Chapter 512

“Rowan,” I grabbed his face. “What?” He looked confused. “You have never scented me,” I dropped my hands as his face fell. “Yeah, I have,” he shook his head.

“Rowan. No, you haven’t,” I shook my head, stepping back. “You always scented me and said I smelled wrong, because you were right. I had to hide my scent from Brandon. But you can’t be selective about how your scent is shared.” He nodded.

“I know,” he shook his head, not understanding. I snorted. “Do you?” I raised an eyebrow. “Because I don’t think you do. A wolf without a scent is an abomination, so I couldn’t just stop my scent altogether.”

“Smart, actually. I figured you stopped it around Brandon.” He still looked confused. “You know that isn’t true. You have been around me when Brandon was.” I poked his chest. “I need you to use that big brain of yours and think. If I needed to hide my scent, but couldn’t not have a scent, what option did I have left?”

He stared at me. “I don’t know.” I smiled, poking his forehead. “I had to change my scent so that he couldn’t recognize me as his mate.”

He shook his head. “I know…” I threw my head back and laughed. “That means that I had to use the same scent for everyone…” I dragged out my words, and he nodded.

“Okay…” He trailed off, understanding dawning in his eyes. “But we were alone, a lot.” I nodded. “I know, but I never changed my scent so that my real one didn’t cling to anything.”

He staggered back. “You have never scented me…and I have never scented you.” “Bingo.”

“So you could be my mate?” His voice held raw need. I grimaced. “I already had a mate.” “But you rejected him.” He stepped closer. “You could, in fact, be my mate…”

I looked into his eyes, seeing hope flare. “I mean….sure, it’s possible. But what are the chances?” He took the last step, pulling me close. “I don’t care about the chances…I don’t care that your father kept us apart. I don’t care that you have magic, you have a pup, I don’t even care if you want to stay in your dad’s pack once this is all over. The only thing I care about is you.”

My breath caught. “Rowan.”

“Please, Amy,” he leaned down, his forehead against mine. “I don’t beg…anyone. I’m a king, sure, but I am a man first. And I am begging here. If you need me to get on my knees, I will. Erubus is going crazy inside, because Nix and Megan won’t meet with him. He’s so infatuated with them, and I will beg, I will crawl. Whatever you need, I will do it. Just please. Give it a shot.”

“What if I’m not your mate? What then? We will be right back here hurting each other.” He shook his head. “Goddess, no.” He grabbed my hands. “I don’t want to hurt you. I obviously won’t be taking anymore advice from your dad. But fuck, Amy. If you aren’t my mate…I’m okay with not being able to release my scent ever. I’m okay with forsaking everyone else for you.” He cupped my face. “I want you. Mate or not. I need you in my life, and whether it’s as a friend, or more?” He kissed me.

His kiss was hesitant, full of need. When he realized I wasn’t pulling away, he deepened it. His hands tightened on my face, a deep rumble in his chest. His lips grew hungrier as he tilted my head.

Nix paced, Megan panted on the ground. Amy, this isn’t a smart move. You need to stop before you push us into our heat.

Megan’s tongue lolled. She looked at me, fire in her eyes. It might be too late.

I wrenched my mouth away from Rowan, watching his face fall. I needed a minute, but then he turned away, panic setting in. “Wait,” I spun him around, leaping into his arms, slamming my mouth on his. His groan was delicious as he wrapped his hands around my waist. I pulled back. “We have to stop.”

“Why?” He leaned in, catching my lips again. I pulled back, chuckling. “Because I’m about to start another heat, and if you keep kissing me, it will start whether or not we want it to.”

He pulled back, staring at my face. “You only go into heat if you found a male your wolf likes…”

Alicia S. Rivers, Author