Chapter 58 Just a few more minutes
~Sage~
Somehow I found myself in the pack's private garden. It was one strictly meant for royals to stroll in. It had varieties of flowers and smelled heavenly. Maybe that's why it was the first place that came to my mind.
I walked in slowly, painfully aware of the slow steps behind me that I refused to acknowledge.
I could not stop the thoughts fighting inside my head. I could not put out the jealousy that burned in my chest. It had started the moment Riana put her perfect fingers on my mate.
My mate.
The words rang through me. They were both truth and pain.
The Moon Goddess must be having so much fun right now. She was watching me fight against the cruel fate she had made. Get married to the father. Become the son's fated mate. What a twisted game she had made for me.
I felt like giving her a standing ovation for her ill sense of humor.
Keith had not said a word since he followed me out of the dining hall. I could feel his emotions in the air between us. First it was anger, then it became frustration. And under it all, a desire so strong it made my skin feel hot.
A part of me thought I should say sorry for how I acted at dinner, especially towards the royal guest.
But then again, I did not think I did anything wrong.
He was the one who had allowed her to touch him. He'd sat there, letting her run her fingers over his muscles like she had the right to do it. He'd allowed her talk about their future like I was not even there.
I kept walking deeper into the garden, my stubborn nature pushing me forward. The gravel made noise under my shoes. It was the only sound breaking the taut silence between us.
Then a hand shot out and his fingers wrapped around my wrist, pulling me to a stop.
"Keith," I said without turning to look at him, "when I said I needed air, I meant I needed to be alone."
I tried to pull my hand free. But he held on just tight enough to keep me there. He did not hurt me.
"You should go back to your mate," I said. The word tasted like poison on my tongue. "I am sure you two have so much to talk about. Old memories to share. Future plans to make. Probably you can start making a pup or two for your father. He seems very eager to have one."
Keith let out a sharp breath. I heard him run a hand through his dark hair.
"Sage."
Just my name. Nothing else. But the way he said it sounded like he was pleading with me.
"I need you to understand," he said. He moved around to stand in front of me. His eyes burned with desperate need. "Everything that happened in there meant nothing. The way she touched me. The things she said. None of it matters."
I shrugged nonchalantly and kept my voice calm and even. "It does not concern me, Keith. I do not understand why you are explaining yourself to me."
His eyes turned darker, like melted gold. "It does concern you. It concerns you more than anyone else in this world."
I let out a soft laugh with no humor in it. I moved away from him, putting distance between us that felt like miles.
"She is your chosen mate." My voice came out softer than I wanted. It showed the emotion I was trying so hard to hide. "The woman your father picked for you. What was she supposed to do? Act like you do not exist?"
Keith let out a growl from deep in his chest. It was more wolf than man. "You know that my father's choice means nothing to me."
I turned then. I finally looked into his eyes. "It should mean everything."
"No." He pinched the bridge of his nose. He was fighting hard to stay in control. "This is only happening because you will not let me tell them the truth. Because you want to hide what we are to each other."
I groaned inside my head. I should have known he would use this moment to make the same argument again. The same one we had fought about so many times before.
Keith closed the space between us in one step. His presence was too much. Heat shot up my body instantly.
"Let me tell them the truth." His voice was shaky, almost broken with wanting. "Let me show everyone what you are to me. Let me show them my mark on your neck."
His fingers found my waist. His touch burned me like fire. He pulled me closer until I could feel his heart beating fast against my chest.
His eyes went to my neck. To the spot where his mark lived under layers of makeup. This has been a secret. It had been a claim that only we knew about. But now he wanted more. He wanted everyone to see it.
This was dangerous. We were in the private gardens, yes. But that did not mean someone could not find us at any moment. The dinner guests would notice we were gone. Damon would get suspicious. Riana would come looking for her future husband.
We had been out here too long already.
"Keith, stop," I whispered. I swallowed hard against the desire building low in my belly. "We need to go back."
He shook his head slowly. His eyes never left mine. "No. Just a few more minutes. Please, Sage. Just a few more minutes with you."
His fingers moved up my back. They left fire behind. My heart started beating like a drum.
"I have wanted to kiss you since you walked into that room," he said softly. His breath was warm against my temple. "Do you know how beautiful you looked? How much it hurt me to watch you from across the table? I had to pretend you were nothing to me. When you are everything."
"Keith..."
My words died on my lips. He tilted my chin up. His thumb brushed across my lower lip. Then his mouth came down on mine.