The next morning came faster than expected and as I slowly opened my eyes to get used to the light, I looked curiously at the clock on the bedside table.
4 p.m....
Shocked at how late it was, I hurriedly got up and looked around.
Reahlyn wasn't there, only his scent softly filled my nostrils, which made me smile. Who would have thought that fresh dog would become my favorite perfume...
I scooted to the edge of the bed, found my panties, gray sweatpants, and white sweater to get dressed and then got up.
I happily stretched each of my muscles, yawned out the rest of my tiredness and then ran to the window to watch the hustle and bustle outside.
Standing by the campfire in the center of the many huts were Reahlyn, his sister and mother, and several others, all chatting animatedly while grilling and laughing heartily.
I had to laugh too. Who, apart from the wolves in the woods, would have the absurd idea of barbecuing in sub-zero temperatures?
It was really fascinating...
My gaze fell to my side and then I discovered a picture of myself on the desk. Not like last time. It was a new one.
I took it in my hands in amazement and it only showed half of my face while the other half was hidden under a blanket. He must have drawn me as I slept.
"Hey," I suddenly heard him behind me and my pulse shot up just from his voice as he stood close to my back and wrapped his arms around my body.
"Hey," I murmured with my eyes closed, enjoying the feel of his closeness.
"We should start slowly," he whispered in my ear and I immediately turned to him questioningly.
"Wohin?"
"To Willy. He's probably already waiting for you. Not that he's worried again."
I shouldn't be surprised that he said that. Just like me, he was a person who thought a lot about others and yet my eyes filled with tears of happiness.
"Love? Did I say something wrong?" he asked immediately with a worried expression, but I shook my head sobbing before fleeing into his arms.
"You always say the right thing," I tearfully admitted, unable to believe I really deserved it. Wasn't I actually the one who otherwise only had bad luck in life? How could someone like that suddenly be given such a partner by fate?...
"Then why are you crying?"
"For joy," I sobbed, pulling away from his chest to look up at him shyly. "I can't believe you really love me."
And when he smiled at me, I suddenly realized something.
He loved me, but only because of a fated connection...
Would he want me too if I wasn't his mate? I shouldn't really care, but suddenly I had doubts.
No doubts that I loved him, because I did and nothing would ever change that...
It was those bitter self-doubts that bad men had planted in my mind... Was I even good enough for him? What could I offer him but my broken soul and my broken body?
Would he really be happy with me?
Without giving in to these doubts in my head, I put on my shoes under his silent observation and then strolled hand in hand with him to his motorcycle, where he immediately handed me his helmet in a friendly manner.
"And you really don't want to eat anything?" he asked for the third time and again I said no, like before. I didn't have an appetite at all, but I made a mental note to have a few bites of fish at Willy's, just to calm Reahlyn down a bit.
He climbed on with a worried look and started the engine and I then settled behind him to snuggle up close to him as we always did as we slowly drove off.
It felt kind of awful driving away from this magical place, although I was glad to see Willy right away, but it was like I was going straight into another life...
I felt torn even driving through the forest. Not about Reahlyn, but about my future.
How was I supposed to get this all sorted out, at the same time being happy with Reahlyn, abandoning Esteban and kidnapping my son... it seemed almost impossible...
Suddenly all these thoughts were too much for me and I tried to completely switch off mentally again while I watched the trees that passed me and concentrated on the beautiful nature of Alaska.
We got to Josh's mom faster than I thought and while I was picking out Willy's favorite fish, Reahlyn chatted to her about his motorcycle.
"Have a nice day," she said as we said goodbye and we walked hand in hand along the harbor.
"Are you okay?" he then asked, breaking the silence that had existed between us for far too long, looking over at me with concern.
"Yes," I replied quietly, trying not to look at him because he would be able to unmask my lie when he looked into my eyes.
"You know that I can sense when something is bothering you?"
I stopped at his words, took a deep breath, and then turned to face him, my thoughts racing to telling him of the true passing of his sister and Benjamin...but fear held me back. ..
"Love?"
He grabbed my hips and stared into my eyes so intently, like he was trying to get me to talk, but I couldn't for fear of the consequences.
"I'm just tired," I quickly replied, releasing his hands from my waist to just keep walking. I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye while lying to him.
"Tired?" he repeated, irritated, catching up with me. "Then at least say that you don't seem to trust me, because I don't deserve to be lied to! If it's because of last night and it went too fast for you, just say so!"
