Mated

Seven

"You're young." His eyes gleamed a disapproving light and the corner of his lips twitched, hiding a scowl. I inhaled sharply and felt heat begin to creep up my neck. Was that his problem with being mated to me? He thinks I am too young for him?

"The youngest Luna to ever mate was only fourteen years old," I replied, keeping my voice leveled with his.

"You're Viennan." The way he said it, added an 'n' at the end of Vienna as if I were another race, was unmistakable.

"What is that supposed to mean?" After apologizing just moments ago, he was back to cold.

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. I watched as the lamp light caught in the dark locks between his fingers when they fell back down.

"Your father is known for shutting out his pack. Keeping them too close to the humans, the Real. He doesn't even mention Rogues to his people. And he has one of the largest packs in the East. You would think—" He sighed, though it sounded more like a frustrated grunt. "You would think he would make his daughter, the last Pierce, more aware."

"My father is a great Alpha," I looked him up and down, suddenly angry that he would discuss my old pack so boldly and criticize my father's doings.

Everything my father ever did was to protect us. Even if it were possible that he kept us in the dark, it had kept the pack away from danger. "An even greater Alpha would thank Lycaon for his mate." I turned to leave, my heart pounded loudly in my chest. I was breathless with anger. Anger at him, my wolf's anger at me for being angry with him.

His hand wrapped around my wrist. I halted, looked down at it. His hand was large enough to envelop my wrist, making me feel small beneath it. My eyes traveled up the length of his arm. He let go, studied me for a moment, then spoke again.

"If this is real..."

I opened my mouth ready to bid him another goodnight, not wanting to continue our disagreement. In a heartbeat he was closer, cupping my face in his rough hands to hold me in place before leaning down and crushing my lips.

I froze. Just as I was going to react, he broke the kiss and I breathed deeply, rebuilding my composure and allowing air to flow freely back into my lungs because, for some reason, I'd stopped breathing.

He looked at me and I watched his eyes wander over my face, with his lips still slightly parted, glowing vibrant green. Then they jumped wider as if realizing what he'd done and he stepped back until he was several feet away.

He turned his attention away from me and ran a thumb over his bottom lip. "It's impossible—" His face completely closed off again. I was still rigid with surprise and unsure of what to say. So he continued. "You should...go."

"I agree. I should," I nodded then let myself out.

James didn't come to dinner. When Julie suggested I take his food to his room, I shook my head and she simply nodded.

"Where's Evangeline?" I heard someone ask. It was Colby.

"She went out," Ryder was the one who answered. Or is she with James? I couldn't help but think.

"Out?" Colby pushed.

"She went to visit her father, Colb," Mike butt in. "Geez get a hold of yourself and stop acting like a lost puppy." Colby shoved Mike and made him spill his drink. Mike pushed his chest and got up and they started scuffling on the floor. Danny, who barely spoke around me out of shyness, tried to break it up.

"Come on guys you're ruining dinner!" Nad yelled across from me in James' seat.

"May I take your plate?" Julie asked.