Page 30 of Red

“Do you want the obvious answer or—”

Julia chimes in, “I just hate that you have to restrain yourself so much!”

“I don’t. I adore each moment with you.”

“Yeah, me too. But I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for you.” She nuzzles into my neck. “Um, I mean, aren’t there any female werewolves?”

“Actually, no,” I respond, making her headshoot back up. “A wolf mutation gene is passed through the generations. Women born of my kind remain carriers, yet they don’t shift. We’re unsure why exactly it doesn’t affect females the same way. But only biological men transform when they reach their physical peak, usually around mid-twenties to early-thirties.”

Red blinks a few times. “Oh.”

“It isn’t uncommon for the two werewolves to get together, though. And in some cases, even vampires—who we don’t necessarily get along with easily—turn out to be our fated mates. We don’t choose the person… It happens instantly and it can be anyone, no matter what species or gender. But it’salwayssomeone exactly right for us, and vice versa.”

She shivers in my arms, yet I know it has no correlation with the weather. “So I’m not going crazy?”

I smirk. “I don’t believe you are.”

“What did you mean about our lives being interconnected?”

“You die, I dietype of situation.”

“But that means you’ll die soon. I’m human, my life span is short. You’ve lived for centuries and now—”

I stop her blabbering. “Your life span will bedirectly linked to mine after we bond.”

“Ah, I see. Are you immortal?”

I explain, “There are very few things on this planet than can kill a werewolf, but we do age. Just much,muchslower than humankind. My ancestors are known to be especially long-lived, exceeding even a millennium. But it primarily depends on the shifting habits. As we gain more experience, we’re able to maintain our human form for extended periods. And when we don’t feel the need to phase anymore, we’re ready to age as people whenever we prefer to do so.”

Her doe eyes are wide and her lips tremble as she asks, “What if I don’t want any of this?”

The thought alone of such an outcome drills a hole through my chest.

“You have every right to reject me, Julia. As I’d keep my distance, you’d stop experiencing whatever is happening to your body currently. Our bonding wouldn’t complete, and you could go back to your normal life.”

Except, she couldn’t because of the hunters. I also don’t have the strength to stay away from her anymore. Yet, Iwoulddo my best to respect her decision and keep things platonic.

“But what would happen to you then?”

“It’s not important.”

Taking what would be the cheeks of my face between her hands, she keeps our eyes locked together. “Alex, what would happen to you?”

“I’d never be whole,” I reply honestly. “It’s aboutyourfeelings, however.”

“Idofeel something… It’s all happening so fast, though. I know you’ve been watching me for weeks, but I only just met you. We haven’t even had a single date yet.”

“What do you call this then?” I wave at the surroundings.

“Fine, it counts.” An adorable dimple in her cheek as she smiles. “But tomorrow we do it my way. Dinner and movie at my place… and me wearing a dress.”

“Mmm, can’t argue with that.”

“You’re still coming home with me tonight, correct?”

“I’m not sure,” I tease. “Perhaps we should slow down. We haven’t even been on a date yet, and you were alreadybeggingme to take you. Not a care in the world whether I put a pup in your fertile womb.”

The picture I have in my head of her belly swelling with my young as her breasts become heavy and full of milk does things for me. It’s so carnal, I get crazed straightaway.

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