3

“This is my room. You will be in the one adjacent to mine. I suppose you don't have anywhere to stay right now. You must've come from the lycan monarchy, right?” Helena said, her eyes glimmering.

“True.” Keiran nodded and looked around her room. He studied every possible place his eyes landed on. His curious gaze went from her clean, brown walls to her white rustic furniture and the few photos on it. A low hum sounded from his chest.

“Knowing how far it is, I wonder how much time it took you to reach Cloudbridge.” She smiled. So many thoughts were swirling in her head; questions and suspicions clouding them. She still couldn't believe her mate would be a lycanthrope. It felt like some fantasy movie that was dealing with the impossible.

“Well...” Keiran shrugged, his eyes still roaming around. “I wasn't exactly there when I started looking for you.

“Oh... And where were you?” she pushed curiously.

“Your room is very nice,” he said instead, a satisfied smile grazing his lips.

Helena gaped at him. He just changed the topic as if it was as easy as snapping his fingers. Well, she was going to question him later. She wanted to know everything about him, but patience was a virtue. Just as rational mind was. They walked hand in hand.

Her eyes raked over him again. She still couldn't believe her mate was next to her and he was real. She gulped, her heart beating loudly. It kept sending shivers to her core and her palms started sweating. Something she had and had not expected finally seeing him. Sure, Helena wanted to be closer to Keiran. It was inevitable—mates were chosen together because they were most suitable as a couple and they would create strong offspring. It was natural selection. But that didn't mean she had to find him attractive or enjoy his company. And right now, Keiran, no matter how young, was the most handsome man she had ever met.

His eyes turned to her, and she averted her gaze, blushing.

“I...I think I have to get you some clothes. Even if Shawn's clothes are too big for you, I'm sure I'd be able to find something suitable in his wardrobe,” she stuttered, trying to change the topic like him.

Keiran's eyes darkened and slightly narrowed. Tension shot up through her body.

“Shawn's wardrobe?” he gritted out, jealousy and outrage burning through his every word.

Helena froze, and her lips parted. He had been so calm just until a second ago.

“I could check my father's closet,” she proposed. “I think it'd be better. Wait here.

She knew the lycans were famous for their jealousy and possessiveness. It made them extremely dangerous, even more than usual. They were bloodthirsty, animalistic creatures. And compared to the werewolves, they were frightening. There was a reason they didn't mingle with humans and other species.

Keiran had been so calm when she told him she lived with Shawn that she let herself forget about their differences. But at the end of the day, her mate was different and she had to get used to that thought. She had to be careful.

...

Heading back to her room, Helena stopped mid-track and frowned. Keiran's scent was leading out of the place she last left him. He wasn't in her room anymore. Gritting her teeth, she turned around and dashed to the kitchen.

Was he hungry? She hadn't asked him, but it only made sense. She had no idea how long he'd been searching for her.

When she reached the open kitchen, she halted.

“Hey, are you hungry?” Shawn asked her mate as Keiran examined the space. Her Beta had been drinking beer alone and watching TV. “Do you want some pizza?

He motioned to it, and Keiran glanced at the food on the counter. Helena's heart squeezed in expectation.

“No, thanks,” he rasped and started frantically roaming through the fridge.

She gasped and headed to him.

“Keiran, calm down.” Her hand on his shoulder made him freeze, and he jumped at her touch. “You should've said that you're hungry. Sit, let me make you something to eat.

He seemed uncertain, but he gritted his teeth and obediently sat on the stool, staring at what she was doing. Thinking about what would be the fastest and easiest thing to prepare, she started taking vegetables, pasta, and sauces from the fridge. Her brows arched when Keiran shot up and as gently as possible pushed her away from the fridge.

Helena stared at him, startled. Her eyes became even larger when Keiran gave up on the fridge and grabbed the door of the freezer, unintentionally pulling it out of its hinges. He looked at the door in his hand for a second and put it on the ground, shuffling through the freezer.

“Um, Keiran?” she uttered, her heart galloping like a nervous bunny. He looked... unstable.

He took a few huge frozen pieces of meat and hungrily stared at them, not seeing anything else in this world. Not even her worry. He broke the plastic boxes they were in and bit at one of the pieces.


She sucked in a breath and nearly coughed at the way it hit her throat.
Seeing the meat wasn't satisfactory enough, he looked at his mate and tried to speak.

