Matilda's POV
I sat on the bed, my mind racing with everything Marco had told me. The way he spoke about mates, the bond, the mark—it was overwhelming. My heart was still pounding from the intensity in his golden eyes when he explained what would happen between us.
I wasn't sure if I was scared or. something else.
A knock at the door made me jolt.
"Matilda?" Elera's voice came through softly. "Can I come in?"
I hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah."
The door opened, and Elera stepped inside with ana
Ana smiled. "Hey."
I stared at them for a moment before blurting out the question that had been nagging at me. "Are you… one of them?"
Ana and Elera exchanged a look before nodding.
"Yes," Ana said simply.
"Wow," I breathed.
I didn't know why it surprised me. Maybe because I was still getting used to the idea that werewolves existed that Marco was one.
Elera sat on the edge of the bed, her expression gentle. "I know this is a lot to take in, but we're here to help you understand. Marco told you about mates?"
I nodded slowly.
Ana leaned against the dresser. "Then you should know. it's not just about claiming. It's about connection. When a mate bond is real, it's unbreakable. It's rare to find your fated one, and Marco he's waited a long time for you."
I swallowed hard. "But I. I don't know if I want this. I don't even understand it."
"That's okay," Elera reassured me. "You have time."
I wasn't sure about that. The way Marco looked at me, the way his voice rumbled when he said I was his it felt inevitable. Like a storm rolling in, unstoppable.
Before I could say anything else, there was another knock at the door. This time, a warrior entered, holding a box. "From the Alpha," he said before placing it on the table and leaving.
I blinked. "What?"
Elera grinned. "Open it."
I hesitated before lifting the lid. Inside was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen deep blue, silky, with delicate embroidery along the neckline. My fingers ran over the fabric, my stomach twisting.
There was a note on top.
"Wear this tonight. I'm taking you out."
Marco.
My heart skipped.
Ana smirked. "Looks like he's asking you on a date."
"A date?" I whispered.
Elera nudged me playfully. "You should say yes."
I bit my lip, uncertainty battling with the strange warmth in my chest.
Was I really ready for this?
But when I thought about Marco, about the way he had stayed by my side when I was injured, the way he had protected me,my fear lessened just a little.
I let out a slow breath.
"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll go."
The evening came faster than I expected.
Elera and Ana stayed with me as I got ready, helping me into the dress Marco had sent. The silky fabric hugged my body in all the right places, and the deep blue color made my skin glow. I barely recognized myself in the mirror.
"You look stunning," Ana said, grinning.
Elera smirked. "Marco is going to lose his mind."
I rolled my eyes, but my stomach twisted at the thought.
Was I really doing this?
It wasn't like I had a choice,Marco had decided for me, like he always did. But something was different this time. He wasn't demanding. He was asking.
And against all logic, I had said yes.
A knock at the door sent my heart racing.
Ana opened it, revealing Marco standing in the hallway.
And God, did he look good.
He was dressed in a fitted black button-up, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his muscular build impossible to ignore. His golden eyes darkened the second they landed on me, his gaze raking over my body like he was committing every inch of me to memory.
I swallowed hard, heat creeping up my neck.
Marco took a slow step forward, his voice low. "You're beautiful."
My breath hitched.
Elera cleared her throat. "Alright, Alpha. Take her before she changes her mind."
I shot her a glare, but Marco only smirked, offering me his arm.
"Shall we?" he asked.
I hesitated, then placed my hand on his arm. His warmth seeped into my skin instantly, steadying me.
Marco led me through the pack house, his grip on my hand firm but not forceful. As we stepped outside, a sleek black car was waiting for us. My heart pounded. I had expected dinner inside the house,not this.
"You drive?" I asked, surprised.
His lips twitched. "I can. But I'd rather focus on you."
Before I could process what that meant, a warrior opened the car door, and Marco guided me inside. The interior was luxurious, the scent of leather mixing with his scent,dark spice and cedarwood.
He slid in beside me, his presence filling the space effortlessly.
"Where are we going?" I asked as the car started moving.
"You'll see," he murmured, golden eyes gleaming.
The drive was quiet, but the air between us wasn't. Every glance he stole, every time his fingers brushed against mine, sent shivers through me.
After a while, the car slowed, and my breath caught as I looked out the window.
We were in a secluded clearing, deep in the woods. Strings of glowing lanterns hung from the trees, casting a warm golden light over the area. In the center, a beautifully set table was waiting for us, surrounded by candles flickering in the evening breeze.
It was… magical.
I turned to Marco in shock. "You,You did this?"
His expression softened. "You deserve something special."
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
No one had ever done anything like this for me before. No one had ever looked at me the way Marco did now like I was something precious.
A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down as he helped me out of the car.
The night was quiet except for the distant sounds of nature. Marco pulled out my chair, waiting until I sat before taking his own.
I stared at him across the table. "Why are you doing this?"
His jaw tightened slightly. "Because I want you to see me not just the Alpha, not just the Lycan King." He exhaled. "I want you to see Marco."
I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the edge of the table as I tried to process his words.
I want you to see Marco.
Not the Alpha. Not the Lycan King. Just.him.
No one had ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever wanted me to see them,not in a way that felt real.
I looked down at my plate, suddenly feeling nervous. "I don't know how to do this," I admitted softly.
Marco leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes locked onto mine. "Do what?"
"Be here. With you," I whispered. "Pretend this is normal when it isn't."
His jaw clenched, but there was no anger in his eyes. Only understanding. "You don't have to pretend," he said. "I know I took you from your world. I forced you into mine. But I will earn your trust, Matilda. No matter how long it takes."
My heart twisted painfully.
I should have been angry. I was angry,at least, I had been. But Marco confused me. One moment, he was this possessive, dominant force I couldn't escape. And the next… he was this. A man who wanted me to see him.
A man who wanted to earn me.
I inhaled deeply, gathering my thoughts. "And if I say I still want to leave?"
His entire body tensed, but he didn't look away. "Then I'll let you go."
I blinked, shocked. "What?"
"You heard me," Marco said, his voice unwavering. "If, at the end of these four months, you still want to leave. I won't stop you."
I stared at him, trying to find the lie. But there was none.
"That doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for you," he added. His voice dropped lower, more intense. "Because you're mine, Matilda. My mate. And every instinct in my body tells me that you belong here,with me."
A shiver ran down my spine at his words.
He meant them. Every single one.
I bit my lip, staring at him for a long moment. "I'll think about it," I finally said.
Marco exhaled slowly, nodding. "That's all I ask."
The air between us shifted. The tension was still there, but it wasn't suffocating anymore. It was waiting.
I picked up my fork, trying to calm my racing heart. "So, what did you have planned for tonight? Besides trying to convince me to stay?"
A slow smirk curved his lips. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
I rolled my eyes, but for the first time since meeting him.