C5 LILA

I sit nervously in my father's office, waiting for him to finish his conversation with Darius.

He said they wouldn't be long. However, the wall clock shows it's been half an hour already. That's a pretty long talk by my standards.

I hate that I forgot to take my purse with me in all of that mess, because now I don't have a cellphone with me and I can't contact Ian. I can always go outside and fetch him, but I somehow want to avoid all the people that might still be there.

On second thought, the majority must have stayed. If normal human manners applied to us as well, then everyone would have left the moment things escalated. Being werewolves, however, we like to stick together in situations like these.

I need to make sure Ian is well, though. So screw it.

As I leave the office and walk down the hallway, immediately, I hear familiar voices coming from downstairs.

It's Darius and my father.

Why haven't I thought of this sooner?

I quietly descend the stairs, following the sounds to our living room.

I approach the door and lean on the closest wall, hoping to hear the entire conversation.

"That is not even an option, Patrick," I recognize my mate's voice. "She is staying with me. Where she belongs." His voice is calm and determined, yet authoritative.

"Belongs?" I suddenly hear an angry male voice. But it isn't my father's. Ian. What is he doing there?

"Yes," my mate replies less calmly now, "belongs. We are mates. I thought you said you were informed on the subject. Because if you aren't," he pauses dreadfully, "I damn sure can educate you."

"There is no need for this, boys," my father jumps in. "We can all agree that soon, no matter what, Lila will do what has to be done. Because she will want to do it. All we are trying to accomplish here is that Darius gives her some time to adjust. A few days, no more."

There are some footsteps and then Darius speaks again. "Do not address me as a boy ever again." His voice freezes blood in the veins. "And second, a few days without her are days I cannot give you. If she wants to live without me, let her tell me that to my face. She's been in front of this door for the past five minutes anyway."

I freeze in place. Shit!

"What?" I hear my father ask and then Darius opens the door. Our eyes meet and I feel devoured again.

"Lila," he nods gently. "Join us, please."

"How did he hear her?" Ian asks my father.

"He didn't," he replies quietly. "They're mates. He can smell her miles away."

"Well he should've said something," Ian states, seeing my anger towards this situation.

"Why? I don't want to have secrets in front of her," he replies matter of factly.

Ian approaches me, trying to put his arm over me, but is stopped by my mate before he can touch me.

"No," he says simply, as a warning.

Ian is irritated by his gesture. "Lily is my fiancé. Do not tell me what to do."

Darius' eyes widen and his nostrils flare. He is enraged.

As I don't want another fight, I squeeze Ian's hand gently. "It's okay," and let him go.

Darius seems to cool off a little by my action. To be honest, it would be super weird to touch Ian in front of Darius. I haven't thought about it up until now, but it simply feels wrong. This mate thing is real, I realize.

I have to talk to him before it is too late. Before I give in to him and let go of this entire situation. "Dad. Ian. Can you please give us a second?"

Ian is shocked, and I see hurt in his expression. "Lily?"

Darius seems pleased, obviously, his posture growing larger and prouder.

"It will only take a few minutes," I tell my fiancé. "Then we'll go home," I whisper to his ear, hoping Darius didn't hear it. Even though his now enraged face tells me he has.

Ian looks at Darius, then back at me. Finally he nods and leaves with my father.

Darius doesn't move an inch. I hold his full attention.

I swallow hard and force myself to look at him without drooling. It is impossible, but I do my best to hide it. "I guess you heard...what I want."

He shakes his head slowly.

"Yes, you did," I insist, unwilling to say it to his face.

He walks up to me. "I heard only your silly little plan. But I still haven't heard what you want. Even though I know it damn well."

I struggle swallowing. It's like there's something stuck in my throat. I was afraid this would happen. I force myself to speak. "I need to leave. And I will."

He smirks, half amused, and takes half a step, closing the distance between us completely. Now my breasts are touching his chest. He touches my chin gently, lifting it up. "Need?" he clicks his tongue, "I didn't ask you what you need." He lowers his head, his lips now almost touching mine. "I asked what do you want?"

