Page 10 of Malek

“Sorry, what was that? Did you say something?”

When he looked into Malek’s eyes, there was amusement there, but also that look of awe like he couldn’t believe that Axel was real, but also like all his Christmases had come.

Was he the reason for the look?Wow.

Axel felt surprisingly calm, and he could tell this time it wasn’t from Malek, because there was no whammy with it. That was the best way he could explain it. When Malek did whatever he did, Axel knew he shouldn’t be feeling what he was feeling, and there was still an edge of whatever feeling he should be having, but now Axel knew his calm wasn’t wolf-induced… He just didn’t know what to call it.

His mind tried putting everything together—shifters were real, his romance novels hadn’t lied, and he was mated to one.

Axel felt his life tilt on an axis, but not in a bad way, more like admitting everything had changed, and being very okay with that change.

Wait, had he even told Malek his name, before?

“Axel,” he said.

“What…?” Malek queried

“My name. It’s Axel.”

“Axel, a perfect name, for a perfect mate.”

“Shifters are real, huh…?”

Four

Malek

“We’re real, we’re just a very well-kept secret,” Malek said.

“And you’re my mate?” Axel repeated yet again.

Even though Axel phrased it as a question, hearing him call Malek his mate, well, it was a feeling that couldn’t be fully described, but in actions, it would involve him doing fist pumps and cartwheels, and he wasn’t even sure he could do the latter.

However, that was how he felt having his mate here in his home, in his bed. Well, theirs now. And at least Axel, his mate, seemed to be taking all of this pretty well.

It didn’t hurt that Axel hadn’t moved out of his arms either. Malek had a feeling this was a position the other man would be in a lot, on his lap, in his arms, because just the thought of letting him go ached, like physically.

“I always thought shifters weren’t real, that they were just stories that scared from myths and legends.”

“Well they are, but myths and legends that started from facts, and here we are, very real…”

Malek made sure to watch his mate’s expression, the way his body was in his arms, and since they were fated mates, he could kind of feel some of his emotions. The bond would grow stronger after they were mated, but for now, he only felt traces.

But, he could tell that his mate wasn’t panicking or scared, so that was a win.

“So, mate huh?” Axel leaned away from Malek, so he could look him in his eye. Even that small pull away, had Malek wanting to move forward, so that his mate still leaned into his chest, but looking into Axel’s beautiful blue eyes would have to do.

“Mate,” Malek agreed.

“What does that mean? Like what will I have to do?”

“Well,” Malek began slowly, “It means that the goddess made you perfect just for me, and that no one in this world can ever compare to you in my eyes, that wherever you go I will follow, because you’re everything I have ever wanted.”

Malek held his breath, waiting for Axel’s reaction. He knew that was a lot to take, especially coming from someone you just met.

Axel looked him in the eyes and threw his head back and laughed. Like laughed hard.

“This a joke, right? I’m hallucinating. Did my siblings put you up to this?” Axel asked, in between his guffaws.