03/10/2018

"And then what?" Kristin exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

"What do you mean then what?" Ryder asked confused.

"Once you mark me then everyone will start bugging us about completing the bond."

"You mean ma—"

"Yes Ryder," she snapped, but then sighed.

"Everything is going too fast, next thing I know people will be asking when we're having kids."

"Kristin, I'm only nineteen. I'm not having kids right now," Ryder chuckled.

"I'm eighteen! How do you think I feel?"

"No one will expect us to have kids any time soon," he assured her.

"I know how pack's work, they'll be pressuring us to have the next heir soon."

"Kristin, calm down. We have a long time before that. We don't have to talk about this right now," he shook his head.

"Sorry," she sighed, "It's just that I remember how we had to act engaged for the arrangement. I didn't think I was ready for marriage and it freaked me out."

"It wasn't real," Ryder replied, "Plus, we don't have to get married, it was just a contract thing."

Kristin nodded.

She remembered her mother telling her how she married her father, even though it wasn't exactly werewolf tradition. She was a human though, and weddings were tradition for her mother.

Kristin was raised in a pack so for her marriage wasn't much of a tradition but she had always liked the idea of it.

Once she found someone, that is. She hates being forced into an engagement when she didn't know Ryder was her mate.

But now that she knew he was, and that she knew she'd only ever want to be with Ryder, did it change her outlook?

Kristin realized she always planned on getting married, mostly because she figured she'd marry a human and that was tradition.

Now she was with Ryder who didn't share that tradition, but she did know some wolves actually chose to get married.

"You're not thinking of marriage, are you?" Ryder asked, watching her silent thinking.

Kristin shrugged, "I'm a human. Humans get married."

It was true, for the most part.

"So you want to get married?" he asked confused.

"Not right this second, no," she replied defensively.

But the more she thought about marriage with Ryder, the more she realized she wanted it.

Ryder nodded sarcastically at her reply.

"Okay maybe I thought it would make sense for us," she shrugged it off.

"And why is that?" Ryder asked amused.

"I'm not a wolf," was all she could think to say. She was afraid he'd judge her for wanting marriage.

"Since when?"

"Ryder," she groaned, not appreciating his teasing.

"If you want to get married, then we can," he simply shrugged.

"I'm not sure anymore with how thrilled you sound," she pouted, frowning. Obviously if he didn't want to marry her, she wasn't going to force him.

"Kristin," he chuckled, "If that's what you want, then I want to."

"Okay," she replied, unconvinced.

"Kristin look at me," he waited for her eyes to meet his. His lips pulled into his signature smirk that made her hold her breath, "I want to marry you."

"Don't say that, that sounds weird," she chuckled, trying not to blush at his words.

"What, us getting married?"

"Us doing anything," she shook her head.

"Why?"

"Because we never talk about this stuff. You know... future stuff," she said awkwardly.

"I think you're running a fever," Ryder joked, putting his hand on her forehead.

She swatted it away, "Why can't you be serious for two seconds?" she whined.

"Don't get mad. I'll be serious," he promised, still smirking at her in amusement.

Kristin gave him an unconvincing look.

"So when are you going to let me mark you?"

"Ryder!"

"What? It's a valid topic to bring up. You said you want to talk about future ."

"I don't want to think about that," she closed her eyes.

"Why?" he demanded.

"It's scary," she admitted, looking away, "Why would I want you to bite my neck with your crazy sharp werewolf teeth?"

"It's not dangerous," he snorted.

"I'm human. It's going to be different," she defended.

"Well your parents did it, didn't they? It couldn't have been that different," he made a valid point.

"I don't know, I've never asked them," she snapped.

"It'll only hurt for a second," he said, acting like that would calm her.

"That's reassuring," she said sarcastically, "How do you know anyway? You've never done this before."

"Stop being such a drama queen, Kristin. A lot of wolves mark their human mates."

"I'm not property," she gave him a flat look.

"Don't do this," he groaned.

"It's a valid point," she shrugged.

"You're my mate," he said, like that was a justifiable argument.

"I'm my own person," she stubbornly argued.

"I could have already done it by now, you know," he sighed, amused.

"Already ? You aren't thinking of doing it now?" Kristin exclaimed.

"Why not?"

"I told you, I'm sick!"

"Fine, we can wait a couple of days, but after you're better I'm marking you," his voice sounded final.

"What if I don't want you to," she tried, knowing this was a poor argument.

"I've held this off long enough, Kristin. My wolf is driving me crazy," Ryder rubbed his face.

"Tell your wolf to wait," she said, crossing her arms.

"I'm sure that'll work," his voices dripped with sarcasm.

"Look," he tried again, "I promise I won't hurt you. It'll be over with before you know it."

"How do you even know what to do?" she challenged.

"It's instincts," he shrugged.

"No," she shook her head at him, "What if you bite where you're not supposed to and I bleed to death?"

"Seriously you need to calm down," Ryder pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'm not going to kill you."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay. I'll let you mark me," she simply shrugged.

Ryder gave her a suspicious look, "Promise?"

"I promise I'll let you mark me," she nodded before finishing, " you apologize to Evelyn."

She knew he'd never do this, and she wanted to see him struggle over this proposition.

"Not happening," he snapped, clearly not amused.

"Well, then this isn't happening," she smiled, pointing to her neck.

"This isn't a bargain, Kristin. I'm going to mark you whether you like it or not."

"Apologize to Evelyn and I won't fight you."

"No."

"All you have to do is say you're sorry for kicking her our of the fighters and my neck is all yours," she continued.

"I'm not sorry I kicked her out."

"What a shame, I finally made up my mind which side I want you to mark me," she taunted.

His eyes snapped to her neck, although he was glaring at her.

She pulled her hair back and tilted her head, exposing the side of her neck to him.

"Go on, suck my blood."

"Kristin, I'm not a vampire!" he grumbled.

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter 65.

Wow I need to end this before 100 lol (But there's still [a lot of] big things happening before we end it!)

Thanks for the support as always.

Vote if you'd like.

Chica_2016