My heart races like a fool and I know he can feel it. Because I am feeling his arousal. I close my eyes, trying not to think about the two of us naked, devouring each other.

"Don't be a coward, Luna," he whispers. "Say it."

I feel his breath against my lips and it is too much to take.

Completely unwillingly, as if I am not in control of my own body, I lean in and my lips close onto his.

He takes hold of my head with both his hands in a second. His tongue enters my mouth and I welcome it with thirst. I grab him by the belt and pull, as if he can come any closer that we already are.

His hand trails down my back and he stops at the small of it. Suddenly I hate the fabric that's stopping us from having a skin to skin touch, so I take his hand and put it under my shirt. Such a desperate move! But I am desperate for his touch and I can't even hide it.

He grabs my skin and breathes heavily. I feel his body pulsating, and I know this could escalate into something I could regret. But I'm not strong enough to stop.

Suddenly, the kissing stops, though, and I am left open mouthed, yearning for it to resume.

It's like he can read my mind, because he says: "Not unless you admit it."

I frown, still seduced by his scent and taste. "Admit what?"

"That you do want it." He trails his thumb over my wet lips... "that you want to stay. And be with me."

Isn't that obvious? I am drooling all over you, regardless of being engaged!

Shit! Ian. I almost forgot about him.

I can't do this. This has to stop.

I force myself to speak again. "Let me go."

He is surprised. Smirking, he says: "You don't want me to let you go."

It makes me angry. "Stop telling me what I do and don't want!" I try to get out of his embrace, and he decides to let me.

Finally free, I gather some more courage. "I am leaving. And you will let me leave."

He tries to control his anger by clenching his jaw. "Where are you leaving? Back to humans? With him?"

"He is my fiancé. Not some guy I just met at the bar."

His face turns red. "Fiancé you just cheated on with me."

I am outraged. Even though he is 100% percent right, I am still outraged.

"How dare you? I-I didn't mean for it to happen!" I try to justify myself for my own sake, not his. "It wasn't me kissing you, it was...it was... beyond my control," I am sweating now, panicking. "I swear, I... I didn't want this to happen-"

He takes my hand. I plan to shove it at first, but realize it's helping me relax. How come? He is the one that infuriated me. "This makes no sense," I mutter.

He smiles and it is the first genuine smile I've seen on him. "I agree. But mates' love isn't supposed to be rational. Just magical."

The words sound so romantic out of his mouth, it's like he hypnotizes me.

Suddenly, there is a knock on the door.

"Lily, is everything alright?" I hear Ian.

My eyes drop to the floor in shame and Darius lets go of me, anger building up inside him again.

"I'll be right out!" I shout and look at Darius. "Don't think of anything stupid," I say.

"It's your ideas that are stupid, not mine. Are you gonna try to ignore what just happened? Because try is all you can do."

I shake my head in shame. This bond thing really does have power over me. So I can't let us stay alone much longer. Does it grow with proximity? I've no idea, but I already feel my wolf wanting to jumping him again, so I got to act fast. And smart. "You just said mates love each other," I continue. "If you loved me, you would let me do what I want."

"I do," he says bluntly. "But Lila, you can't be happy without me. Not anymore. Don't you understand?"

I swallow hard and decide to play along. "I do. And I know you are right. But there are things I have to put in the closet before I..." I gaze into his lovely dark eyes, "Start my life with you. Not only Ian..."

He is silent at first, inspecting my eyes. Then he finally nods. "Do what you need to do."

I am relieved for a second, before he continues. "You have two days. If you're not back by then... I'm coming to get you."

I gasp as he takes my hand to lay a gentle kiss on it, then leans close to my ear. "And Lila, don't forget you're mine now." He finds my eyes. "Only mine." Then he leaves through the terrace door, instantly shifting into his wolf.

My mate is... magnificent.