Yorick

I am so in love. And I'm so thankful that she wasn't trying to reject me because of me or because she doesn't believe in the mate bond. The alliance bond is a problem, but I can work with that. I have a year. Worst case scenario, I'll call everyone I know to rain hellfire on her brother's pack, but I'd rather find a way to work things out; something that keeps our packs allied and at peace because we're mates. Fated mates, meant to be together. Forever.

"So, what should we do first? Look over the campus, get books, or get food?" I ask, not releasing her hand even when she tries to tug it away.

Instead, I pull her hand to my mouth and kiss the top of it, holding her gaze. "Please hold my hand."

"People will think we're together," she hisses.

I give her a look that hopefully says, 'Well yeah, duh!'

She huffs and rolls her eyes but doesn't pull her hand away. I'll take the win.

"So, what's first?"

"Mmm, maybe we should go buy our books before the bookstore closes?" she says.

"Okay," I say, practically skipping across campus as I walk beside my mate. My fated mate. MY mate. Did I mention we're fated mates?

"Are you always this ... giddy?" she asks, frowning at me.

"Nope," I say, smiling at her because I can't help myself. It feels so incredible to know I found her and here of all places. It's like the Moon Goddess is confirming that I made the right decision to come here. "This is all your influence."

"And how do you expect to get through any of our classes acting like this?" she asks, still frowning.

I turn, pulling her to a stop. "Well, you could let me mark you. We could mate for several days straight, and after that, I'm pretty sure I could focus on something other than you," I tell her, thrilled when I watch her mouth drop open.

"Which part of that is a surprise? The several days? Or me being able to focus?"

"No man can go for several days straight. Not even an Alpha," she says.

"Oh, my sweet little mate. I guarantee you that when the time comes, I will only come up for air, food, and water. Every other part of my being will be focused on you; your taste, your scent, your touch, and I want every one of your sweet orgasms from that day forward."

I watch as her eyes glass over and she begins to sway. I lean in, running my nose over her jaw to her ear. "I come from a line of men who take great pleasure in making sure their mates are not just satisfied but so fucking happy that they forget their names. That's what you can expect from me, my sweet little mate," I purr in her ear.

Her entire body shivers and I smile before stepping back.

"The bookstore?" I ask innocently.

"What?"

"You wanted to get there before they close, right?"

"Wh ... yes. Yes, books. Right," she says, shaking her head and blinking to regain her composure.

I smile, understanding much more now why my father, brother, and even Quirin tease their mates. It's delightful to see them reacting to just your words. I can't wait until I can make her react to my touch. I'll make sure the possibility of that alliance bond is so far out of her mind that it's completely forgotten. All she'll think about is me, wanting me, needing me. And then we can begin thinking about how we can overcome this contract and have what we should have – a fated mate bond.

I take her hand and lead her to the bookstore. Since we're both first years, we have the same books.

"I can buy those for you," I tell her. Yeah, my money comes from the pack, but I don't care right now. I've earned the money I have, and I want to take care of my mate. I'll pay my brother back if it's more than I can afford.

"My father gave me plenty of money for school, Yorick. You don't have to buy my books," she says.

"What about dinner. Can I buy you dinner?" I ask, practically desperate to show her that I can take care of her.

"I have money, Yorick," she says, as if trying to convince me.

"It's not about the money. I want to take care of you. My wolf wants to take care of you," I tell her.

She looks at me deciding what she's willing to agree to.

"I'll tell you what, I'll buy my own dinner, then we'll walk around campus, figure out where our classes are, and then your wolf and Rina, my wolf, can go for a run together. What do you say?"

Thad pushes forward and I let him. "I say, I would love to run with my mate," he growls possessively. "But my human and I can still take care of you. Dinner and a run," he says, negotiating with Rina.

"Is this a date, Thad?" Rina asks him.

"Absolutely."

I watch as her eyes flicker between the blue-grey of Cyra's color and the nearly navy color that must be Rina's color.

"Alright. I'll let you buy me dinner," Rina says, and I dance around in our mind space.

'Chill, tiny dancer. She hasn't agreed to be our mate or even agreed to be with us,' Thad says to me in our mind link.

'It's a first step, Thad. Take the gift,' I say to him.

'Oh, I'm taking whatever our little mate is willing to give us,' he purrs.

We walk to the cafeteria and order food.

"You know you don't have to buy our dinner, right? Just because Rina said it was okay, I'll remind you that I have plenty of money to buy my own food," Cyra says to me.

"And I'll remind you that as your mate, I feel a very strong need to take care of you. Wolf or no, you're mine. I want you to know that I can provide for you. It's important to me," I tell her.

She looks at me with sad eyes.

