Zara.
God, Zara.
The wind sweeps her shoulder-length hair to the side, covering half of her face. I loosen the hold I have on her neck when she gasps. It should be sinful to be this innocent-looking and sexy.
"What did Roy say to you?" I question. She darts her eyes from one place to another. I tousle my brunette hair impatiently. One thing I hate is suspense; waiting on me is the last thing one will do, and she is doing just that.
"What were you discussing with him?" Damn him. He acts all grumpy on our way here and then comes behind my back to talk to my mate. Sure, I just met Zara officially, but that doesn't mean I'm heartless or whatever.
"Nothing." She casts her head down, fumbling with a loose thread on the seam of her apron. She is wearing a tattered dress that stops mid-waist. When the wind blows, it shows a bit of skin.
If my wolf could talk, he would be venting about having his possession patronised. Yes, his.
"I really need to go, I have to meet Maya." She steps aside. I reach for her hand, engulfing it in mine. Hers are soft and miniature, barely takes half the size of mine which makes me want to hold onto this moment. I internally cringe at the girly feelings threatening to burst out of my rib cage, my heart beats like never before.
" I hate defiance, Zara. Look at me. When I talk, you answer not try to sugar-coat your way out. Understood?" It's taking all efforts not to touch her, to feel her supple skin against my coarse ones.
"I really need to talk to Maya." We are the only ones in the vast field. The land stretches out for miles, the Community Centre stands prominently, overlooking the environment. So, whoever Maya is, has been long gone. Even Roy, who had been standing few minutes ago is out of sight.
"Listen to me, is either you answer my question or you will face consequences." I'm not one to care about rank or anything, but if she is strong headed I will show her what being an Alpha entails.
"He stopped by to say hi." She mumbles. I exhale, tapping my foot on the uneven ground, and desperately keeping my shit together.
"You're lying." I point out.
"I'm sorry." Her solemn expression tugs at me, her eyes are glassy. One blink, and she will be a sobbing mess.
"Listen, keep your apology, I don't need it.'' My wolf howls at the tone of my voice. If it were up to him, I would be smothering her with words, and cuddles. All theses are pleasant thoughts but not fit to me. Having a mate will prove to my dad how deserving I am to the Alpha position, and I will get to rub it in Allen's face.
We move to the swing set, she sits on the farthest one, folding the edge of her dress, avoiding the muddy sand.
My wolf is fidgety, gnawing at his claws. He is ready to jump her in, moulding his body with hers, marking, and making her his.
"We are going to the park," I say. She swings back and forth.
"I can't just leave. I have duties and Maya—I have to talk to her." She stands up, frantically trudging towards the path which leads back to the Community Centre.
"You don't leave until I say so," I bark out. Blood rushes into my bloodstream, veins protruding, and a pounding headache ashore. I hate disobedience, Zara gets on my nerves. The way I picture it, I will get an obedient little mate, I will order her around, and she will sit on a cushion, looking like the doll she is. Not whatever this is.
"I need to go back to my friend," she yells, hands all over the place, gesticulating. She looks like a fireball. You want to devour her one minute, and the next, you want to discipline her until she behaves.
"Goddamn it Zara." I tilt her jaw, slowly grazing my fingers over the skin. The soft gasp she let out was enough to get me on my knees. Her dilated pupils wander about, taking it all out. I have the carnal urge to lay her on the floor and worship her body. Screaming for me to let go while secretly asking for more.
"You don't get to order me around. You don't owe me. Now, I'm going back to work." Her flushed cheeks are radiant under the scorching sun. She gets me losing my shit in less than an hour. I have been keeping track of time, glancing at my wristwatch once in a while. When I left my Pack for the Annual Ceremony, I didn't expect it to go like this. I was supposed to attend for formalities, and drive home mate-less. Despite my dad's threats, I can get to the council to review my situation.
"How old are you?" I ask her. I'm almost in my thirties, and according to the scriptures, I was supposed to be mated decades ago.
"Eighteen." She drapes a palm over her face, shielding the sun from her eyes or me, I can't really tell. Zara is curvy at the right places. She doesn't look like the girls from the magazines nor is she chubby, she is the definition of beauty.
"Good, since you're a kid, act like one." This explains it. My brother Allen might have found his mate earlier than expected, but that's because their birthday fell on the same. Mating has no production date, some are lucky to get theirs early, others like me are late.
She steps back when I reach for her arms. She has this glint in her eyes, sharp and pointy. Nothing scares me though, if anything this is going to be fun.
I'm going to destroy her.