I cross my arms over my chest and frown, "What do you mean 'one of those mates."
"The kind that I'll have to run around after and save all the time."
"I am more than capable to defend myself thank you very much!!" I argue.
He looks at me and smiles mischievously, "Prove it."
"I will!"
"Good, I'll see how good you really-"
Before I let him finish his sentence I lunge on him. I use the dagger that I keep on my person at all times...no matter what.
I am currently straddling his waist with my dagger against his throat. This position is so intimate. Our bodies in such close proximity. I can feel his body heat warming my own.
Eddie's face smirks cockily, "Damn, if you wanted to ride me all you had to do is just ask."
I growl. Eddie bucks his hips, making me fall forward over his body. I start rolling and rolling. I can't stop! I can feel myself about to fall of the big rock!
I see a glimpse of Eddie rolling after me. He grabs onto my arm and wraps himself around me jut as we fall off the rock. Out of instinct I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze my eyes shut tight.
Eddie then turns us in mid air so than he hits the ice cold water first.
Our bodies are totally emerged in water. I feel the cold stab me all over my body. My insides clenching together to try and generate the little warmth I have left.
Strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me to the surface.
Once my head is out of the water, I turn to Eddie and punch his chest,
"Y-you I-I-idiot!!!!! W-why'd you push us in t-the ice c-c-cold wat-ter!"
He bellows out in laughter, "I guess we have to work on your defending skills eh?"
I feel the cold slowly deep through my skin and throughout my inside. Totally freezing me.
"Eddie!" I say in a panic.
He is instantly on Mate mode."What's wrong?"
I hold his shoulders tightly, "I-I don't d-do well i-in the c-cold w-w-wa-ter!"
Eddie tightens his hold on me and swims us to shore frantically.
Once we get there he drags me onto the land and starts to strip me of my clothes. "What're you doing?!?"
He takes everything off except my underwear.
My whole body is shaking violently.
He then pulls my body totally flush against his. There is no skin of mine that is not touching his. He rubs my arms and back.
I start to feel warmer and warmer the longer I touch his body.
"Thank you." I sigh in relief.
He nods,"No need to thank me."
He looks down at me and I see his eyes sparkle with adoration and love. Those feelings were for me. He's looking at me with those eyes. To be honest, I feel the same way. He's my mate, how can I not?
My breath hitches as he slowly leans forward. My lips are totally infested with tingles as he presses his upon my own. I run my hands up his arms and around his neck as he wraps his arms tighter around my waist.
We separate breathlessly. He smiles down at me and I can't help but do the same."Stunning." He mumbles. I smile even more and blush! My cheeks heat up. Traitors! I bow my head down a little, hoping it will hide my face. But, Eddie's hand reaches my chin to pull my face up to his gaze. "Don't hide you face from me. It's too beautiful, it's be ashamed to hide such a masterpiece."
I just look at him in total shock. A smile slowly reaches my lips. His words totally warmed me. They make me feel like...I'm worth something, like I'm special.
"You are special Zapora." He said.
I get taken back a bit. How did he know I said that?
"No you didn't say it out loud and no I can't read your mind. I can just tell."
"Well...I guess because we are mates...we should probably see where this can go right?"
"So, you willing to keep goin with me?"He asks.
I nod, "I am."
He leans down and smashes his lips on mine. My hands wrap around his neck and he holds my waist. I've never done something like this before. It's so...passionate that it's overwhelming me. I feel this build up inside my chest.
I lay my hand on his shoulder and push him slightly back.
"We need to take it slow though. I need to."
He smiles and nods as he looks deep into my eyes with such happiness and adoration.
"I can do that...anything you want."
Someone coughs and clears their throat. We both break eye contact and look at the man.
Eddie sighs in disappointment and stands up, but he pushes my behind him to hide my body.
"Hey Noah."
I see my brother's best friend standing there as stiff as a board. He always reminded me of those cold generals that had no emotion.
He nods towards me in a respectful acknowledgment. "Zapora."
