I wanted to tell him.

I wanted to tell him why I was finding it hard to accept the fact that he was my mate. Every bone in my body wanted to. But my mind stopped me. I wasn't ready to reveal that part of my life yet. The only reason that the people that did know were because of the situations that led me to them.

I didn't want to reject him.

I wasn't going to reject him.

I just needed time.

"Emerald," he said, breaking my train of thought. My eyes went into focus and I looked back into his bluish-green orbs, enthralled with how vibrant they were against his skin. "I hope your silence is because you don't want to be my-"

I kissed him.

I brought my hands to either side of his face, covering his ears, and brought his lips to mine to shut him up. He was caught off-guard but I would've never known with how fast he reacted to me. He brought his hands to my hips, bringing me to him on the floor. My butt settled on his thighs as he got off from kneeling and sat fully on the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist, drawing closer to him as the kiss began to get deeper.

I was losing oxygen but I didn't care. I needed him. I wanted him. My body yearned for him more than I had ever anticipated but I didn't question it. This felt right. So right. Perfect, in fact. His warm, hot, hands went underneath my shirt, dragging his fingers down my back, igniting a path of sparks and fire. I moaned at the touch.

When the lack of oxygen came, I pulled away, against my body's will. Our breathing was uneven and erratic, our lips were swollen. He was beautiful.

"I've..." I paused to catch my breath and collect my thoughts. "I've never thought of having a mate, it was something I didn't think I'd experience... I want to be with you, I need to. But I need to go at my own pace. I don't want to talk about why, not yet, but I hope you don't-"

He interrupted me kissing me, softer this time, gentler. Just enough to shut me up like I had done him. It didn't last as long as the one before but when he pulled away, he overlooked my face, taking in every detail like I had done him. His hand went to my french braid and took the hair tie off the end, and began to undo it. As he did, he spoke-

"Whatever pace you want to go, I'll follow. I'm just glad you accepted me."

I smiled softly as I placed my head on his shoulder as he soon had the braid undo was now running his fingers through my hair. "Me too," I responded.

Days had passed since the revelation of finding my mate.

I had made ground rules of staying in my apartment, not yet ready to give up my freedom. He was okay with that. He didn't pressure me to meet the pack or his father, we were going at my preferred pace.

I believed he was so willing to keep this between us because of the simple fact that my story was so broad and slightly absurd. Something that mythical creatures thought was mythical was actually in fact and I knew he couldn't fully wrap his mind around it. Not yet. That's why I held off on so much about me, wanting him to come to terms with my existence as a whole before adding on anymore. When he could come to understand me as just what I was mixed with then I believed I'd be ready to introduce the next step.

I didn't feel rushed. I felt at peace. More at peace than I ever had in a very long time. Even when leaving the captivity of my brothers, I had never felt so safe and at home like I had in his arms.

He'd spend his nights with me, coming through the balcony and ending up in my bed every night. We sleep in each other's arms for however long it was until I had to get ready for work. I never could bring it upon myself to wake up to leave, I just let him sleep. I'd leave him there when I went to work and when I got off he'd be waiting for me outside at where we first talked.

Everything was perfect and I couldn't be happier.