His Unsuspecting Mate

Chapter 13

Xavier

I get out of the pub, and the scent of lavender and honey tells me exactly where my mate went. The silly girl doesn't even realise she is alone in a town filled with werewolves.

I know I screwed up big time. I shouldn't have let Cain get to me. And now, he knows who she is. My mate and a helpless human. My biggest weakness. I can only imagine the many schemes he is planning at this very moment.

But worst of all, she saw the darkest part of me. She would have to see it eventually, but this was so not the place and not the time.

"I am sorry," Draco tells me. "You know that this one is on me."

"I wish I could blame you, but we both know that it is my job to control you in this kind of situation. I was as pissed as you were, so we both are at fault here," I admit to my wolf.

And it's true. She drives me crazy. A mere thought of her going out with someone else, let alone Cain, would kill me from the inside.

I stop. In front of a huge window of a bookshop stands my lost mate in her pretty little red coat. She obviously doesn't know what to do or where to go… But something in the window has caught her attention. She doesn't look like a bookworm, but she has an old soul, so she might be one. It was something I felt even back when I met her in the woods all those years ago. I knew she was my mate, but since I was young, I couldn't put it into words. When I told everything to my Dad, he told me that human mates don't exist. I had no reason to not trust him. No reason, but one… The girl in the woods, who became calm as soon as she met me in my wolf form. Usually, people would be scared to death. But not her. Well, of course, now I know she thought that I was a damn husky! How on Earth, considering werewolves' sizes – Goddess only knows…

How do I fix things with her now? Is she afraid of me? Why can't she be with me the way she was back then – in the woods?

I cannot lose her. This can't be happening…

She notices my reflection when I come closer but doesn't turn to face me. I guess I deserve it.

"I am sorry for my behaviour earlier," I get straight to the point. "I wish you wouldn't have seen it…."

"That makes two of us, Xavier," she sighs. "What was that about?"

"Cain and I… we have history. Bad history," I confess to her, "His words just get to me… on a whole different level."

"How bad can it be for you to react like that?" She turns to me with her cute face looking confused.

"Look, that's really a story for another day…." I say. Yep, for a day when you would know the truth about werewolves. It's next to impossible to explain that now.

"Whatever," she says, clearly upset. "Just take me back to that place."

My heart aches. I've made her miserable, and she doesn't consider the dorms home… or even school. I screwed up my mission of making her fall in love with this place. And me.

"Look, Stella, I don't want to finish our date on that note," I smile.

"It's not a date!" She rolls her eyes, tired and annoyed.

"One last thing," I say. "It'll take just a few minutes, and I bet it'll fix your mood, at least a little bit."

I have to try. One last time.

STELLA

"W-well?" He asks as he presses his body to mine from the back, gripping my waist with his hand. Awkward.

"I can't believe you are making me ride on a freaking merry-go-round!" I snort, And on a side note – I think this unicorn is too small for both of us.

We are sitting on a sparkly white unicorn with golden hair and horn. I am gripping the pole tightly while Xavier holds it with one of his hands, and the other is pulling me closer. That cheeky brat. That was well planned.

"What are you talking about?" he chuckles, "The unicorn is definitely is a two-seater!"

"For kids!" I retort.

"Well, you are tiny, so it'll do!" He whispers in my ear, his nose brushing against it as he speaks, making me tremble. I catch the scent of his cologne – something with sandalwood. Intoxicating.

The music starts playing and… Oh, God! I can't believe we are in this position! The damn unicorn rocks and goes up and down. And so do we. Xavier's crotch is pressing into my ass every time. Damn!

The whole situation is so absurd that I can't help but start laughing hysterically. I can't stop. There are even tears in my eyes. I hear Xavier chuckle into my ear, and I relax my back into him.

"I knew you'd like it!" He says and bites my ear lightly, sending waves of shocks and pleasure into my body. I turn to him to scold him, my face properly red... But before I say anything, he presses his forehead against me and looks deep into my eyes. A little electric tingle runs through me. This is so intimate…

His nose brushes against mine, and his lips are almost…

Then he leans closer, and his lips capture mine. His tongue glides inside of my mouth and makes me feel things I did not expect.

Wait! One of us has to come to our senses!

I pull back, and he frowns. The music stops. I jump off and start walking towards the area where his car is parked. Or at least this is where I think it's parked.

"Stella, wait!" He catches up and pulls me by my hand, turning me to face him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing! We really need to get back!" Is all I say.

"Stella, talk to me!" He insists. "What happened just now?"

"What do you want from me, Xavier?!" I almost scream at him. "Why the hell would you kiss me if you don't want to be seen with me in the first place!"

He looks shocked.

"Why do you think that?" He asks.

"W-well… You didn't want to be in a photo with me even once. And when we went to that pub, you chose the table that couldn't be seen easily… I am not an i***t, you know!" I just say it how it is. "Is it some game for you?! Did you have a bet with your friends or something?"

"And how would a photo give you that idea?" He chuckles, and I want to slap him, but suddenly he pulls me into his arms. "Stella, there are no jokes or bets. I am really interested in you. I liked you the moment I saw you."

I gulp. This confession is a bit too much for me.

"And as for the photos… I just can't appear on social media at the moment," he smiles. "It's because of my family and has nothing to do with you. I promise."

"Somehow your family isn't in the way of Carter posting tons of photos with Elle," I mumble.

"That's because Carter is not the head of the family at the moment," Xavier sighs. "He doesn't have any responsibilities. Or a job… Just school. It's different for me."

"Different how?" I can't help asking.

"Well, you know I am nineteen, right? Almost twenty, to be exact. I had to drop out of school to take my father's position, after his death. I am only back now to take my exams this year and get my certificate. That's it. I have a job that I have to do. And that job requires a lot of sacrifices. That's why I am nowhere near social media and stuff. I am sorry. I should have explained it earlier."

He stops speaking, and for a moment, we just stay silent. If it was anyone else, I would have believed that all that is just a load of bullshit. However, with Xavier… Somehow, I just believe him. I hope I am not going to regret this later.

"All right." I shrug my shoulders. "I am sorry too. Stupid photos are no big deal for me anyway."

I look at him, and he seems sad. But then, his eyes lit up, and he pulls my hand so that I follow him.

"Where are we going now?" I manage to ask.

"I have an idea!" He smirks, and when we stop, I see what he means.

We are in front of a vintage-looking photo booth! No way!

He puts a few coins inside, and we enter. It's tiny, so I am sitting on his lap, which makes Xavier extremely happy. And I feel tricked...

The countdown begins, and we make silly faces time after time, after time… Then finally, I turn to him and decide to mess up his hair for one of the shots.

"Naughty girl!" He pulls me close in an attempt to kiss me, but I turn my face away, and instead of my lips, he lands on my cheek as I laugh.

We get the strings of photos, and each one is better than the last.

"Is that good enough?" – He grins at me.

"Perfect!" I laugh as he hands me one of the strings, "Erm, but what about the rest of them?"

"Well, these are mine!" He winks and folds the one he's got, then gets out his wallet and puts it in the transparent department with the image of him kissing me on top.

The sudden realisation hits me. What have I done?!