Page 23 of Promise & Artem

She understood what he meant. She knew he just as easily could have lost his own life in one of those fights, so she was thankful he was done with it.

Or that he would be, as soon as he let the owner know he wasn’t going to fight anymore.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said, his voice gruff.

She went onto her toes and kissed him.

They’d been sneaking kisses all day. And sometimes boldly making out when they were alone.

She loved kissing him, loved how her body responded to his and her wolf was always howling happily in her head. They fit so easily together, she understood now why people waited for years to find their truemates: it was incredible to find the other half of your heart in the flesh.

He pulled from the kiss and reached over, opening the front door. “Bye, beautiful.”

She let go of him and walked into the cabin, smiling at him as she closed the door. Leaning against the door with a happy sigh, she pulled her phone from her pocket and called her mom.

“Hi, sweetie,” her mom said. “How are the mountains?”

“Amazing!”

Her mom paused and then said, “Did you find your truemate?”

“How could you tell?”

“Because you sound so happy!”

“I am,” she said, making her way to the couch and sitting down with a contented sigh. She waited while her mom grabbed her dad so he could hear the good news too, and then she told them both about the dream and finding Artem.

“A minotaur shifter?” her dad asked. “I’ve heard of them but never met one. It’s pretty neat that you were both able to have a dream about each other.”

“What are your plans?” her mom asked.

“Well, the only real plans we have right now involve a first date in about an hour. But after that? We haven’t gotten that far.”

“You’ll stay in Pennsylvania, though?” her dad asked.

That was one thing they had discussed. “Yes. I’ll obviously bring him down to Allen with me so he can meet you two and also help me pack up my place and move up here. The timing of that is open, as is an official mating ceremony.”

“If we can be there for the ceremony, we’d love to come,” her mom said. “But we also understand that sometimes outsiders aren’t welcome. I’m sure Alpha Jason would handle your mating ceremony here in the ways of our people, even if Artem won’t be joining up.”

“I’ll keep you guys posted.”

“Well, have fun on your date,” her dad said. “Love you, honey.”

“I love you too,” her mom said.

“Love you both,” Promise said.

The call ended and she rose to her feet and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the last first date of her life. She couldn’t wait to see Artem again and see where the night took them.

Artem hadn’t worn dress clothes since Isolde’s twenty-first birthday party, when she’d insisted that everyone wear dressy clothes at a fancy restaurant in Philadelphia. He wore that same outfit: black dress shirt and pants with dress shoes. He’d borrowed a tie from his dad since the only one he had was cherry red and reminded him of Christmas.

He’d stopped by Angel and her mates’ cabin before getting in his truck. She’d cut a bouquet of wildflowers that she cultivated in her garden to use in craft projects at his request. The pretty purple and yellow blooms smelled amazing and he hoped that Promise would like them.

He drove to her cabin and got out, carrying the flowers with him. Promise opened the door as he approached and he froze in place.

She looked incredible in a curve-hugging black dress that showed just the right amount of cleavage to make his mouth water. She had a gauzy floral wrap around her shoulders, and her dark hair was curled and looked like a glossy waterfall around her shoulders.

“My wolf let me know you were close,” she said. “Even before I heard your truck’s engine.”

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