Nine

NINE

I stare at him as my heart gallops.

"You came," he says.

"Yes."

"I didn't know if you would. I was going to go to your territory to look for you."

I gasp. "You can't do that! They will kill you on sight. They are extremely territorial and normally leaves no quarter for rogues or invaders."

"It doesn't matter now. You came."

He smiles at me.

The embers light his face.

"Did you wait this whole time?" I ask.

His hair falls across his face. He pushes it back. "Yes."

I shiver against the frigid air. I'm surprised he didn't freeze to death.

He takes a step toward me.

I take a step toward him.

"We're mates," he says.

I gasp. I know it to be true, but hearing the words from his lips is like music to my ears.

"Yes."

We step closer.

Ever closer.

And then he is right there.

Just a fingertip away.

Just a hair's breadth apart.

Close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

His golden eyes glint in the dark.

He looks almost hungry.