Chapter 4. His Mate

Xerina’s POV

When I opened my eyes, the sky was indigo with perfect placement of twinkling stars revealing the expanse of time. The calm breeze passed through my body and could never match the softness of his touch. I shook my head. Gather yourself, Xerina.

I arched my back at the sore sensation standing up. Mama must be worried. And Dylan! I hope Luca wasn’t home yet. The trepidation rushed through me, making me run towards the home. I was not far, but it was still at running distance. It was cold outside I regretted not bringing my jacket with me. As I reached near, I could see the car parked right outside. My heart immediately somersaulted.

He was here.

My feet halted as I panted. Fuck! He really was here. What do I do? Should I go inside? What would I say? Should I greet him? But what if he wouldn’t look at me? Did he still remember me? Did he recall our last conversation? Or what if he forgot it? Wasn’t it great?

I gulped, contemplating when I heard soft waves of laughter from inside. My jaw tightened. So, he really brought a woman home. I could even hear Luca’s giggles. Dylan!

It was enough for me to run inside. What greeted me was our living room, crowded with people. Not crowded but filled with warmth. Mama’s eyes were first to snap in my direction she looked at me with a concerned gaze. Papa gave me a little nod to come to him. What startled me more was Luca and Dylan perched in front of the TV with remote controls in their hands. I couldn’t move, even if I wanted to.

“Xerina!” Luca beamed with excitement, getting up to embrace me with his warm bear hug. My breath was knocked out as I stumbled a step back at the intensity of his strength. His bulky arms engulfed me wholly that it became harder to breathe. He seemed unaware of his own strength.

“Luca! I can’t—” Luca pulled away instantly and gave me a genuine fond smile.

“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere,” he asked, pulling me to sit on the couch with Papa. Papa lovingly ran his hand on my head, patting me with his warm hands. “Were you at the river?” he asked, and I snapped my head, giving him a glare at which he sheepishly grinned.

“Xerina.”

Oh God! No, no, no! My bewildered gaze turned into an astonishing one when my wide eyes clashed with that of a ruthless male who deprived me of love for several years—the tormentor of my nights, my forbidden nightmare. His gaze was so strong that I couldn’t pretend to hide, I wanted to cave into him, to be his one and last desire that I was left unnoticed. I could feel my head spinning; his gaze was a sorcery.

“R…” My heart thumped wildly beneath my chest to the shrill tension between us that I couldn’t voice out anything. “Rasmus.” His name tasted euphoric on my tongue.

I couldn’t tear my eyes off of him, too engrossed in him to notice another unfamiliar presence among us.

“So, you’re Xerina,” her soft, seductive voice jolted me. My gaze shifted from his handsome, cruel face to the woman stepping to his side. Her blue eyes swept over me, and she smiled. “Rasmus talks very fondly of you.”

She was… gorgeous. The way her body looked so enticing in that red dress was indescribable. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, a delicate pendant adorning her slender neck. Her bouncy breasts seemed to struggle to stay inside the bodice of her dress, adding to her allure. Her presence was magnetic.

“Oh, does he now,” I gave him a small smile but we both knew better. Rasmus’s eyes averted from mine to the woman he brought with him. Her oval face had mature yet elegant features with wide blue pale eyes and long auburn hairs that could put red color to shame. Her tall, slim, yet curvy figure complimented his tall and muscular frame, making me feel insecure. She was everything I was not.

No sane man would look at me when this beauty’s in their arms.

“Hi, I’m Ruka. Rasmus’s mate.” She offered me a genuine smile, her hands locking with Rasmus’s that I wanted to rip off her and shove down her throat. My stomach churned with jealousy.

“I’m Xerina.” His nothing.

“Dinner’s ready, kids,” Mama announced, clapping her hands. Ruka offered to help her, which Mama gladly accepted. Luca and Dylan placed their remotes on the table as Dylan approached me.

“Your brother’s fun.” He giggled, but my eyes couldn’t leave Rasmus.

