I know why. The mate bond is weaving itself tighter with every moment we share. She can feel it, even if she doesn’t understand what it is. The pull. The gravity. The invisible thread connecting us.
But I’m not telling her that. Not yet.
I want to win her heart first. I want her to choose me because she wants to, not because fate told her to.
I feel a smile forming. The first real smile in longer than I can remember.
“Then don’t say no.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s no heat in it. “You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
She hesitates. Then she sighs, and I can see her softening, just a little. Just enough.
“Fine. A do-over. But I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.”
“Fair enough.”
She stands up, gathering her plate to take to the sink. I watch her move, drinking in every detail. The curve of her hips. The way her hair falls across her shoulders. The way she carries herself, strong and guarded and so damn beautiful I can barely breathe.
“Imani.”
She pauses, looking back at me.
“Tell me something,” I say. “What are your hopes and dreams?”
She laughs, short and surprised. “That’s a big question for breakfast.”
“I’ve got time.”
She turns to face me fully, leaning against the counter. Something in her expression shifts, softens. For the first time since she arrived, she doesn’t look like she’s planning her escape.
“I guess we both do,” she says quietly. “Snowed in and all.”
“Snowed in and all,” I agree.
She’s quiet for a moment, staring at the window where the snow is still falling, thick and relentless. Then she looks back at me, and there’s something in her eyes I haven’t seen before.
Curiosity. Maybe even the beginning of trust.
“Alright, Tolin.” She crosses her arms, but it’s not defensive anymore. More like she’s settling in. “You want to know my hopes and dreams? Get comfortable. It’s a long list.”
I lean back in my chair, watching her, feeling warmth spread through me.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
13
IMANI
Idon’t know why I’m still standing here.
The smart thing to do would be to take my plate to the sink, thank him for breakfast, and retreat to my room. Escape while I can. Keep the walls up where they belong.
But he asked about my hopes and dreams. And the way he’s looking at me right now, like my answer actually matters, like he genuinely wants to know...
I haven’t had someone look at me like that in a long time.
