Page 41 of Entering a New World

Damn, I wanted to join him, wanted to sit close enough for our thighs to touch, wanted our shoulders to brush against each other, but… patience.

Talking first.

My wolf huffed, and a part of me agreed with him.

“So…” I started while Levi was filling his plate with pancakes. However, I didn’t know how to finish that sentence. Did I just ask him about what he wanted headfirst? Should I do a bit of small talk first?

“You want to know what I decided on, right? If I accept you as my mate,” Levi said, looking up at me with a serious expression. “That’s what Mave told me I’d have to do in the end. Either reject or accept you.”

My heart stumbled, my fingers losing all feeling as ice washed through my body.

“Yes,” I choked out.

Please, please, don’t let him reject us.

Levi nodded.

“I’ve tried thinking about this, you know? This whole mates thing. And then I desperately tried not to think about it because it made my head hurt. If I’m completely honest, it still does. It’s confusing. And it’s just so much to consider, I’m afraid I’m forgetting something.” He sighed, looking at me with big, pleading eyes, as if he wanted me to take the weight off his shoulders.

And I’d happily have done so, if I just knew how. I hated the lost look on his face, hated the way his shoulder sagged, and the corners of his mouth drooped. Scenting the sour hint of his desperation physically hurt like a dagger to the heart.

“Do you want… a hug?” I asked, not sure if it was the right thing to do. But doing nothing would definitely be the wrong thing and everything I could say felt like it wouldn’t be enough, an empty phrase, no matter how sincere the words might be.

Levi laughed, but nodded.

“Actually… yeah.” He sounded surprised by his own words, but pushed the cart with our breakfast away from the bed to make room for me.

I definitely didn’t need to be told twice. Within a second, I’d crossed the room, obviously startling my mate by using my shifter speed without meaning to. Sitting down on the bed next to him, I was still about half a head taller than him, and probably twice as wide.

Carefully and extra slowly, I wrapped my arms around him, waited until I felt him relax against me, then oh-so-gently pulled him against my side. My heart was beating frantically in my chest, my wolf jumping up and down, running around in circles from sheer excitement while my mate let out a soft, barely audible sigh, and all the tension drained from his body.

Having him in my arms was magic. Pure and utter bliss. His scent filled my nose, clouding my thoughts, and I only came back to my senses after I’d already buried my face in his hair and kissed the top of his head.

“I think I want to try?” Levi whispered as if he were afraid to voice his thoughts out loud. “Everything is all up in the air, and it’s probably not the smart thing to do, but… I really like you. You and Wolfie.”

My wolf howled in triumph, chest swelling in pride.

“Thank you,” I whispered against his hair, tightening my arms around him as I drew in a shaky breath. The stress of the past two weeks left my body with one whoosh, leaving me utterly drained and emotional. My eyes started burning, and to my horror, I felt hot tears welling up and spilling over, wetting my mate’s hair. “You… you don’t know what that means to me.”

Levi’s smaller arms snagged around me, barely managing to wrap around my chest. “I don’t. Not truly, but hopefully, one day I will.”

Chapter 12

Levi

I had a date with my mate.

Giggling, I shook my head, internally singing the words again. A date with my mate.

They rhymed.

Letting out a tiny laugh, I turned.

What did one wear for a date with their fated mate?

On the one hand, it should be easy, right? Rhett was attracted to me, no matter what. Fate had made him fall in love with me already. He thought I was his perfect match, the other half of his soul, the person who would make him whole, so to him, it probably didn’t matter what I was wearing.

On the other hand, taking him for granted was a dickish move. It didn’t matter that he was guaranteed to like me; that was no excuse for not putting in the effort.

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