He looked between Dylan and me I wanted to see jealousy in his eyes, the anguish and possessiveness knowing I was with another man, but what confronted me was his impassive look of stoniness as his jaw ticked. His aromatic, musky scent that sailed the rough to permeate the air as he moved past us had me exhale a jerky breath. My hands moved instinctively to clutch Dylan’s bicep for support.

When I turned around, Rasmus was already seated at the dining table. He glanced down at me as Dylan and I took a seat opposite them.

The wicked flame of his ardent gaze on my burning skin, I could sense it much stronger than before, to the point it left me utterly breathless, like a dying fish without water. His stare was catching my every move throughout each conversation I had with Dylan.

He sat on the opposite side with Ruka, far from me, a deliberate distance he created between us. I could see it clear as day, but I had no words to complain. It was evident he never once regarded me as a woman, for he could never reciprocate my feelings. His brawny arms sprawled on the table, and his fists clenched tight, making his blue veins flex even to the slimmest of his movements as he occasionally glanced at me with his scrutinized gaze.

This meant he must have felt something. It didn’t have to be love, for I know that would never happen, but at least it could be…attraction. I wanted him to at least feel something for me.

“You’re a charming woman, Ruka. I hope Rasmus isn’t giving you a hard time.”

“Of course not, Mrs. Knight. I’m glad he is by my side.” Her pale blue eyes looked at him with tender adoration, leaving my heart breaking so that I unconsciously fisted my palms on my lap.

Can you hear, Rasmus? The sound of my heart breaking. Do you hear it?

“When are you coming back, Rasmus? It’s been years now.”

“I’ll take over the pack this year. Uncle James and Karl are helping me sort things out.” I redirected my gaze to him who looked unfazed that it bothered me. He didn’t even look into my eyes once. It hurt to the point I wanted to lock him up in my room and make him gaze into my eyes for eternity. His attention either lay elsewhere, and I hated this.

“That’s good. I’m proud of you, Rasmus.” Papa gave a curt nod to the tormentor of my heart, his voice deep and filled with pride. Papa was closer to Rasmus. I didn’t know the reason yet, but he trained him in combat himself.

The dinner went on smoothly after that with mild conversations between Papa and Rasmus. Mama would occupy Ruka, asking her when she’d be moving in, with Rasmus making me choke on my food if it wasn’t for Dylan, who patted my back and offered me a glass of water. I raised my head, hoping to see some reaction on Rasmus’s face; instead, I was greeted by his nonchalant face as he nibbled on his steak.

Papa gave a cold glare to Dylan at which the poor human shuddered and immediately yanked his hand back. These two days were going to be difficult for me. And him.

As the conversations continued, a sudden silence fell over the room when Papa cleared his throat. His gaze was sharp, focused on Rasmus.

“There’s something we need to discuss,” he muttered, placing his fork down, and I held myself back from not looking at where Rasmus was sitting. “It’s about our… family traditions.”

Rasmus’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded, setting his fork down too. “What is it?”

“About your…” Papa shot Dylan a glare, and I realized this was supposed to be something about the werewolf world. As Dylan was a human and had no knowledge of our world, Papa must be feeling tense. “Spouse.”

The fork in my hand stilled, and I snapped my head at Rasmus, who seemed unfazed. My heart pounded loudly, and my heart squeezed. Would he say it? Would he stand up for us? For me? Would he…

“Yes, I have found her.” His eyes shifted, and everything that happened between us three years ago flashed before my eyes: the confession, the truth, the betrayal, the refusal, and the rejection. The kiss…

My heart pounded, each beat a painful reminder of the love we once shared. I swallowed hard, hoping… wishing… begging…

Say it, Rasmus. Say it. Say I am your mate.

Rasmus met my eyes, his gaze cold, distant, and unrecognizable. The warmth I once knew was gone. He sighed deeply, the sound heavy with finality, and averted his gaze to Papa and announced…