Communication is Key

Cassidy's POV

Waking up beside Alex was just bliss. I could get used to it. He was so warm and cuddly. Like my own personal teddy bear or wolf but better. I snuggled closer to him.

"Stop moving, " He mumbled. I giggled and rubbed my face in his neck. "Cass… It's too early..."

I tickled his sides.

"Umph. Fine. But you asked for it." He rolled over, pulling me with him until I was trapped underneath his body. He nuzzled my hair started slathering sloppy kisses all over my face. I laughed and squealed.

"Alex! Stop it!"

Alex stopped but didn't release me. He nuzzled my neck.

"I love you." My shoulders tensed involuntarily. "Is something wrong?" He asked. I couldn't look at him. "Oh.” He climbed off me. “I'll just go wash up first."

“Alex.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I just lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't say it back. Those three words. It's just, it had only been a few days that seemed like a lifetime. I liked Alex, but love was too soon, wasn’t it? Alex and I needed to talk.

~

Alexander's POV

I lost my brain-to-mouth filter. I forgot that Cass couldn’t tell that we were mates. Was it possible for wolves to mate humans? There was no one I could ask, I was the only known werewolf in this kingdom.

My back was pressed against the toilet door, chest heaving as I tried to take deep breaths and not hyperventilate. He didn't love me. Cass didn't love me back. But he said he needed time. I needed to calm down. All I had to do was give him time.

This is not heartbreak, stop being dramatic!

I exhaled and splashed water on my face.

I hid in the bathroom until I mustered up the courage to walk out. Cassidy was changing and I looked away from his bare back. No more looking until we were on the same page. He needed me to slow down.

"I'll send you home." I said and left the room, unable to stand being in the same room with him. I couldn’t meet his eyes, knowing that they would be filled with pity. My wolf howled.

~

Cassidy's POV

The ride home was tensed and silent. I didn't like it. It felt wrong. But I didn't know what to say. Alex was disappointed in me.

"I—" Alex looked at me expectantly. "I'm sorry." His eyes shuttered and all traces of emotions left his face. I felt terrible. "I can't say it. Not yet, " I trailed off, shaking my head.

"I didn't expect you to say it back."

I looked up, surprised. "But—"

He sighed, "No. I never expected you to say it back. At least not this soon.” Alex glanced at me. “The wolf inside is a huge part of me. But its emotions are simple and intense. I know you don’t feel it, but my wolf sees you as his mate and that makes me feel this overwhelming need for you.

“I do think I love you though. I know it’s a lot to process. Please, tell me if I’m too much to handle or too clingy. And if you don’t want this anymore, " He swallowed. “Just call off the arrangement.”

I gaped at him. "Would you actually be okay with that?"

“No.” Alex swiped at his eyes. “I won’t trap you in a loveless marriage.” He laughed bitterly.

I understood now. It was a misunderstanding and I had to fix it because try as I might, I could no longer imagine life without Alex.

I reached out and touched his cheek. "Okay." I smiled. “Thank you for telling me.”

He looked at me. There was a glimmer of hope in his green eyes. I squeezed his hand.

Alex nodded. "What happens now?"

"We take it slow, " I replied. “We spend time together, we also spend some time apart and we get to know each other. And at the end of a year, we decide.”

"Okay." He opened the carriage door for me. "Will I see you later?"

I smiled. "Yeah. Come for dinner?"

"Okay."

We shared a kiss before I waved goodbye and entered my house.

~

Over the next few weeks, we spent time together. Mostly in the evening though, since we both had our duties as the crown prince and a lord's son. Sometimes we shared a bed, either at the castle at in the manor. But we tried not to do that too often though. It was agreed that “taking things slow” meant less bed-sharing activities.

We went on dates and got to know each other better. I found out that Alex pouted adorably when he wanted something, his favourite colour was blue because my eyes were blue (I swooned a little at that) and he liked it when someone rubbed his tummy. (Turns out, he had a bad case of stomach flu when he was younger, before werewolf healing kicked in. Poor Alex.)

In turn, he learnt about my odd fascination for random trinkets and my love for furry animals. We also spent so much time discussing random facts and trying to solve puzzles we found in the library.

Other than the occasional kiss and cuddling, we didn’t try to go further than that again. I won’t deny taking myself in hand though. The intimacy of our relationship deepened in other ways. It’s okay, I already knew we are compatible in bed.