"Don't. Don't discount what I can give you. I know great sex isn't everything. You're an Alpha female, you would expect and demand more in a mate. I'm willing to give you anything and everything that you need. I want to be everything you want and need in a mate. So don't look at me like I've disappointed you before you've even given me a chance to prove that I can be so much more than what you were hoping to find."

"Yorick..."

"Yeah, I'm going to ruin you for him. I won't apologize for that. I want you. I want you to want me. And I don't give a fuck about this contract that your father agreed to for you. You're mine," I growl. "I won't give up without a fight. I can promise you that."

"You don't understand."

"What I do understand is that you feel trapped. My job, as your mate, is to help you see that you have options. That starts with having dinner with you, buying dinner for you, even if it is crappy cafeteria food," I say, winking at her.

"And then we'll let our wolves run together. We owe it to them to do this. Don't tell me that Rina isn't practically begging you to run with Thad. I know he's been begging me since the moment we smelled you," I say.

"Fine. One dinner, one run, and we'll see how it goes."

"Fine. Prepare yourself to be amazed," I tell her.

Cyra

Yorick is everything that I dreamed my mate would be. He's gorgeous, a fantastic kisser, he's charismatic, he's charming, and his smile lights up his entire face. And the more we talk, the more I realize that he's also very intelligent. That shouldn't surprise me, he'd have to be intelligent to have made it to the Academy. But with him, I don't feel like I have to explain everything. I feel like he gets it. He gets me.

After he buys our dinner, we find a quiet place in the cafeteria to eat. It looks like the others are starting to pair off like we have. While we eat, he peppers me with questions about things that I like; favorite food, favorite color, favorite flower, favorite movie, favorite takedown move, pretty much everything that he could think of to ask, he does. The entire time, his total and complete focus is on me. He barely glances around at the others who come and go, mostly just checking to make sure all is well before returning his intense gaze back to me and asking me all sorts of questions.

"Favorite season?" he asks, making me laugh.

"Is there an end in sight to all of these questions?"

"Not until I know everything I want to know about you," he says, not at all perturbed by my comment.

"Aren't you bored yet? I'm pretty sure I've never talked about myself this much, ever."

He moves his finger between us. "Fated," he says, then points to himself. "Can't get enough. Want more. Want everything," he says, then gives me that breath-taking grin again.

"Everything?" I ask.

"Yep, every thought, every insecurity, every happiness, every kiss, every moan, every orgasm, and every witty comeback like the one you're about to give me," he says.

Damn he is so sexy!

"I have no witty comeback other than you're very forward to think that I'm going to have sex with you," I tell him.

"Well, I didn't mean tonight. Unless you're ready. I'm ready. I was ready the moment I smelled you. But I know you're not. Unless you are, then I am too," he says, making me laugh. "So, are you ready?"

"No!" I say, still laughing.

"Just let me know when you give in," he says, leaning forward. "Because baby, I will make sure that it's the best night of both of our lives."

I'm caught in his mesmerizing, intense gaze. It's like he just sent electrical pulses straight to my core, making my body warm in uncomfortable places.

He reaches out and tucks his finger under my chin, closing my mouth which had fallen open.

I shake my head, trying to get hold of myself.

"So, after the first time, I can expect disappointment, is that what you're saying? Good to know once will be enough," I say.

"Oh baby, if that's a challenge, I'm definitely up for it," he growls softly.

I feel myself falling into that mesmerized state again and I shake my head. "Are we going for that run?"

"Yes, I think we should," he says, grabbing my tray before I can and carrying both of them to the garbage can.

"You better tell your wolf to be on his best behavior," I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Define best behavior, mate," Thad says, pushing forward. He seems as excited as Rina is to run with his mate.

"Don't you dare try to mate Rina, Thad," I say, pointing at him. He takes my hand and expertly intertwines our fingers before leading me outside.

"I would never be so disrespectful of you, my mate. I understand that you aren't ready. But when you are, just know that my human won't be the only one leaving you breathless and ruined for any other wolf," he purrs.

'How long do we have to wait?' Rina whines in our mind link.

'Rina, we're in a contract bond with Stellan,' I say to her.

'Did the contract say we had to be a virgin, Cyra? No, it did not. Why can't we enjoy our mates? Yorick's first kiss was better than all of Stellan's put together.'

'Do you really think we could resist them if we did? Do you think you'd be able to resist putting your mark on him? It's going to be hard enough knowing that we found him and have to leave him. Do you really think he'd let us go if we gave ourselves to him?'

'You should reconsider. If you're insistent on forcing us to live with boring Stellan, then at least give us something to remember,' she pouts.

'I'll think about it.' I understand why she wants this. I really do. I just think it will make everything so much harder in the long run.

