Page 16

F aye

This time, when there’s a knock at the door, I don’t jump. I can tell it’s Eli because his scent is so strong, even through the door. I honestly don’t know if ultimas just have stronger scents… or if I’m getting better at noticing things I never noticed before.

Maybe both.

“Hi,” I say, opening the door and revealing him standing there with a bunch of lilacs for me.

He smiles, his gaze sweeping over me like he’s drinking me in. “I brought you some flowers,” he says, then holds them out to me.

“Oh, they’re beautiful,” I say, smiling. “And they smell so good.”

Luckily, the servants had brought over a few empty vases…

since the guys keep bringing me flowers.

I pick one of them, fill it up, and put the flowers in the water, then set them on my desk.

Stepping back, I smile at them. I like seeing fresh flowers in my room.

More than that, I love the little things my men do to show me they care about me.

“They’re really lovely,” I tell him.

He moves to stand behind me and wraps himself around me, his big body like a warm blanket. “Lovely flowers for a lovely lady.”

I laugh. “I’m not that lovely.”

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”

I turn around, and his hands go to my waist. Staring up at him with wide eyes, my gaze slides over his bright white hair to his brilliant hazel eyes. My breath hitches, and it’s suddenly really hard to breathe.

He leans down, brushing his lips against mine. He’s watching me, waiting for my reaction, but I’m not sure which one to give him to get him to kiss me more.

I must do the right thing, because he kisses me again, this time more deeply. His hard lips press into mine, stealing my breath. I put a hand on his shoulder, pulling him closer, and the big man lets me, slanting his mouth over mine and taking my lips harder and harder.

My lips part. His tongue slides inside, and a shiver rolls down my spine. Our tongues tangle together, and he groans, pulling me closer, close enough to feel his erection.

I let my hand wander down his chest, to his stomach, where I linger for a minute, feeling the tightly corded muscles. Then, hesitantly, I slide my hand inch by inch lower.

He breaks our kiss, taking a step back, breaking the contact between us. Running a shaking hand through his hair, he releases a ragged breath. “Faye… you’re hurt.”

It’s weird, I don’t really care. “So?”

His hazel eyes burn into mine. “You’re hurt .”

I bite my bottom lip, wanting to tell him that I need him, that I want to see what it feels like to have him inside of me, but the words won’t slip past my lips.

“Shall we take a walk together? Maybe have lunch in my room?” he asks, sounding a bit calmer.

A walk is the last thing I want right now. “Okay.”

I take his arm and we walk together through the castle, until we reach a side of the building I wasn’t aware even existed.

Eli smiles at me as we climb a twisting staircase, then emerge on a long walkway on the exterior of the building.

It’s beautiful. It’s a little chilly, but it shows the whole countryside and a sky full of fluffy clouds.

“Are you cold?” he asks.

I shake my head.

He removes his jacket, putting it on my shoulders, and I’m instantly surrounded by both his scent and his warmth. “Thank you.”

“Is the walk too much for you? Do you want to rest?”

I shake my head. “I’m okay.”

“So tough,” he tells me, his gaze holding mine. “Do you want to shift for just a little while? The healers have said it’s time, and it could help with your lesser injuries.”

“Shifting actually sounds perfect.” I roll my shoulders. Just thinking about being in my wolf-form makes me happy.

He shifts in front of me, and then I shift.

Within seconds, my body feels even better, like some of the aches and pains have vanished.

I stare at the big white wolf near me, and he watches me with gentle eyes.

Unable to help myself, I start running along the outside of the castle.

Then he’s there running along beside me.

I can tell it takes him no effort at all to keep up with me, but he matches my pace, happiness radiating off of him. Pushing myself, I run ahead of him and around the corner of the castle, then I stop, whirling around. As he rounds the corner, I leap out at him, and we tumble around together.

It’s shocking that nothing he does hurts. He’s so much larger than me, but as we play, all of it is simply fun. He lets me tackle him to the ground. He rolls around with me, and it makes me feel big and strong in the silliest way.

Finally, he says, You ready for lunch?

My stomach growls. Ready.

