11 Surprise

After staring at the door for a moment, I stood up and turned my attention to the room, slack jawed.

Saying it was beautiful was an understatement.

The fireplace itself was a sight to behold. The pyre blazed peacefully as it's glow lit up the vicinity. Walking over to it, I couldn't help trace the uneven, multicolored stones before looking at the mantle where small wooden figures of wolves sat, running. I looked at them in awe before directing my attention to the rest of the room.

I walked over to the dresser and ran my hand over the rough yet smooth wood. The top of the dresser, sides and the six drawers were a slightly different color wood then the posts that were at each corner, accenting the piece of furniture beautifully.

Moving on, I reached the nightstand and bed. The nightstand matched the dresser with the exception it only had one drawer and a gorgeous candle sitting on top with a few sheets of parchment paper, a quill and ink holder.

Don't know why I would need this but it fits in perfectly.

The bed though.

The bed was breathtaking to say the least. It was covered with a beautifully crafted quilt and underneath the quilt, the bed was lined in soft furs. The pillow accented perfectly against the dark wood and when I sat down, I didn't want to ever get back up.

Thank you.

I was about to lean back when the sound of someone clearing their throat caught my attention.

Looking up, I saw Alistair standing in the doorway leaning against it's frame. Looking at him, it was hard to suppress a blush as the memory of earlier quickly danced across my memory. Then the sight of him now made matters worse as my body began to heat up.

He was shirtless save the dark cloak that draped across his shoulders and his trousers hung loose on his hips. When I looked up again at him again, he was watching me with a devious lopsided grin. I hummed softly in approval.

"Stop eye-fucking me, Noir," Alistair teased but his husky tone sent another wave of heat through me before realizing what he said.

"Hmph. I was doing no such thing," I lied, still staring at him.

Tilting his head up, Alistair closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before snapping his head back in my direction, onyx orbs staring a hole into my soul before they bled back to their beautiful honey hues.

"So that isn't you I'm smelling then," he questioned teasingly as he pushed himself off the doorframe and took a couple steps towards me.

"I... Uh...," I stammered, fumbling for an excuse.

Before I would conjure up a reason, Alister nudged my legs apart with his knee and knelt down, now eye level with me.

"Alistair?"

I couldn't help but stare at him in confusion and awe as his hand came up and gently brushed away strands of hair from my face before resting his hand on my cheek.

Then there it was, that static again, crackling through the air as I tried fighting a bestial attraction that drew me to him like a moth to a flame.

The next thing I knew, Alistair reached up and cupped the other side of my face then slammed his lips to mine, nearly knocking all wind from my lungs.

I hardly had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of my lips and at my grant of access, delved inside my mouth.

It was a very hungry kiss; my arms reached up and tangled around his strong neck. In an instant I had pulled away and arched up into Alistair's broad chest, moaning in the contact of body heat against my own, before I was drawn back into his lips.

When he broke the kiss, I leaned back gasping for air as I put my hand on my chest trying to still my heart.

Alistair stood and took a few steps back, his tongue flickering over his lips before his lopsided grin returned.

"I just stopped by to see how you liked the accommodations and to make sure you were still here," he said, his smile never leaving.

I blinked before snapping back reality and looked around then back to Alistair.

"It's uh... fine. This house is still creepy though," I quipped.

Arching a brow, Alistair's smile grew even bigger before turning to leave. Once he got to the door, he looked over his shoulder.

"Get use to it," he said as he laughed, waving a backhanded goodbye.

"Alistair, wait."

Alistair stopped in the doorway and turned back to me with a raised brow.

"Yes, poppet?"

"I uh... have some questions."

"Oh?"

This seemed to catch his full attention as he closed the door and walked back towards me, plopping down on the bed.

"And what might those questions be," he questioned.

Fidgeting with my tunic, I sighed.

Where do I begin? How did he know we were mates before I did? How did he know my name without me telling him? How did he know my sister was imprisoned?

"How did you know my name?"

"Ah. You're wondering how I knew who you were before the escapade with Calder. Well, you see, poppet, I've known about you since the treaty meeting in Moon Rock."

When I looked back at him confused, Alistair chuckled.

"I sensed you when I was leaving. The pull was strong enough to draw me to your location but when you didn't notice me, I was confused and even more intrigued. I stayed there, out of sight and out of mind until your friend came to you, shouting your name and about what happened to your sister. Naturally I had warriors with me but not physically known but hidden amongst the forest a couple leagues away. When you stormed off in a blaze of anger, I immediately alerted them. I was strategizing to get you when you made yourself known. Which, by the way dear, fucked up what I had planned. Nebo saw you first. I commend you for how you rendered him temporarily unconscious."

Alistair paused, watching me as I was now fully facing him. When I didn't say anything, he continued.

"When I sensed the pull again, it was even stronger but once I had you, I could hardly recognize you..."

His words faded as he recalled the scene.

"Rune and I knew it was you but it seemed unfathomable that the woman laying beneath us was the same beauty I had seen earlier."

Reaching up, Alistair cupped the right side of my face, thumbing the inflicted wound gently.

"You were so bloodied that once Rune cleaned you, I became enraged but when you moved in fear, the pain I felt from that, the dejection, was overwhelming. Then that fucking poor excuse of an Alpha appeared. You obviously know the rest."

That makes sense.

"How come I didn't know about you though?"

"Ah, yes. I was a little stumped on that at first as well. However, when Calder mentioned you hadn't shifted yet, it dawned on me. It was because of the fact you hadn't shifted. Máni likes to make shit complicated. When you did shift though, I could tell River knew exactly who we were unlike you, who is slow."

"Hey," I squeaked, embarrassed.

Alistair laughed as he sat up.

"That's enough for now, dear."

With this, Alistair stood but not before leaning over to kiss my forehead.

"You're still staying here though," he stated as he walked back towards the door.

"Wait, wha— why," I whined.

"I already explained it. You're mine,"

With that, Alistair once again gave a backhanded wave and vanished.

What in Helheim??