Duke Charming | Craig

Twenty-Five

I felt like a new person after that quick rendezvous with Craig in the photobooth. My body blazed with energy and adrenaline as I let him lead me to our table by the hand, out fingers interlocked. It felt so...normal. And yet so strange and new.

Under normal circumstances, and in a world where the supernatural didn't exist, I imagined Craig and I would've met one day while both of us were working. I'd be managing Nellie's when he'd bring in a group of tourists for lunch. It would've still been love at first sight the moment we made eye contact when I'd ask him what he'd like to drink.

First, he would ask me about myself, what's my name, do I work here every day – 'Oh, you own 'tis place? Interestin'.'

Secondly, he'd try impressing me by fact-dropping his tour group while the ate, loudly so to ensure that I heard him too. 'Did you folks know tha' Loch Lomond is believed to 'ave its own beastie? Some say...' and he'd go on and on until I brought him his coffee.

Thirdly, he'd subtly try asking me out, but would fail terribly because he's so shy when it comes to romance. 'So, 'ave you ever been to The Den b'fore, lass? B'cause I 'aven't and I, uh, thought you could, y-you know, show me where it is. But you know wha'? I'll figure it out. I'll probably get lost on m'way there, though, since I've got a, uh...terrible sense of direction. Aye, that's it.'

In the end, I'd end up writing my number down on his receipt after he paid for his coffee, telling him to call me if he 'ever gets lost' on his way to The Den.

Yes, I would've dated Craig in a normal world. And I fully believed I would've fallen for him in less than a week – much like I did under the influence of the mating bond.

He filled me with so much life and confidence, it's impossible not to feel empowered around him. And I think I've figured out why our bond made me feel weightless. They say each bond is different and unique, some are based off passion and others trust. I fully believed my and Craig's were based off unconditional love.

Unconditional despite his age and status, and unconditional despite my defects and rank.

It could be based off something else entirely – like I said, I wasn't taught much of mating bonds from my father and pack – but that's what I was clinging on to for now.

"Oh, hello again," Craig greeted his family once we arrived at the table. Still holding my hand, he let me take a seat first before scooting in next to me. His arm immediately wrapped around my shoulders to tuck me in against him.

Feeling bold, I dragged my hand up his leg to let it rest on his thigh, loving how he tensed underneath me.

"Oh, hello," Reyna greeted back smugly. "Took some nice photos?"

"Aye, my lass 'ere's a natural in front o' a camera," Craig said proudly, hugging me tight against him. "Very photogenic, I tell you."

"We heard," Victor replied, staring at us with a blank expression. "Best not add those photos to any of the family albums...for our future children's sake."

To my – and everyone's surprise – I started giggling. It was unavoidable at this point. Like Reyna continued to tell Seren, it's normal wolf behaviour to want to go at it with your mate at every chance you get. Hell, I was already good to go for round two with Craig.

The point was, they knew what it was like when Reyna and Alex met. They went through it a second time with Ash and Rheon. And I was willing to bet once Clemmy turns eighteen and experiences the power of her bond with Blake, the poor warlock-werewolf wouldn't get any rest – and neither of us at the castle.

For werewolves, the concept of having sex with your mate shouldn't be something to be embarrassed about. If anything, it should be concerning if I wasn't at it with Craig at every chance we get. But I wasn't taught that at my former pack, was I? I had to learn about bonds all by myself through mere observations and, in the end, my own experience with Dario however brief and agonizing it was.