I nod to him, "Noah."
He turns to Eddie, "Soul talked to me." He stated.
Eddie's brows scrunch slightly, it made me look cute. Like a confused puppy. "And?"
"Your first patrol is in an hour. Don't be late." Noah turns around, planning to leave, but he stops suddenly and turns to my mate with a slight grin. I'm surprised, Noah doesn't usually grin to people. He normally just grunts or growls. But, he's grinning at Eddie. "Oh and Eddie? don't make me regret my decision."
Eddie's face totally transforms when he gives Noah a big smile that melted away his intimidating and manly exterior into a boy. "I promise you won't."
Noah then shifts and take off into the woods.
Eddie turns to me and raises his fists in the air in victory, "Finally!"
I frown, "What're you talking about?"
"I've been trying to get on the patrol for so long."
I nod in understanding. I slight chill makes my skin raise in goosebumps. I look down at myself and see that I'm still in only my underwear. Damn! "ummm...Eddie? I kind of don't have any clothes."
He looks down at my body and his eyes turn black. He freezes. It's like he's in a trance or something. I start to feel uncomfortable and nervous. I didn't want him to look at me like this when I hardly knew him.
"Eddie?" I ask hesitantly.
By the sound of my voice, he snaps out of it. His eyes instantly fill with guilt, "I'm sorry...it's just a male mate thing I think. You're just so incredibly...gorgeous. I'm a lucky man."
I shyly look away and smile, "Well...can the lucky man please get me some warm clothes?"
"Oh right! Okay. I've got some of my clothes stashed here and there in the forest."
"Why?"
"Just in case there's an emergency shift or something."
Eddie quickly leaves to try find one of his shirts around the forest while I'm sitting on this big rock, almost naked and vulnerable to any attack. Stop it Zapora! You're over thinking it. Nothing bad is going to happen.
Eddie finally comes back with one of his shirts. He hands it to me and I pull it over my head. His scent totally invades my nose. It brings me this sense of safety, peace and comfort. Weird. Must be a mate thing. "Thank you."
For the next hour we talk about everything and everything. About his home life. About how Lizzy was abused by his family. How he felt like he didn't really have a relationship with his father and how it effected him.
Afterwards we made our way back to the pack house. I still couldn't shake off this weird feeling. There was a strange presence that carried in the wind from the woods. I thought I was just getting chilly, but after I got the shirt it made no difference. It was a sense. Whenever I had a sense, something bad always happened. I had it when the pack was attacked by rogues and when Xander got taken. And I feel it again.
"Are you sure you have to do the patrol tonight?" I ask Eddie anxiously.
"Yes, why's that?" He asked curiously.
"I just think...it would be better if you didn't. Besides, we just found each other, lets spend some time together?"
He smiles at me softly, "Don't worry about me Zapora. I'm not that weak. Have a little faith in your mate." He sounds like Xander.
"Please be careful then," I plead with him, "Don't have your guard down. Don't trust anyone in the woods. "
"I won't."
I grab onto his arm and pull him closer to me, "Promise me Eddie. I need you to promise me that you're going to be okay and that you're going to come back to me."
He looks at me with a frown, but I think he understands because he wraps his arms around me tightly in his safe arms, "I promise, "he whispers, "I'm going to come back to you. And if I don't...I'm going to damn well try my best to."
My sting with tears. I feel this intense sense of loss already, even though I'm in his arms. I nod and lay my head on his chest. I want to move closer and closer to Eddie until there is nothing that could separate us. But I know I can't.
I raise my head and tip it up to try reach his lips. He moves his hulking figure down to my level and kisses me with all he has as I did. My fingers weave through his hair. This kiss was no ordinary kiss. It was a promise.
We separate. We look at each other with such love. His eyes alone give me comfort. It gives me strength and hope too. He will come back to me...I know it.
He gives me a kiss on my forehead and whispers, "I love you."
Then he runs into the darkness of the woods to patrol.