When I look at him, I see Yorick watching me.

"Everything okay between you and Rina?" he asks me.

"Peachy keen, jellybean," I say. Why did I say that? I sound like a dork.

He stops as we get to the running path that goes around the Academy. "Do you like jellybeans?"

"They're okay."

"We haven't gotten to what your favorite candy is yet," he says.

"I'm not really into sweets that much," I say.

"Mmm, more of a spicy girl?"

"I like some heat," I say, not sure if we're still talking about food.

"I like a lot of heat," he purrs.

Nope, not talking about food at all. That is confirmed when his mouth takes mine again, his hand sliding into my hair, gripping it as he tilts his head and deepens the kiss. I cling to him as our tongues dance together. His strong arms feel like they were made to be wrapped around me.

'They were,' Rina purrs.

Our bodies are pressed tightly together, and I can feel how much he wants me. His hard length feels large even like this. I let myself get lost in the kiss, let myself enjoy the heat between us, let myself bask in his scent, his taste, and the feel of his body against mine.

By the time he pulls away from the kiss, I've forgotten why I'm resistant to sleeping with him. He steals another quick kiss, then steps back, pulling his shirt over his head.

"What are you doing?" I ask, still feeling dizzy from the kiss.

"Aren't we letting our wolves run?" he asks, kicking off his shoes.

"Uh, yes. Yes, we are," I say, shaking my head to clear it while Yorick grins proudly at having dazzled me so effectively.

I know as wolves, we have little to no modesty, but it's considered rude to openly stare at someone when they're getting naked. However, Yorick is too beautiful for me to look away from. His body looks like it was sculpted by a master. Every line, every ridge is cut to beautiful perfection. He's the most gorgeous man I've ever seen in my life and that includes the huge piece of machinery that is currently standing at full attention. My fingers twitch to touch him.

"Do you like what you see?" he asks me quietly, as if he's worried that I might not. How could anyone look at him and not see perfection.

"You're magnificent," I say.

"You can touch me if you want," he says softly.

"You are sin personified," I say to him.

"I'd happily become your sinful pleasure," he purrs. "Did you need help getting undressed?"

"No," I say, tearing my eyes away from him and unbuttoning my shirt. As I pull my shirt off, I hear him suck in air. I look up and see his eyes are nearly black with desire.

"Mine isn't the only body that is magnificent," he says, his eyes drinking me in. It should make me uncomfortable, but something about the way he's looking at me, as if I truly am the most gorgeous woman he's ever seen, makes me want to bare myself to him.

I drop my shirt and unhook my bra, letting it drop to the ground. He growls softly, his hard length twitching as he looks me over.

"So beautiful," he murmurs as I kick off my shoes and slide my pants down my legs, putting them with my other clothes. My panties are last and then I'm as bare as he is.

"Wow, I did something amazing for the Moon Goddess to decide that I deserve a woman like you," he says. It might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

"I can't wait until you let me worship that body in the way you deserve. And unless you want that to be right this very second, you'd better shift," he says, his voice coming out in pants as he clenches his hands into fists.

Rather than push my luck by teasing him, I shift, letting Rina strut for her mate. Yorick's face relaxes and he smiles at Rina.

"Just as beautiful as your human," he says, crouching down and running his fingers through her fur. "And just as muscular. You and Thad are going to have fun tonight."

He steps back and shifts. Thad comes over and sniffs us, then rubs his body down the length of ours. When they're done admiring each other, Rina turns, racing off down the running path. Because we don't know our way around, she stays on the path, but runs hard, trying to show off for Thad. He's obviously a powerful wolf too because he stays with us, playfully nipping at Rina's heels as we run.

When we break out into a meadow, the full moon is shining down on us. We both stop and Rina lifts her head to the sky and howls her happiness. Thad joins her and before long, we hear the yips and howls of the other wolves here at the Academy.

They run a bit longer before we make our way back to our clothes. We get dressed and Yorick takes my hand as we walk back to the dorm rooms.

"So, tomorrow, do you want to get up early and go for a run with me, in human form this time? We can walk around the campus tomorrow and then look over our class schedules together. What do you say?"

He stops at my door while I unlock it.

"I would like that. What time?"

"Six o'clock. Then we can get breakfast and start our own personal tour."

"That sounds perfect," I say.

"I'll see you in the morning," he says, taking my face in his hands and kissing me in that deep way that has me melting against him.

When he pulls back, I lean against my door, needing the support to stand on my weak knees. I watch as he walks to his door and turns to look at me.

"I'd tell you to have sweet dreams, but I'd rather you have spicy ones about me," he says, winking at me before walking into his room.

I shake my head, but boy oh boy, did I have some spicy dreams about him.