"What?!", I immediately got louder and then looked at him seriously. "Reahlyn! It has nothing to do with last night! It wasn't too fast for me! In fact, it was perfect!" I said, shocked at his doubts about myself and laid my hand on him reassuringly his cheek. "Believe me. It's not your fault in any way. I e-"
I quickly stopped myself and looked down in frustration. How much I would have liked to tell him everything, really everything, but what if he then ran away? If he would leave me alone? I wouldn't be able to handle that...
"What's wrong?" he whispered, carefully lifting my chin to look at me. "No matter what you have, you can trust me."
"And what if you leave me?"
He gave me a confused look and gently took my face in his hands, resting his forehead against mine for a moment.
I felt his breathing on my face, closed my eyes and enjoyed this intimate closeness until he broke away from me far too quickly and looked at me reassuringly.
"Do you feel that connection? I'm definitely not leaving you, little one. I know your life hasn't been easy and I can feel you fighting a battle with yourself on a daily basis, but I'm totally serious. I'm staying on by your side, no matter how dark it gets around us."
"Really?" I asked uncertainly, blushing at the same time as he made my heart skip a beat with his kind words.
"I promise you," he breathed and then I wanted to tell him about Benjamin, but just as I had gathered all my courage, someone interrupted us.
"Hello, you two," said Willy in a friendly manner, who had apparently already gone out to buy fish himself.
"Hey," I greeted him with a smile and looked at Reahlyn, who I looked at very well that it gave him to him that we were interrupted, but he quickly tore together again.
"Hey Willy", he smiled and the three of us ran to our regular place.
Now the moment was gone, the time over and although I was relieved to be able to maintain my secret for a while, it also annoyed me.
I just didn't want anything to come between us...
Happy on him and his closeness, I reached for his hand while talking to Willy, whereupon he immediately pressed her slightly and gave me a fleeting smile.
Everything will be fine ...
Just to reassure Reahlyn, I grabbed a few small pieces of the fish and forced it down with an effort, just to enjoy his satisfied smile.
"You should really eat more," Willy then warned me with a friendly look, whereupon I just rolled my eyes and smiled.
"I know, but I just don't have an appetite," I admitted with a shrug and then looked at Reahlyn with a grin. "At least not for something to eat," I added in a whisper, only to be amused to watch him suddenly seem slightly nervous.
"Hmmm?" Willy made, because he hadn't understood me and Reahlyn immediately turned to him.
"Willy, we still have some things to do, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"But of course. I'm looking forward to it," he replied, looking at me with a loving expression. "Take good care of my love."
"I give you my word."
The two shook hands like they'd been best friends for life and it made me incredibly happy to see them like that.
After Reahlyn then wanted to pull me by my hand, I broke away from him briefly to blow a kiss on Willy's cheek.
"See you in the morning."
Immediately, I grabbed my soulmate's hand again and, smiling, we walked quickly along the harbor until it got so fast that I could hardly keep up.
"Reahlyn! I'm still wearing heels! Can you slow down," I protested and he immediately grabbed my waist and threw me over his shoulder.
"You should have thought about switching back before you whispered seductively in my ear that you have an appetite for something other than food," he whispered contentedly and carried me in the direction of my apartment while I only laughed under his bottom me packed.
"I thought you were so in control?" I provoked him, smoking weed once in his side, whereupon he slapped my ass with some force.
"Not after I know how you feel, little one!"
I blushed and hugged him from behind, still slung over his shoulder, when I suddenly realized how dark it was around us.
Benjamin...
"Reahlyn?"
"Hmm?"
"What time is it actually?"
Luckily for me, he lowered me carefully and I literally felt the blood find its way back to my head, making me slightly dizzy.
"It's almost 9 p.m., why?" he asked and immediately grabbed my waist when he noticed how dizzy I was holding my head.
"Fuck," I just breathed, wide-eyed, looking up at him apologetically. I had completely forgotten the time and everything around me because of him and his closeness, but Pablo would certainly not let me see Benjamin if I was late today.
But how should I explain to the man who was scrutinizing me so intensely with his amorous gaze that I now had to go to my job, which was only about selling my body...
"What's going on?" he asked worried and I carefully untied his hands from my waist to take a step back.
"I have to go to work," I simply explained straight out and carefully examined his facial expression, which immediately darkened.
"You don't mean that seriously, do you?", he came out completely dumbfounded and I could understand him completely. He must have thought I would never come back after last night, but I had to. But it was neither about him nor about me, but about a little prince who meant everything to me.
"I have to!" I tried to explain, but he immediately shook his head and grabbed my wrist to pull me towards his bike.
"Reahlyn!", I said desperately and I wanted to free myself from his tight grip, but I was unsuccessful...
A werewolf like that had power...