I'm eating dinner with my husband, spaghetti and meatballs, we're drinking wine.
He smiles as he glances up at me, his eyes showing that sparkle every time he looks at me. He takes a sip of wine and holds my hand.
"I love you" he whispers in my ear, then he kisses the back of my hand before he continues eating his spaghetti.
I can taste the sweet taste of whine, I can feel the heat of his leg as he brushes mine, I can feel the dampness of his kiss lingering in the back of my hand, I can even feel the light breeze coming through the window and smell the wet dirt outside as it rains softly barely making a noise.
Yet I know it's not real, I know he's been dead for over two hundred years.
I love these dreams, when it all feels real, when I can feel as if I was with him again.
Everything starts to fade, all I see is darkness, I feel the fresh tears in my eyes as I wake up.
I wipe them away to take a shower, it's a new day, better start early.
I wash my face many times trying to erase the past from my eyes.
I walk out and dry my hair quickly.
"Morning Rosa" I greet my best friend as we make our way to the headquarters. She notices my slightly swollen eyes but doesn't comment.
"Morning bestie, I have something for you today, a solo mission, a mermaids daughter was kidnapped by the Mosquite Coven up north, they're pretty feisty"
I smile, I like solo missions, I don't have to worry about keeping anyone safe, we enter the headquarters as I head straight for the secret tunnel.
"So what's the plan?" I ask as I put on my mask.
"You'll have to fly there, but you have to be very fast, reach the middle of the coven and burn it all to the ground, the girl is in the small lake by their settlement, I'll send you the location".
I nod as I let the fire bleed from my veins and engoulf my whole body, I slowly levitate off the ground getting ready to leave.
"Good luck girl" she says as I take off.
CAUTION CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT.
"Say it, Allison," he said, his voice low as he trapped me against the rough wall.
A shiver ran down my spine, his voice pulling at me, the power in it making me want to do anything he asked.
I shook my head, afraid my voice might betray me.
His teeth lightly grazed my neck causing a sigh to get past my lips. I could feel him smile against my skin. He knew he was going to get what he wanted one way or another.
I tried to slip away, but he grabbed my wrists, pinning them down tightly. He pressed his hard body against me. I was aware of every inch of him that was touching me.
"Don't think you can just leave. We're not done yet."
My stomach tightened at his words, the desire inside burning for him. My damn body at war with my mind yet again.
He slid his hand up to the edge of my shorts, slowly working it's way up as his mouth trailed small nips from my neck to my collar bone and lower, stopping only when he reached the fabric.
I could feel my resolve weakening as his hand reached its destination.
"Say it," he demanded.
I moaned, my head tipping back as he moved expertly. I wanted to say it then, I really did. But if I said the words, there was no going back.
*****************
Allison Cole has just turned seventeen. Most girls would be excited, but she doesn't see it as anything special. She can now find her mate, wherever he is.
But she doesn't put much stock in mates or true love. How could something like that be predetermined? Things only go from bad to worse when on that very day she discovers who her mate actually is.
Will Allison be able to overcome her bleak thoughts about mates and accept hers? Or is the man bad enough to make her run away?
Caught between her body, her mind, and what's best for her pack. Allison must make her decision.
Is it worth it?