The Fenrir Saga - Part I

Chapter 39

Hild

I had one of the most extraordinary evenings of my entire life. The last 3-4 months of my life had taken such a steep upward curve in all things good, and this night was crowning them all.

I didn't know anything about finding your mate, as Dhalia described it. But I knew that I liked Ben. I liked being around him, and I liked the way I felt around him. I liked him. And he smelled good. I was pretty sure it was cologne, though. He was funny and charming, and he made me feel good. And I liked him. And most importantly, I was not afraid of him.

However, with red flaming cheeks, I now realized that he would never love, I mean like, me back. Not that I loved him, of course; that would be ridiculous. I just met him. I just really, really, really liked him. But it didn't matter now, did it? I had told him, and why did I do that? about my past, and it was clear from the stiff goodnight that it was not only a stiff goodnight but also a goodbye. Good-looking, good-smelling, warm, soothing, and perfect Alpha King Prospect Ben Connors could not have a stripper for a girlfriend. Of course not. A princess was out there waiting for him to find her, or vice versa. I was ashamed that I had lured myself into thinking otherwise during this one evening.

I wished I was a teenager again so I could fling myself onto my bed and cry on my pillow. But I wasn't, so when I got back into our tent and found Vidar with eyes closed in the armchair, I climbed up into his lap and sobbed into his shoulder. His body jerked at my touch, but then a warm embrace engulfed me, and I felt his chin rest on my head. He really was lovable.

"Vidar, why is life so hard?"

He moved his head backward, his pristine features inches from mine, eyeing me curiously.

"You look smashing. You have just been to a prominent dinner and were walked home by a man who, from what I could hear, put a smile on your face. You kind of have high expectations on life if you find that hard," he said with a tired smile and a concerned look. "What is wrong?"

"I don't know," I pouted with my lips, and he hugged me tighter. "I just don't want him to walk around thinking ill of me."

He smiled in my hair.

"Did you just quote Pride and Prejudice?"

Seriously?

He stifled a yawn and stood up with me still in his arms.

"Whoever this man is, no one can think ill of you in the long run, Hild. Now, why don't you go to bed? You'll see it will all be better tomorrow."

He put me on my bed, said goodnight to the both of us and left.

I thought about getting B ready for bed, or at least getting her undressed and cleaned, but I was in a sad state of despair and couldn't deal. I knew I was ridiculous. I knew that one doesn't fall head over heels in love with someone after only meeting them a few times. More specifically, one doesn't feel heartbreak before even kissing said person that one has only met a few times, just because they said goodbye to you a little too fast.

But.

I kind of liked him.

When Dhalia talked about mates, he popped into my mind.

During dinner, he was nice, sweet, and funny.

He walked me home.

Most importantly, I had wanted to touch him.

Not because he wanted it. Not because he expected it. Just because I wanted to know how it felt.

I didn't dare take his hand when he offered. Frankly, I was afraid there would be no sparkles, leaving me without hope. Of course, I wanted to know about the sparkles, but I also didn't want to know because what if this magnificent person was not mine?