Page 7 of Fated to the Panther

Chapter

Six

ROANE

“Ihad no idea witches didn’t believe in fate. And if we had more time, I’d figure out a way to call on the Moirai. But I think now is a good time to take a bit of a break. I’ll make us something to eat, as I’m sure you’re hungry.” I forced myself from touching her, forced myself to lock down the mating bond screaming within me that she was mine. “I certainly am.”

I’ve never had to work harder for anything in my almost thousand years of life than keeping myself from dragging my gorgeous mate to bed and claiming her. If she needed more time, then I’d give it to her. For now.

“Y-yes. That sounds like a good idea.” Kara averted her gaze.

Was that disappointment I heard in her voice? Good, at least I wasn’t suffering alone.

Standing, I stomped into the kitchen area, making sure to stay as far away from Kara as possible. “How does steak sound? Or I might have some beans and rice if you don’t eat meat.” Banging pots and pans helped a bit to release my frustration, but I feared nothing would be enough.

“How do you keep meat fresh—wait, maybe I don’t want to know where you got it from. I uh, that sounds fine. I’d love some water too.”

Chuckling, I knew what her pretty mind worried about. “No, I didn’t make the kill for this meat. Rest assured, I have no issues, as deep as we are in the jungle, with securing food. But I also have protein shakes if you’d rather have one of those. I’m fresh out of veggies though. I don’t require them, but now that you’re here, once I’ve made sure we’re no longer in danger from more demon attacks, I’ll go into the nearest town.”

Kara remained at the table while I took out the steak from the refrigerator and lit the gas stove. Her eyes followed my every movement. She may not know me, or believe me, but she wanted me.

After denying myself for centuries from sinking into any other female’s sheath, the pulsing need to do so now with my mate, Kara, sweet Kara, would simply not lessen, not for a second, even as I kept my back to her and grilled the meat.

This fucking mating bond wouldn’t cease its hold until I was balls-deep inside of her. But I wanted her to go into this fully accepting of me and the role she will play along with the other mates, the mothers of the next generation tasked with keeping the human race safe.

The one good bit of news that we’d recently learned was that what we once thought had been a vital part of the prophecy had not been true. We did not need the official binding ceremony decreed by the Moirai, or the Fates, which I’d originally been tasked with, in order to claim our mates. Meaning all we needed to do to complete the bond, was to have sex.

And it couldn’t happen soon enough for me. My panther panted at the thought, and for once we were in total agreement. Hopefully, Kara was feeling the same effects of our mystical bond.

With thoughts in my head of having her naked beneath me, I placed the meal on the table with a bang. Perhaps the meal would settle me.

“How long do you think we have to stay here?” Kara cut into her steak, slicing several small pieces before taking a tentative bite.

Cursing inwardly, I should have asked her first if she minded a rare steak. “I can put that back on the heat if you prefer it…less bloody?”

Shaking her head, she covered her mouth as she finished chewing. “Maybe I’ll take that protein shake after all. I rarely eat red meat, sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. It’s not a deal-breaker for me.” I gave her a smile before I left the table to get her shake.

“Thank you. So, how long?” She accepted the bottle, both of us making sure not to touch the other in the exchange.

“As long as it takes to ensure you’re safe. That the threat from the demons is over.” Digging back into my steak, I finished it in four bites. Yeah, the hunger in my stomach may have been sated, but for Kara, not so much.

“But I thought you, uh, killed them.” The tremor in her voice roused my panther.

The need to return to the jungle and prowl for further threats became a chant as it attempted to compel me below.“Protect our mate. Kill all the demons.”With a simple command, my other half settled, bending to my will. I was the alpha in this relationship. Without me and my mother’s twisted sense of humor, he wouldn’t have existed.

“Unfortunately, they’re like rats. There’s always another pack. And their leader has spent centuries plotting for when our mates finally showed up. His name is Dante or Dantalion and he’s a Duke of Hell. But lucky for us, he’s recently been tetheredto the underworld by Lucifer, and unable to venture topside. But he can use astral projection and does so often.”

Kara remained silent; however, she didn’t show any signs of fear. Her expression contemplative as she drank her shake.

“I may know what you’re talking about. Something I overheard my aunt telling the older members of the coven not long after my father dropped me off.”

“What did you hear?” I held my breath. Had she known about me all along?

“Only that I was chosen. But anytime I tried to get more information, they’d brush it off as my overactive imagination.” Shadows appeared in her eyes as she spoke.

“Alright. I’m sorry they made you feel you had no right to know your future. You also said your father ‘dropped you off.’ Does that mean he never returned? What about your mother?”

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