Chapter VII

The clearing of someone's throat jumped me out of my daze. Declan had his hands knitted together like an excited schoolgirl. "Yes! Freaking finally!" He exclaimed and almost sounded relieved.

My eyebrows came to the center of my face in confusion, as the large male still had his hand in mine. How old was he? How long has he been searching for me?

His dark hazel eyes were still on my face when I turned back to look at him. I sucked in a nervous breath and removed my gloved hand from his. His wolf was still out, and I knew how high-ranking wolves could be. By how Declan had expressed he was here with his Alpha, I put two and two together.

I am mated to an alpha.

I was not very shocked by this because I am a beta's daughter and high-ranking wolves are normally mated together. My only question was, what alpha was he?

His eyes blinked over and over as his human and wolf fought for dominance. His jaw was tight and his face held a blank look, telling me it was intense in that brain of his.

Without my consent, my hand moved to his face, cupping his cheek. This seemed to snap them both out of the war taking place beyond his eyes.

Honey gold orbs revealed themselves after a blink or two. "Hi." He said to me. Gently removing my hand from his face, he interlocked our fingers by his side.

I could not help but to let out a little laugh at his single word greeting. "Hi." I replied with a small smile.

His entire presence captivated me. The scent of the forest after rain hit my senses every time I inhaled. The Moon Goddess perfectly sculpted his face herself. That jawline could slice straight through me if I got too close and his full lips brought heat to my chest just by looking at them.

"I am going to leave you two love wolves. I have a mate to get back to." Declan once again interrupted, but neither one of us tore our gazes from each other.

My mate just waved him off in dismissal before running his thumb over my knuckles. "Would you like to go somewhere to talk?"

"I would love that." I agreed.

The corners of his lips tugged upwards and he then started leading me through the ballroom until we got to a door. He opened it with ease and continued to hold my hand walking through the palace.

After many halls and turns, we made it to the Royal Garden that my suite looked over. He led me to a stone bench sitting down, leaving enough room for me. Once I sat, he looked up at the sky. He seemed nervous, which I thought was adorable.

"Do you want to play 20 questions?" I asked, trying to break the ice.

He looked from the stars and turned his attention to me. "Sure, I'll go first. What is your name?"

"Oh, starting with the personal ones, are we?" I joked before answering. "Everly Ford. Same question."

He chuckled at my stupid joke and shook his head. The sound erupted butterflies in my stomach. It was the perfect song for my ears. How have I lived twenty-one years on this Earth and not heard something so breathtaking?

"If I told you, I would have to kill you." He mirrored my humor. It instantly brought giggles from my mouth. "Atlas Lycurgus. What pack are you from?"

"Aurora Dawn." I finally answered as I recovered. "Alpha Atlas Lycurgus of Phoenix Moon?" Phoenix Moon was in California as well. I felt excitement surge through me with the thought I would never have to leave the west coast. I loved it in this part of the country.

He nodded his head and pulled his jacket off. I thought I could see his muscle mass earlier? His shirt clad arms showed every curve. It felt illegal to take my eyes away.

"The one and only." He said with a slight smirk, snapping me out of my drool fest. "Siblings?" He asked as his third question, not taking his eyes off of me.

"One, I have a brother named Josh." I replied, placing my hands in my lap after trying to tame my hair from the wind. "How old are you?"

"Just turned twenty-five. How about you?" He inquired, leaning forward on his arm that propped itself upon his knee.

Twenty-five? I could not imagine coming here for four years and leaving without a mate each time. No wonder his wolf fought so hard to be in control.

"I turned twenty-one a week and a half ago." I said scanning the area, trying my best not to keep staring creepily at his arms. "How did you know the palace so well?"

"My father and I came here a lot. I practically grew up with Lux and Legacy. They are family." He said nonchalantly. "How did you get such a beautiful voice?"

I began blushing at his question. My hands instinctively covered my cheeks while I smiled. "Goddess given I guess." I mumbled, embarrassed.

He shook his head, bending to hover on the ground in front of me. Gently, he pulled my hands from my face. "Hey," he looked up at me, grasping his hands around my still gloved ones. "Do not hide from me. I know we just met, but you are a piece of my soul, as I am yours. There is no reason to feel embarrassed around me, ever. Okay?"

His reassurances melted my heart. My confidence built back up, brick by brick. My lips formed a little smile, standing before him. "Get up Alpha. They will think you are already proposing." I teased.

"Fuck what they think." He stated, standing. "Though marriage is something for the future, I propose we get a dance like every other newly mated pair." He offers, pulling my hands closer to his body.

"There's no music." I said with a raise of my eyebrow. I was a hopeless dancer. There was no need to completely embarrass myself tonight.

He hummed in thought before dropping my hand, pulling his phone from his back pocket. "What was that song you were singing?"

Of course I could not escape this. "Make It To Me, by Sam Smith." I answer in a small mumble.

He tapped across the screen and laid the phone on the bench we had previously sat at. "Seems like I owe you a dance, Miss Ford."

"It seems so, Alpha Lycurgus." I laughed at his goofiness, but it turned into a squeal when he twirled me unexpectedly.

And then we danced.

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