I grimaced. “I already had a mate.”
“But you rejected him.” He stepped closer. “You could, in fact, be my mate…”
I looked up into his eyes, and I could see the hope flare there. “I mean…sure it’s possible. But what are the chances?”
He took the last step, pulling me against him. “I don’t care about the chances…I don’t care that your father kept us apart. I don’t care that you have magic, you have a pup, I don’t even care if you want to stay in your dad’s pack once this is all over. The only thing I care about is you.”
My breath was sucked from my lungs. “Rowan.”
“Please Amy.” He leaned down and put his forehead against me. “I don’t beg…anyone. I’m a king, sure, but I am a man first and I am begging here. If you need me to get on my knees, I will. Erubus is going crazy inside, because Nix and Megan won’t meetwith him. He’s so infatuated with them, and I will beg, I will crawl. Whatever you need, I will do it. Just please. Give it a shot.”
“What if I’m not your mate? What then? We will be right back here, hurting each other.”
He shook his head. “Goddess, no.” He grabbed my hands. “I don’t want to hurt you. I obviously won’t be taking anymore advice from your dad, but fuck Amy. If you aren’t my mate…I’m okay with not being able to release my scent ever. I’m okay with forsaking everyone else for you.” He slid his hands up my arms and cupped my face. “I want you. Mate or not. I need you in my life, and whether it’s as a friend, or more?” He leaned down and kissed me.
His kiss was hesitant, but full of need. When he realized I wasn’t pulling away, he deepened it. His hands tightened on my face, and a deep rumble in his chest. His lips became hungrier as he tilted my head for better access.
Nix was pacing and Megan was panting on the ground.Amy, this isn’t a smart move. You need to stop before you push us into our heat.
Megan’s tongue was hanging out of her mouth. She popped up long enough to look at me with fire in her eyes.It might be too late.
I wrenched my mouth from Rowan’s and I watched his face fall. I needed a minute, but then he turned away and panic set in. “Wait.” I spun him round and lept into his arms, slamming my mouth on his. His groan was delicious as he wrapped his hands around my ass. I pulled back. “We have to stop.”
“Why?” He leaned in and caught my lips again.
I pulled back with a chuckle. “Because I’m about to start another heat, and if you keep kissing me, it will start whether or not we want it to.”
He pulled back to stare at my face. “You only go into heat if you found a male your wolf likes…”
Chapter Twenty
Inodded. “Yeah.”
His hands slipped from under me. He was still holding me up, but he was trying to create space. “I’m sorry.”
I tilted my head and raised my eyebrow. “Why are you sorry?”
He placed me down on the ground. “Your wolves have picked someone.”
I nodded. “They have, but it doesn’t change or effect who I will decide to mate with.”
His face fell and then he turned his face away. “I thought you were in sync with your wolves.”
I smiled and snagged his hand. “I am. They are the ones that decided.” I pulled him back to the table and pushed him back into his chair. “Megan was the first to decide to pull away from romantic decisions.”
“Why?” He grabbed a bottle and drank as I went back to my seat.
“Because her mate was Brandon and well…come on. I know it is the Goddess’s will, but in my last life she was head over heels for him and look where that got us.”
Hey!Megan looked a little hurt.It’s true but low blow. Nix chuffed out a laugh.
“Okay…but what about Nix?”
I grimaced at the question. “Honestly? She pulled back because of you and Erubus.”
He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Really?”
I nodded. “You kinda of messed me up.” I took a drink. “And I’m not saying this to upset you. Just the facts. She didn’t pull back until after she found out that Erubus was you.”
