest.
My breath hitched.
Moon whistled low in my head. Oh… that’s hot.
Vamp groaned. Please don’t encourage her.
Moon ignored her completely. I may not like him, but this move? This is giving pure Alpha dominance. Ten out of ten execution. Do it again, big boy.
Vamp! I hissed internally, trying not to look like she likes this.
Nelson’s voice cut through the chaos in my head deep, low, and rough enough to make my heart stutter.
“There is nothing going on between Jackie and me. I promise.”
I blinked, caught off guard. His eyes searched mine, desperate but steady.
“She’s just my ex. The woman the Elders are forcing on me. Nothing more.”
For a second, my heart wanted to believe him.
But my walls shot back up.
I lifted my chin slightly, forcing my tone to stay cool.
“I didn’t ask for an explanation, Supreme Alpha,” I said quietly. “I’m just an omega you showed mercy to.”
His eyes darkened dangerously.
“Look at me,” he ordered softly.
My gaze flicked up before I could stop it, and my breath caught again. His wolf was right there glowing faintly in his eyes, wild and conflicted.
“Say that again,” he said, voice dropping to a growl. “That you’re just an omega.”
I swallowed hard. The air between us crackled. “I—”
He leaned closer, his breath brushing my cheek. “Because every time you say that, my wolf wants to rip the world apart. I don’t know what it is about you, Edlyn… but I can’t stay away.”
Moon’s voice was a whisper now. He’s telling the truth.
Vamp hummed, oddly thoughtful. And I hate that I actually like how he said that.
Nelson’s hand dropped from the wall to my waist not possessive, but grounding, as if he needed proof I was real.
“I really like you,” he said finally, voice raw. “And my wolf… he’s already taken by you.”
My pulse thundered in my ears. The bond between us pulsed faintly, like it was responding to his words.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand anything,” he said softly. “Not about her. Not about me.”
And just like that, the air between us went still.
Hot.
Heavy.
Unbearably intimate.
Vamp exhaled dramatically. Well, damn. If he doesn’t kiss you in the next ten seconds, I will.
Moon sighed. Control, Vamp.
I’m serious, Vamp said. At this point, he’s practically breathing in her soul. Just seal it already!
I shut them both out, though my heart wasn’t helping. It was racing so fast, it could’ve outrun a any creature.
All I could do was stand there, trapped between the wall, his warmth, and the truth I wasn’t ready to face. That I wanted him too.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
The air was thick, humming with something I couldn’t name something dangerous, raw, and too real.
Then, like someone had splashed cold water on me, I blinked and came back to my senses.
“Supreme Alpha,” I began, my voice steadier than I felt, “you really don’t need to explain yourself to me.”
He frowned, his hand still warm on my waist.
“And you… you like me?” I asked quietly, searching his face. “I won’t lie I have a bit of a crush on you too. But it hasn’t even been up to three or four days since we met, and you’re already saying things like that?”
His lips twitched, almost into a smile. “If only your wolf were here,” he said softly, “I’m certain the Moon Goddess would have mated us together.”
My breath caught. Because we are indeed mate...
He stepped just a little closer, his voice dropping into that deep, rumbling tone that seemed to shake something loose inside me.
“Because having you here in my arms feels… right. Like you belong exactly here.”
His gaze flicked down to where his hand rested against me, and then back up to my eyes. “Like you belong with me.”
I froze. My heart thudded once. Twice. Too loud. Too fast.
Moon sighed dreamily. Okay… even I have to admit that was kind of perfect. our mate is perfect...
Vamp purred. If he keeps talking like that, I might actually forgive him for existing.
“Not helping,” I hissed silently.
And that’s when the door suddenly swung open.
“Oh my Goddess!” Jasmine’s voice rang through the room. “I knew it! You two totally have chemistry!”
Nelson and I both jumped back like we’d been caught doing something illegal.
Jasmine leaned against the doorframe, grinning like she’d just stumbled into her favorite romance drama. “I kind of think so too,” she said, hands clasped dramatically. “You guys so belong together. Gosh, this is adorable.”
I groaned, covering my face with both hands. “Jasmine please~~”
“No, no,” she cut me off, waving her hand excitedly. “Don’t even try to deny it. The tension in this room? Palpable. Like, I could slice it with a silver dagger.”
Nelson cleared his throat, obviously trying not to laugh. “We’ll… continue this later,” he murmured, glancing at me with that unreadable, smoldering look.
Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. My heart stopped. My entire system crashed.
And then he left just like that calm, collected, like he hadn’t just short-circuited my entire nervous system.
The door closed behind him, and Jasmine let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Oh, Moon Goddess save me, that was so cute! You’re blushing! Look at you!”
“I’m not~~~” I started.
“You are!” she gasped, grinning wider. “How I wish you had a wolf. You’d have been the perfect Luna.”
Her words hit me unexpectedly soft but sincere.
She stepped closer, her expression warming. “Wolf or not,” she said, looping her arm through mine, “I can’t wait to get to know you. Are you ready? Because I so am.”
Despite everything the chaos, the bond, the ache still humming in my chest I found myself smiling.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I think I am.”
Vamp sighed contentedly. Finally, something that doesn’t involve heartbreak or homicide.
Moon chuckled. Be nice, Vamp.
I am, Vamp said. For once.
I shook my head, laughing quietly as Jasmine tugged me toward the door.
Maybe, just maybe, today wouldn’t be as terrible as I thought.