Page 3 of Mated By Midnight

That was all she got out. But words didn’t matter. Not when his eyes had darkened with the same realization, the same shock. His grip tightened ever so slightly, his fingers warm against her skin, as if he, too, was trying to anchor himself in this sudden, unexpected reality.

He towered over her, his presence commanding without being overwhelming. His hand, still gripping her to steady her, was strong—his fingers rough with a strength that spoke of years spent in training, in protecting. There was a warmth to his touch that seeped into her skin, sending a rush of heat through her that left her breathless.

His face, rugged and sharp, was illuminated by the soft glow of the bonfire, casting shadows that made his features all the more striking. High cheekbones, a strong jawline covered in a fine layer of stubble, and cloudless eyes that pierced through every barrier she had carefully built around herself. Those eyes... they weren’t just observing her—they were seeing her in a way that made her feel vulnerable, exposed.

He smelled of the forest—pine and earth, mingled with something wilder, something untamed. His scent wrapped around her like a blanket, intoxicating and familiar in a way thatdidn’t make sense. Every breath she took was filled with him, making her pulse quicken, her heart race in a way she couldn’t control. She was out of breath, standing still.

His broad shoulders, the taut muscles beneath his shirt, were impossible to ignore. Yet there was something in the way he held her, something unexpectedly gentle despite his raw strength. His thumb brushed lightly over her arm, a caress so subtle she almost missed it, but it made her mouth water until she had to swallow her desire down. Once. Twice.

Raw energy hummed beneath his skin. Belatedly, Celine realized it was his animal. The wolf was barely contained within its human form.

He stood there, steady and unyielding, his chest rising and falling with each slow, measured breath, as though he were trying to control whatever storm had brewed inside him. His gaze didn’t waver, didn’t falter, and for the first time in her life, Celine felt like she had been truly seen—as if every secret, every fear, every desire she had ever tried to hide had been laid bare before this man.

This stranger. Her fated mate.

“You…” He exhaled sharply, his voice low and rough.

And that was all.

It was enough.

Celine’s pulse thundered in her ears. She could barely breathe, the air around them thick with the weight of this revelation. Her heart warred with her mind, the logic she had clung to for so long unraveling in the face of this undeniable truth.

She shouldn't want this. She couldn’t want this. She was supposed to meet Rylan tonight. She was supposed to make a choice for her pack, for her future, one rooted in duty and practicality. Not fate.

And yet... this man. This connection.

"I'll see you later, Elijah."

Celine only barely noticed the woman at his side. She was a non-factor. Even if she wasn't smiling slyly at the two of them, she would not have mattered. Because this man—Elijah—was hers and she was-

Elijah put her back on her feet. Then he put distance between them, and her fated mate let her go.

3

When Elijah’s hand shot out to catch her, the first thing he registered was how light she felt. Delicate even. Though there was nothing fragile in the way she moved.

Her skin was warm beneath his fingers. Even the wrinkled flesh at her elbow was soft as his grip steadied her. For a split second, he was caught—caught by the pulse of energy that thrummed between them, by the way her body instinctively leaned into his.

He shouldn’t have noticed. But he did. In that one instant, he took in everything about her.

Her eyes were the first thing that stole his breath—dark, wide, and framed by thick lashes. They were filled with a startled awareness that mirrored his own. They flickered with a depth, a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite place, but it was enough to make his chest tighten. They were the kind of eyes that hinted at secrets, at a strength hidden beneath layers of vulnerability.

She was beautiful, undeniably so. Her face, framed by loose strands of hair that glinted in the firelight, was a perfect blend of softness and sharp lines. High cheekbones, flushed from the night air. Lips that parted slightly, as if she was stillcatching her breath from the collision. Everything about her was mesmerizing—her skin, smooth and golden brown, the faint scent of something sweet lingering on her, mixing with the earth and smoke of the fire.

His gaze dropped briefly, taking in the curve of her neck, the way her dress clung to her body in all the right places without trying. She wasn’t dressed to impress anyone, but the simplicity of her appearance only made her more striking.

His wolf recognized her instantly.

Mate.

For a second, Elijah allowed himself to feel the weight of it. The pull. The undeniable truth. He was standing face to face with the most desirable woman he had ever encountered, the one meant for him in a way that transcended everything he knew.

Fated mate.

But he couldn’t have her. He didn't want her.

Liar, his wolf howled.

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