Page 13 of Marked
Mine.
It’s primal instinct, but it’s also fed by the obsession I had with Cheyenne Clark from the first time I laid eyes on her. I was captivated by her long before our mate bond snapped in.
Okay, it might’ve only been a couple weeks, butstill. She’s my dream girl.
Chey smiles shyly as she and Lo begin making their way over to our table, averting her gaze as a blush rises to her cheeks. I immediately slide out of the booth and pop up to my feet, grinning like a fool as she draws closer. When she’s within arm’s length, I impulsively go in for a hug.
Wrong move.
She stiffens as I wrap my arms around her body, drawing a sharp inhale. I’m quick to realize my mistake and releasemy hold, jerking backwards and immediately launching into a fumbled apology.
“Shit, sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” I rush out. “I forgot that you don’t like-”
“It’s fine,” she interrupts, shifting her weight uncomfortably as she glances around the restaurant.
“Seriously, I didn’t-”
“Iver,” she snaps, pinning me with a hard stare. “It’sfine.”
That’s when I realize how many people are looking at us. I was born into pack rank, so I’m used to being recognized wherever I go. I’ve learned to ignore it. Chey is clearly not accustomed to the spotlight, and the added attention is only making this whole situation worse.
I invaded her personal spaceandmade a scene.This date is clearly off to a great start.
“Yeah, okay,” I breathe, stabbing my fingers through my hair as I take a step backwards and gesture to the bench seat on our side of the booth. Lo has already slid in closest to the wall on the opposite side, Javi seated beside her. I motion for Chey to do the same and take the interior seat, but she hesitates, rolling her lower lip between her teeth.
“Uh, after you,” she murmurs, tipping her head.
It’s not that I’m picky about my seat at the table, it’s just instinctual for me to place my mate on the inside, shielding her from any potential harm. I probably should’ve considered who I’m mated to, though. Chey clearly has an issue with feeling trapped.
Fuck, I’m just continually screwing this up.
I quickly slide back into the booth, scooching over to take the spot closest to the wall, across form Lo. As soon as Chey sits down beside me, I jump right into another attempt at steering this runaway train back on the track.
“I didn’t know what kind of margaritas you liked, so I ordered both lime and strawberry,” I say, gesturing to the glasses on the table. “I figured I’d just drink whichever one you don’t want.”
Her brow furrows. “But don’t you hate tequila?”
“Well yeah, but everyone else seems to love the margaritas here, and I wanted to have a drink waiting for you when you got here, so I just…”
“She’ll have the lime, I’ll have the strawberry,” Lo interrupts, leaning forward over the table to pluck up the strawberry margarita. She hovers in close as she does, meeting my eyes and dropping her voice low. “Seriously, little bro, have you always been this bad at dating?”
“The stakes have never been this high,” I grumble back under my breath.
“Well loosen up, you’re acting weird,” she huffs, rolling her eyes as she drops back into her seat, strawberry margarita in hand.
I glance over at Chey sheepishly, nudging the lime margarita toward her.
“You could’ve just askedme, y’know,” Javi comments between sips of his own drink. “I know what Chey likes.”
“Well then why didn’t you speak up when I ordered both?” I scoff.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Thought you were just thirsty.”
I cut him a glare, then roll my eyes and turn my attention back to Cheyenne. She’s staring down at the lime margarita, but she’s made no move to take it. In fact, she’s not moving at all. It’s like she’s frozen in place, her amber eyes glazed over and her breath coming out in short bursts.
My inner wolf surges to the surface, and I suddenly realize the anxiety I’m feeling isn’t only mine. I can feelhersthrough our bond. She’s covering it well, but she’s freaking out right now.
Was it the hug? The people staring? The drink?