What came out of his throat was guttural, almost non-human. “I only eat meat.

“Oh...” Helena mumbled with wide eyes. She followed his every move and didn't miss the chaotic expanding and shrinking of his chest. Her hands trembled. What was going on? Why was her mate like this... It was breaking her heart.

“Can I go hunt around your house?” Keiran asked, his whole body twitching and moving. He seemed out of it, confused and impatient. His feet were bouncing on his heels. “Is there anything good there?

“Sure, I can show you my favorite spots to hunt. There are delicious rabbits—” She tried to smile, but he interrupted her.

“No.” He raised his hand, and she blinked. “It'd be better if you don't come with me right now.

Helena stilled, and her breath hitched. He wanted to go alone... in this condition... without her to watch out for him. She knew he was more than capable of surviving. She'd seen his lycan body and felt the power oozing from him, but... Was his rationality intact? She didn't want to judge him, especially when she knew nothing about him, but she was sure his behavior wasn't normal even for his kind. He looked like he was in some weird trance.

“Okay... Just make sure you don't eat humans or other werewolves,” Helena joked half-heartedly, finally letting some air reach her lungs. She could trust him. She had to.

Not even waiting for her to finish, Keiran flung open the window and jumped out of it.

...

Pacing around in her room, Helena glanced at the clock on the wall. She had started getting restless an hour ago, and now, Keiran had been gone for nearly four hours. She tried to keep her mind busy, trying to fix that door with Shawn, but when they were done, she moved to her room. By this point, she was ready to start chewing on her nails. Her mind was reeling. What could have happened to make her mate so late? He was a lycan, he was much faster than her in hunting.

But did she even know him? Was he even out for food? Her guts clenched, and she didn't want to listen to them. Her mate wasn't dangerous. He wasn't feral and somebody she had to stay away from. She had waited for him for so long, and now that he was here, she was afraid things were not well. Something was very wrong.

Yes, Keiran was a lycan. Yes, his kind was different. But was she getting more than she could handle? This night was starting to show it was going to be a LOT dealing with someone from his kind. Was she even ready for something like this? She had never imagined her mate would be a lycan, so all the lessons about their culture and traits had just passed over her head. She knew she had to learn so much about Keiran, about his habits, and character.

Helena wasn't going to just give up because she knew nothing about her mate. Keiran and she deserved a chance together. She was just starting to realize that maybe she was the one that was going to make more of the sacrifices.

Her door opened, and a towel-covered Keiran showed up. His torso was bloody, and he was licking his red fingers.

She held her breath for the nth time this evening.

“You're finally back.” She smiled awkwardly, entwining her hands in nerves. “It seems that you're in desperate need of a shower. Go ahead, use mine.

Keiran grinned and strode towards her. He lifted his right hand and showed something white in front of his mate's face. She stared at it and slowly took it. When she studied it in her palm, she saw it was a bunny paw.

“I got it for you. They say it brings good luck,” Keiran said and turned, heading to the bathroom.

Helena examined the item in her palm. He had drained it out of its blood, and there was not even a sign that it was fresh and just taken from a living creature.

...

When he left the bathroom, he had a towel around his waist again. His hair had small drops of water hanging on its ends, and wet streaks were rolling down his body.

“I prepared some clothes for you.” Helena patted the garments next to her where she was sitting on the bed. “My father is quite taller than you, but they'll do for now. We'll go shopping and get you something your size tomorrow.

Keiran approached her, taking them, and stiffened in one spot.

She glanced up at him.

“What's wrong?

“Do I have to go there? To the other room, I mean,” he asked and swallowed.

Her heart jumped, missing a few beats, and Helena studied him. Did he look afraid or was her imagination the one going crazy tonight?

“Yes, I believe it'd be better. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other, let's not rush it.” A smile appeared on her face, her whole being wanting to reassure him. It was so weird. His every uncertainty or expression made her want to try harder and make sure he wouldn't leave.

This mate thing was crazy. And it worked at the speed of light.

After a few long seconds, Keiran nodded, his face clear of emotions, and turned to the door. When he reached it, he looked back and said, “Good night, Helena.

His small smile made her cheeks warm, and goosebumps appeared all over her body. It was true. Her mate was finally here.

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