RISEN: THE LYCAN PRINCESS

Chapter 6- If She Only Knew

Roger

I was finally at peace, knowing that Angie was in a better mood about my new position. I knew she would come around, especially when I explained that I needed to be sure we had a future together.

I didn´t mind risking it all for her; I love her. I am in love with her, mate bond or not. She is the woman I have dreamed of, and I am sure we will make it work. The only thing I am afraid of is that maybe in the back of my mind, there is a nagging feeling that she might not be mine. Maybe when we go to the Moon Ball, we discover she’s not meant to be mine, and that will devastate me completely.

I am older than her; she is nineteen while I am twenty-six. Almost seven years apart, and I’m not ready to start over. I don´t envision a life without her in it. She has captured my heart, and I will not give it to anyone else, even if she is not meant to be mine.

After dinner, we watched a movie, and then she left me alone in our special place, leaving me with my thoughts and the endless possibilities of the future we could build together.

The next day, I woke up with renewed energy, ready to tackle the challenges of a harsh negotiation. I took a shower and dialed Matt´s phone number. “Roger,” he said solemnly.

“Angie is on board...” I said, and he sighed.

“Thanks for bringing her around,” he said, and I chuckled. I knew Matei cared for his sister more than she could ever imagine.

“She wants to be kept in the loop, but I’m sure we can do that on a need-to-know basis,” I said, and he sighed. I understood that giving out confidential information was not ideal in this situation. Still, I had to make some compromises, which I will respect, even if I become selective about the information I share with her.

“I need to introduce you to Brad and George...” Matei said, and I listened. Brad and George were two special Ops agents who helped Mat rescue several supernatural beings being used as research subjects in military facilities across the human realm. That dire situation broke relations between the humans’ high spheres and the supernatural.

“Yeah, I am going to need them on board.” I said and added, “I’d like to have Lorenzo as an advisor.”

“Yeah, he is a good asset with political weight, even when they dared to impress him. I am unsure if Anita will be on board, but we can try.” Mat said, and I sighed.

“I will do my best,” I said, and Mat chuckled.

“I know... You want this to work, somehow, you don´t see a future without my sister in it.” Mat said, and I chuckled.

I’ll meet with everyone today around noon. I said, and he chuckled.

“Eager much?” Mat said, and I chuckled.

“I am eager to have peace so that we can have a proper Moon Ball and finally claim her as my mate,” I said, and he chuckled.

“Have you ever considered the other possibilities?” Mat said in a serious voice.

“Yeah, and I am f*****g scared of them, so for now, I will keep positive wishful thinking,” I said and he chuckled.

“It happened to Dominic... Aisling was infatuated with a guy, James... I believe it was his name.” Mat paused. “He got rejected, and I think my sister will reject any other man who is not you.” Mat pointed out, and I bit my lower lip. I hope so, I do, because if she decides to give the mate bond a chance, I am screwed.

“Thanks for the pep talk. I will see you in the conference room at noon,” I said, and he chuckled.

“I will have everyone who needs to be there notified,” Mat said, and I chuckled.

I paced the small cabin and took a deep breath. I could still smell her around. She was like a drug to me, and I was determined, now more than ever, to make all of this work. I needed her in my life; I wanted to marry her. I was eager to become someone important and influential, worthy of her, worthy of being part of her life. I was raised in foster care, I did things I am not proud of, and it is almost unbelievable that she wants to be with me. I have been praying to my God and her Goddess to grant me my wish, the only thing I have ever asked for, in a selfish request, to make her my mate...

My messages alert rang, and I quickly opened the app.

Angie: “Hey, good morning...”

I quickly typed back.

Me: “Good Morning, beautiful. It’s as if I summoned you with my thoughts.”

Angie: “Were you thinking of me?”

Me: “Always...” I chuckled. I wasn't fond of sappy messages, but I would do it over and over again for her.

Angie: “Still in the city?” she typed, and I sighed. I knew she was worried about me, but I would never think of leaving Central City without telling or kissing her goodbye.

Me: “Yes. I have a meeting in Mat´s office at noon. I have the entire morning free.”

Angie: “Not anymore.” I chuckled, and my heart fell utterly in love with her. She wanted to spend time with me, and I loved the idea.

Me: “I am in our place.” I typed, and then took a deep breath. She was not my mate, at least not officially, and every time I saw her in this cabin, it got harder and harder not to kiss her and make love to her. I could feel she wants it, and I am not immune to her charms. f**k, I want her... I need her with a frightening desperation... I’m unsure if we should keep meeting here, because the place is an intimate setting that might not help me stay in control.

Angie: “Should I go there?” she typed, and I took a deep breath. I am the older one who should maintain control over the situation. I must protect her even from me.

Me: “No, let´s meet up for breakfast...” I reluctantly typed and then sent her the location of a cozy cafe we both love to eat at.

Angie: “I´ll meet you there in twenty,” she typed, and I finally placed my phone back in my pocket.

I looked around at the small wooden cabin tucked at the end of the mountain and sighed. This place was ours; it was the place where I met her in clandestine meetings. It was where I had dreamed of being with her, with a mate bond allowing us to be together and finally become one. This place is our special place, and I will make sure this is the place we use when we finally discover our mate bond. But until then, it’s the place where I have to meet her and feel the strain of my feelings for her... until then, it’s a place I must try to avoid so I don’t succumb to temptation.

I met her at the small cafe, and it was hard not to touch her. Her hand softly interwined with mine, and for now, it was enough.

“Have you heard when the next Moon ball is scheduled?” I asked her, and she sighed.

“Akasha and my mother are running around with the preparations...” she sighed. "Are you still determined not to touch me until we know for sure?” she asked in a pleading voice, and I nodded.

“I am trying to be worthy of you, I am trying to do things right by you... So please... help me out with it.” I said, and she pouted.

“But, I don’t care... I am ready to reject any other man that is not you... I am in love with you, and my heart belongs to you, and will belong to you now and forever,” she said, and I squeezed her hand in mine.

“I know, but I want to make things right...” I sighed, and she gave me a tender smile.

“And I love you more for that...” she said, “even if waiting is unnecessary,” she added, and I grunted.

“Angie...” I sighed, and she smiled,

“Roger...” she said, and I lifted her hand and placed a kiss on it.

“I love you, and I hope for us to be mates... I will never ask you to reject your fated mate, but it will devastate me if we don´t get your Goddess’ favor...” I confessed, and she nodded.

“Well, I am almost certain, and I know we will soon be mates.” She gave me a hesitant smile, and I nodded. I wanted, no... I needed to believe that one.

We spent most of the morning talking and eating in the small cafe, and soon it was noon. “I´ve got to go...” I said while paying the bill,

“Will I see you tonight?” she asked, her eyes wide with hope.

“I think I have to go home... but I will be back,” I said, and she nodded.

“Are you having second thoughts?” she asked,

“About us?” I quickly said, “Never...” I smiled at her and then leaned forward to kiss her lip tenderly.

“I need to go to the human realm and start working. I will call you tonight,” I said, and she nodded. “I love you, Angs,” I said,

“I love you, Roger..” She gave me a smile that didn´t reach her eyes... I hated that the boundaries I was setting for her sake were the ones that made her sad.

If she only knew how hard it was for me to stay away and do the right thing, if she only knew how devastated I could be if she didn´t end up being my mate, if she only knew...