We shift back and stand together. Again, he offers me his arm, and I take it, feeling alive and happy in a way that’s hard to describe. My dress tangles around my legs from the breeze, and I lean in closer to his warm body.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

He nods.

“Why were you naked the first time we met?”

He smiles. “I often go naked before I go wolf. It makes me feel closer to nature.”

I laugh. Eli is kind of funny.

“I’ve never been to this part of the castle before,” I say, smiling up at him.

“I’d hope not.” He laughs. “It’s a special area away from all the people in The Selection, reserved for ultimas.”

That makes my heart lodge in my throat. It’s another reminder of the fact that Eli is rare, and so much more powerful than me.

It makes me self-conscious, makes me wonder why he would ever choose me as his mate.

I mean, not that it’s a choice, but I know for a fact he could reject me, if he wanted to.

When we walk into his room, it’s clear that the ultimas get better treatment in all ways.

His windows—many of them floor-to-ceiling—overlook the lake.

His room, or rooms, rather, are interconnected.

There’s a water feature that leads into a massive, steaming tub that already has various flowers floating within it.

I would give anything to relax in it, but my mouth waters when I see the lunch table set out for us on the balcony.

Little sandwiches, quiches, and macrons.

We go out to the balcony and Eli helps me into my seat, then sits down across from me and pours a drink into my wine glass before pouring himself one too. And I don’t need to ask—I already know the wine is expensive and of the best quality. Everything that ultimas have is like that.

“You know,” he says, after taking a sip, his pretty eyes meeting mine. “When I imagined finding my mate, I had pictured having her all to myself. But I am coming around to the others.”

“They are a strange mix of personalities,” I say and laugh, then take a small sip of my wine.

It’s delicious, fruity and floral. I never thought much about wine, but I’m beginning to realize I really like it.

Part of me doesn’t want to get used to it, just in case all of this falls away like a dream in the morning, while another part of me says to just enjoy it. That this is part of my new life.

“I’ve found that I like all your mates, in different ways, and I see a value in them,” he says, swirling his glass and looking thoughtful.

“A value?” I ask, a little confused as servants begin coming out, setting down even more food on our table.

“There are times I may have to travel, to manage my estate,” Eli continues. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s just the way it is when you have many businesses and many properties. It’s good to know that with your mates you won’t be lonely.”

My pulse picks up. A picture of my life starts to form in my mind, but it’s incomplete.

All I ever imagined was going back to my cabin.

I’d started to picture a life with Ezra and Cayson, but then everything started moving so fast. Maverick and Xander claimed me.

Kurt’s attack. Eli’s appearance. But maybe it’s time to think about the future with all these new factors.

All these new men .

“If we end up together,” I say, heart in my throat, “what would that look like?”

“ If ?” Eli laughs, shaking his head and setting his glass down on the table.

“Not if , darling. You’re mine. You belong to me.

You’re my mate, and I wouldn’t let you go for all the wealth and power in the world.

I realize that we’re still getting to know each other, and that you’ve had a lot of trauma, but my wolf chose you.

There will never be another woman for me. ”

“Right,” I say, looking down, unsure how to feel.

The servants finish putting everything down. Eli looks at them. “You’re dismissed.”

They nod and disappear back inside.

He reaches over and takes my hand. “I promise this is a good thing, okay? I’m going to make you feel like the most loved, cherished woman in the world.”

That might not be so bad. “And our life would be… at your manor? With the others?”

“As an ultima,” Eli says, squeezing my hand gently, “I’m tied to no one pack, which means I have no qualms with Cayson and Ezra running their respective packs as they see fit.

Meaning, we could mainly live on or near their lands.

I wouldn’t even be opposed to building a new manor there.

Something more to your taste.” He smiles, then continues.

“I will only be there to oversee and occasionally step in, if I feel it’s necessary.

As I said, I do need to travel sometimes.

Sometimes for the sake of my own estate, sometimes to help resolve conflict and maintain the peace amongst the wolf packs, but otherwise, I plan to be home with you and our children.

It is important to me to be present as a father. ”

“Children?” I ask, raising my eyes to his.