Fangs and Fur: The Alpha king's mate

Protection

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the feeling of his lips lingering on my cheek tingling in its wake. I hate how much it stirs something inside me, how my own body betrays me. I remind myself of every reason I don't want to be here, don't want to be with him. Yet here I was, feeling a warmth crawl up my neck.

My mind and body finding with themselves.

He walks around the car and opens my door with a faint almost amused smirk. I stubbornly ignored it, and I stepped out with my chin high. I didn't want him to know how easily he was getting under my skin.

As we head toward the restaurant I feel his hand brush my lower back. I didn't move away, but I didn't acknowledge it, either.

Once inside, we were shown to a quiet booth, and I slid in across from him and I made sure to keep my expression neutral.

We order our food mouth-watering and the smell fuels my hunger.

"So," I say as I break the silence, "is this how you charm all the women you want?"

He leans back. "No, not really. I do not go on dates in Adelaide. I will say you are probably the most beautiful."

I raise an eyebrow trying not to let his words affect me. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Sebastian. You should know that by now."

"Maybe," he replies unfazed. "But I'm not trying to flatter you. I'm just stating a fact."

I take a sip of my drink. "So, what's your angle here? You can't possibly think this little lunch is going to win me over."

He leans forward. "I'm not trying to win you over. You are already mine, you just need some motivation, if you will."

I felt irritated at his words. "Already yours? Is that your way of saying you've decided I belong to you?"

He shrugs a confident smile appears on his face "In a sense. I know what I want, and you're it. It's just a matter of time before you feel it too. The bond is fate written in the fabric of time itself."

"Time?" I scoff and shake my head. "You make it sound so simple. What makes you think I'll just fall for you and become whatever you think I should be like a perfectly behaved queen?"

His expression shifted slightly. "Because I know you're drawn to me, whether you want to admit it or not. There's something between us, and it's stronger than either of us. You will eventually understand countship, besides I think you would make a fine queen."

I roll my eyes as I try to dismiss his words. "You have a very inflated sense of your appeal, Sebastian. Just because you think there's a connection doesn't mean I feel the same thing."

He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest. "I'm not talking about attraction, Adelaide. I'm talking about something deeper. You can't deny that we have a bond that's hard to ignore. You might be human but that doesn't mean you can't feel it drawing you to me like a magnet."

"Bond? You mean the one you've forced on me by marking me?" I shot back my irritation starting to bubble to the surface. "That's not something I asked for!"

"You are my mate, other supernatural mates would have already completed the bond,  it takes a lot out of me mentally. I do what you want and I will let you come to me to give you the time you need."

I take a deep breath. "And what if I choose to fight this? What if I want nothing to do with whatever this is?"

He met my gaze supremely not flinching at my word choice. "Then we'll just keep having lunches like this until you change your mind. I'm persistent, you know."

"Persistent, or annoying?" I ask, unable to resist the jab.

"Perhaps a bit of both," he replies with a smirk. "But you're enjoying it, even if you won't admit it."

"Am I?" I say as I raise an eyebrow. "Seems like you have a very high opinion of yourself."

"Just being realistic," he says with a smirk. "You'll come around. Just give it time."

"Time is not what I need," I mutter as I push my drink away. "What I need is space."

"Space?" He leans in closer with a low and teasing tone. "You think pushing me away is going to work? It only makes me want to get closer."

I sigh loudly before saying. "You really are impossible, you know that?"

"Impossibly charming, maybe," he counters with a playful expression. "Admit it; you're intrigued. You wouldn't be here otherwise."

"Or maybe I'm just here because I have no other options," I snap as I cross my arms defiantly.

"Then let me give you a reason to stay," he says with a serious tone. "I can show you a world you never knew existed, one that's full of excitement and passion. All you have to do is take the leap with me, in exchange maybe we can discuss and come to an agreement on human laws that your little rebellion will be happy with."

Before I could respond, the waiter arrived with our food. I focus on my plate as I hope it can give me a moment to gather my thoughts.

I feel my heart race at his words, and a mix of annoyance and confusion starts to swirl inside me. "What makes you think I want to be yours? I didn't sign up for ownership."

He shrugs with a playful. "You may not have signed up, but you're already entangled. I can see it in the way you look at me, even when you pretend not to."

"Look, Sebastian," I began plainly. "Just because you have some bond magic doesn't mean you can just claim me like a trophy."

"Claiming you? Is that what you think this is?" He says as he leans back again the smirk never having left leaving his face. "I don't need to claim anything. I simply want you to see the truth—there's a connection here, whether you want to admit it or not. We are meant for each other."

"Connection?" I scoff. "You mean this weird, irritating pull I feel every time I'm near you? That's not a connection; that's a trap."

He leans forward yet again and his expression turns more serious. "Maybe it's a trap designed to keep you safe, with me. There are forces out there that want to harm your kind and you're oblivious to them. You need someone like me."

"Someone like you?" I shot back and crossed my arms defensively. "A hybrid who thinks he can dictate my life? I don't need protection. I can take care of myself."

"Can you?" He challenges me. "Because it doesn't seem that way to me. You're constantly putting yourself in danger, and you're too stubborn to see it. Like for example that card yor friend gave you is covered in a witch's scent."