CHAPTER 15. FROM THE TOP.

NATALIE.

Knock knock.

The sound is so firm and forceful, I instinctively know it is Damien.

What does he want now?

"Come in," I call as I get off from the window pane.

What? I already said I was going to leave.

I hurry over to the bed and drop into it, just in time as his head appears in the frame of the door before his whole body enters.

"Hi," he says.

"Hello."

"I was wondering how you were settling in?" he asks.

I give him a wry smirk before answering.

"As well as you can imagine. How do you think a person kept against their will and being ridiculed at every turn she takes would feel?" I ask.

"Right, I heard about Pan. I am sorry about that, he will be punished."

"And you? Who would punish you?"

He sighs before taking a step towards and then stopping. "Natalie… I know we got off on the wrong foot, that is mainly my fault. I apologize. How can I make it up to you?" he asks. "And please, don't tell me to let you go. I don't think I am physically capable of doing that or being able to control myself."

"Control yourself?" I ask in confusion. "Why would you lose control in the first place?"

He stares at me for a few seconds before shaking his head.

"It doesn't matter. So, what do you say to us getting to know each other, from the top?"

As I stare at him, my thoughts race.

Why exactly do I want to leave?

Because I was disappointed? Because he wasn't excited to see me? Because he had another mate?

While he has some blame for his reaction, I can't hate him for all that. I practically upended his life and I don't know him from Adam. He has the right to be upset.

And besides, we just met yesterday, a day is not enough time to form a permanent analysis of a person's character.

Still…

Where does this leave me?

Does he want me as his mate? Truly and completely? Or is he doing this out of duty, because it is the right thing to do?

I don't know.

"Why?" I ask.

"What?"

"Why do you want to get to know me now? Why not before? What changed?"

"Nothing changed," he says before running his hand through the strands of his hair.

That poor hair, it is practically standing on its end with the amount of times it has been ruffled.

"Something had to have changed, for you to be willing to talk to an assumed rogue," I say.

He wines at that, clearly remembering the time he had accused me of being one.

"I deserve that," he says.

"Hmm."

"But like I said, nothing changed. I just… didn't know how to react. You have to understand, I had spent a large part of my life searching for you and a way to break this curse. Having you just come out of nowhere, saying that you are my mate, it was a little hard to believe. It felt like a trap."

"Hmm, I can understand that. What about after?"

"After you found out I was indeed your mate, you weren't pleased."

"It wasn't that I was not pleased, I…"

"...didn't know how to react?"

"Yes," he says with a sigh. "Natalie," he starts as he walks towards me. "For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of finding my mate, of finding you, only to be disappointed again and again. Seeing you in person was too much, it made me scared. Goddess, I am still scared," he finishes as he crouches at the edge of my bed.

"Scared? Of what?"

"Of losing you. Of waking up and finding out it was just one really good dream. Of it all being a lie. Please, please tell me it is not a lie. That you are really my mate and that you are really here," he begs earnestly, his eyes practically glistening with fear and careful hope.

"It is not a lie," I say, voice deceptively soft as a feather. "I am your mate and I am here. Truly," I say as I reach forward to stroke his face.

His eyes flutter close on reflex and he subtly leans into my touch.

"You will not leave?" he asks, voice gentle.

"No," I answer. "Not as long as you will have me."

His eyes flutter open and he stares at me with a determined light.

"I will have you. I will have you forever," he says vehemently and with forceful conviction. I mean, he practically growls it out.

It makes me laugh a little, that is until I remember.

"What about Maya?"

"Maya?" he asks, a little confused, his eyes still staring in wonder into mine.

"Yes, Maya. The woman you were about to mate. The one who has gone out in search of the witch in order to break the curse."

"Ah. Maya. Maya… she would have to understand," he whispers.

"You really mean that?" I ask.

"I do. I know, it's sudden. This isn't how I planned to go on about this situation, but being here, feeling your skin, your breath, there is nothing I want more in this world than to have you as my Luna. Natalie, I need you. I didn't even understand how much until you arrived. You… you complete me."

"Oh, Damien. You say the sweetest words."

"Only for you."

"Okay, now you are just being cheesy," I retort.

"I know," he says with a grimace. "I don't mean to, but I can't seem to help it."

I laugh at him and I watch as his whole face lights up at the sound.

He is really handsome.

"I have a question and you are the only one I can ask," I say.

"What is it?"

"It is said that we can only know our wolf's name when we find our mate. I don't know mine yet, do you know yours?"

His eyebrows arch with an amused look.

"No, I don't.'

"What is funny?'

"You really don't know?"

"Know what?" I demand.

He chuckles before answering.

"While the statement is correct on the fact that we can only know our wolf's name after meeting our mates, it is not complete."

"What are the rest of the conditions?"

"In order to know your wolf's name, you have to consume the mate bond.

"Oh," I say in contemplation, a second before it finally hits me, making me blush furiously.

"Oh."