“Is this normal? I have never had any desire, but from the second I met you, all I have wanted is to be with you.”
“That’s the world of fated mates. We go our whole life without any desire or need until we meet our one and only. It's just you, baby, forever. No one has or ever will ignite this fire and need in me like you. My sweet, beautiful Calli.”
“Why do you live alone?” I asked, taking myself completely off guard.
He barked out a laugh.
“Is it a funny question?”
“No, sweetheart. No one’s ever asked that of me before. No one ever dared. Until now.”
“That makes me feel pretty powerful.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I placed my hand on his face, my fingertips gliding across the harsh-looking gash on the side of his face.
“I watched a group of wolves kill my sister,” he said, and I instantly removed my hand to block the gasp that escaped my lips. I could feel my eyes misting before a tear rolled gently down my cheeks.
“How?” A simple question that had no answer. I knew it was trivial, but I asked it anyway.
“Wolves are strange creatures. They are either fiercely loyal or fiercely feral. Maggie, my sister, was a free spirit. She was strong and sweet. She liked to do things her way. No one dared tell her no. She was a runner. She liked to run alone. She used to say that it helped clear her head. I understood that because it’s the same for me. But I used to beg her to let me go with her. After our parents died, we only had each other. I was petrified of losing her. But she always shut me down. That day things didn’t go as smoothly as it had so many times before. A few members of an outside pack were running through Bare Mountain territory, and they decided they wanted to send a message. My sister's mangled body was the message.”
“Arkin,” I whispered as my eyes glanced anywhere but at him. I knew how it looked. I received looks from people when they heard about how my mother died in childbirth. It was the look of pity. But my heart had shattered into a million pieces for him. I couldn’t even imagine the scars losing his sister had left.
“The pack didn’t do anything. They didn’t want to have a war. Cowards, all of them. They say things have changed now, but they were not people I wanted to stand beside. So I went looking for them. I guess that’s where the Beast story really comes from. I found the four boys who left my sister a shell, and I killed them. I didn’t just kill them, I literally ripped them apart. Limb by limb. I made them suffer. I ended them with the knowledge that they should never have touched Maggie.”
“Is that how you got this?” I asked, moving my fingers along his scar again.
“Yes.”
“I am so sorry,” I whispered, not knowing what to say. I was sorry not for the scar but for the loss of his sister and how that would permanently be laced in his soul.
“Me too. Not for killing those assholes but for the fact that my sister is no longer here.”
He pushed me gently onto my back, climbing on top of me and supporting his weight on his arms. “As much as I want to keep talking and maybe devour you again, I need more to feed you. Why don’t you go and take a shower and then join me downstairs for some breakfast?”
“You cook?”
“Of course I do. I wouldn't have survived ten years in the wilderness alone if I didn’t.”
“Why bother hiring me, then?”
“Because I was lonely,” he said as he kissed the tip of my nose. He let out a groan before climbing off me and waking to his dresser. I couldn’t help admiring his taut muscle and massive height, but what caught my eyes was his tight ass. That thing was so muscular that I was pretty sure I could bounce a quarter off it.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked as he took out a pair of boxers from the top drawer.
“I was just thinking about how incredibly hot you are.”
“You’re the hot one. I’m just the lucky one.”
I walked toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his back. He placed his arms over mine, holding me close to him. I could feel the thumping of his heart, and I could hear the rush of blood vibrating in his veins. I inhaled his musky scent and closed my eyes. Right then, my stomach decided to roar in protest, making Arkin bark a wild laugh.
“I better make my mate something to eat.”
“I can help you…”
“No, sweetheart. You relax. I’m more than capable of feeding my mate.”
Arkin turned around and kissed me on the top of the head. He took hold of my hand and walked me to the adjacent bathroom. My eyes went wide as I took in the marble flooring and state-of-the-art shower. I stepped into the bathroom letting out a moan when I felt the heated floor against the bottom of my feet.
“There are some things I take immense pleasure in. A shower is one of them.” Arkin walked past me to the massive shower that could probably house ten people easily and turned on the tap. The hot water quickly steamed up the room. “You relax. Take all the time you need.” He kissed me on the top of my head and walked out.
I stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash over me. The pressure was fantastic, shooting from every angle. The hot water felt good against my sore muscles. A few minutes into the shower, Arkin came in and placed a robe on the hook beside the shower.
“There’s shampoo and a bar of soap. I’m sorry that I don’t have anything fitting for you, love, but I will make sure to get everything on my next order.”
“That’s completely fine.” I grabbed the generic shampoo and smiled at him. “This is completely fine.”
“Just come down when you’re ready. No rush.”
Chapter 6
Arkin
I turned my head as I heard Calli coming down the stairs. I smiled when I saw her draped in my robe and how it completely engulfed her frame.
“How was your shower?” I asked.
“It was fantastic. I never realized a shower could feel that wonderful.”
“Please sit.” I pulled out a seat at the kitchen table and waited to push it in once she was comfortably seated.
“This looks amazing. How did you know all my favorites?” She picked up the kale smoothie and took a sip.
“Sweetheart, I know what bunnies eat.” I bent down and kissed her, wiping the remaining residue of the smoothie off her perfect lips. I cringed at the bitter taste. “Your lips taste like heaven, but your food choices don’t.”
“I’m surprised that you own something other than meat,” she said, popping a strawberry into my mouth.
“Most of the vegetables are used to flavor meat. I do have a sweet tooth, however, so sugar and fruit can always be found around here.”
“Why aren’t you eating anything?”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I plan to.” I winked as I walked toward her. Her round eyes went wide as she stared up at me. I swiftly turned the chair away from the table and fell to my knees. I took her legs and put them over the arms of the chair. Her robe gaped, exposing her hot center to my gaze. I undid the knot of the robe, desperate to see her hot flesh.
“What- are you doing?” she asked with a shaky voice.