Page 4 of His Curse
"They'll be starting soon." The female is three feet away now, the space between us growing smaller with each careful step she takes. "The Alpha is going to want everyone there on time or else we won't be able to run when the moon is right."
Yes, my wolf almost fucking purrs.We can run with our mate. Shift and run, then we can claim her, mark her. Make her ours.
"I'm Lark." Now she's really smiling, and inching closer to me. "Meadowlark Rivers."
The Alpha's daughter.
Of fucking course my mate would be the Alpha's daughter; a Luna by birth but also by destiny—a Luna because she is my mate.
And my gods, she is fucking perfect.
I can see it, see her status written all over her gorgeous face. The ferocity, the wisdom, the strength. I see it all so clearly that not only can I not argue that she is mine, but I can’t argue that she is in fact a leader, a warrior, a goddamn born ruler simply by looking into her eyes.
Eyes that crinkle at the corners a little as she tilts her head; eyes that light with glee as Lark scans my face.
Which is the exact moment I realize I've said absolutely fucking nothing.
"Colt,” I blurt. "Colton Paddock."
Lark grins at my stupidity. “New to the pack. New to the area."
With a nod, I slowly lick my suddenly dry lips.
I never understood what my parents meant when they said you fall in love instantly when you find your mate. That you fall faster than you knew you could, deeper than you could ever imagine.
I get it now, though.
Fuck, do I get it.
Less that twenty minutes and a total of fifteen words, and I am already so fucking in love with this female that I very literally feel it in my bones.
"Where did you come from before?"
I clear my throat and try not to act like a dumbass. "West Virginia, originally. The Moon Goddess pack."
She smirks a little and fuck, even that is breathtaking. "Pretty far from home."
I nod and turn to face her completely.
"Do you like it here?"
I fucking love it here.
Right here, right now, I fucking love it and it is absolutely because of Meadowlark Rivers. "Seems I'm beginning to."
Lark bites her bottom lip, her cheeks turning a touch pink as she looks away for a beat before she meets my eyes and takes a deep breath. "Do you maybe want to go to the dance together?”
Gods, yes.
Yes, I fucking do.
I want to escort my mate to this stupid dance, partake in every horrible jig, then run with her through the woods before I lay claim to her and make her mine forever.
And the second I finish the thought, that's when I hear a voice that reminds me exactly why I can't do any of those things and never will.
Mate.
That horrible, distorted voice growls in my head, causing my blood to run cold seconds before I feel those tiny little needles drag up my spine.
