75 The First Kiss
Tanya Velichko:
The sudden intensity of the situation made me not immediately understand what Zavir had said. So many emotions were swirling inside me at that moment that it was hard to pinpoint exactly what I was feeling.
I was excited because someone had asked me to be their girlfriend, and I said yes. There was the thrill and fear of a first kiss. And there was also some joy and confusion when I saw Zavir — it meant he remembered and had come. But then a complete shock and disbelief hit me as the meaning of his words slowly sank in.
“What?” I barely managed to squeeze out, staring wide-eyed at the werewolf.
But he didn’t hear me anymore. His gaze was fixed on Pasha’s hand, which was still holding me tightly in an embrace.
I missed the moment when, with a growl, he ripped me from Pasha’s arms, and the world flipped upside down. Before my eyes flashed the snowy sidewalk and Zavir’s strong, imposing back.
He basically threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and started carrying me somewhere! One hand held my legs, the other carried the bouquet and bags, which he set down on the hood of his car.
Leaving the things behind, the man had no intention of putting me down — dragging me somewhere into the park!
Whaaaat?! What the heck is going on?!
I start pounding the werewolf on the back, kicking my legs and demanding to be put down. When we reach the nearest bench, they finally set me back into a normal position.
“Zavir, what the hell?!” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “What is all this supposed to mean?!”
“It means exactly what you heard! You’re my mate!” — he glares at me with his yellowing eyes, burning with anger. I can see he’s on the edge of some kind of fury, breathing heavily and clenching his fists.
“What?” I ask again, not believing what I’m seeing.
No way this is real! Me and Zavir? Nonsense!
Then a thought strikes my boiling mind. Alina doesn’t know that I know what some werewolf did to her once. She once discussed it with Jasmine, and I overheard by accident. It’s just awful.
And now a nasty bitter feeling rises up my throat as Zavir says I’m supposedly his mate.
“You’re mine! And I won’t tolerate any weaklings near you!” — he growls at me.
“You’d better watch your words, wolf!” I say in a steel voice — the first time I allow myself to talk like this to anyone. Usually, I’m a gentle soul, but this situation is extraordinary. “You should know better than anyone that deception like that can backfire!”
“The Alpha knows, and I’m more than ready to face all the consequences… when you grow up,” the blond starts to relax noticeably, but I, on the contrary, begin to boil inside and burn with anger. It takes me a few seconds to try to comprehend what’s happening.
“Don’t try to feed me nonsense now!” I hiss angrily. “I saw you with a girl on Friday! You were sweetly kissing in the restaurant and left together to continue the evening!” I look at the beast with pain. “When you have a mate, you don’t act like that! That I know for sure…”
I see some regret, guilt, and anger in the werewolf’s eyes.
“Tanya, I’m an adult werewolf, and I need to find sexual release. Nothing can happen between us yet for obvious reasons. I’m not a pervert or a child molester,” — every word he says wounds me and outrages me deep inside. He’s telling the truth, but it sounds disgusting, hurtful, and painful! “You’re still a child, and you don’t understand that adults need to satisfy their needs.”
His words hit me like slaps. If just a couple of seconds ago I had started to feel some false joy from his confession, after these words it shattered into pieces. I just want to cover my ears and hear nothing. It would have been better if he hadn’t admitted that we are a pair. What kind of selfishness is that? For a few moments, I just stand silently, staring at him, trying to suppress my raging emotions and pain.