James and Cornelia returned to the packhouse, and they could hear the commotion from the living room where cameras were being set up and there were several people checking the lights and making sure that the background for Marcy's upcoming public statement was perfect.
James looked at his hand that held Cornelia's and he didn't want to let go, but he knew that it could be troublesome if Marcy sees them like that. In just a bit, Marcy will be harmless, but until then, they all needed to stay vigilant.
The last hour passed like a flash. James and Cornelia walked in silence through the forest until they found a fluffy patch of grass and they decided to sit there.
James asked Cornelia to tell him something about herself, and he was surprised to hear that she came from a different realm and that she is a witch.
"Is that why you can feel the bond?", he asked.
"We feel the energies and use them for our benefit. Your kind calls that magic, but we call it living as one with nature. If you pay attention, you will feel it. It's all around us, and trying to communicate."
He smiled a little. "What do those magical energies tell you about me?"
Cornelia felt her cheeks heating. "To get closer."
Her breath caught in her throat when his hand that was holding hers moved and their fingers interlaced. It was just holding hands, such a simple gesture, but his fingers reached all the way to the point where hers connected, and that small movement of his thumb at the back of her palm was so intimate that she felt more exposed than if she was completely naked.
"Is this enough, or do you want us closer?", he asked.
She had a feeling that he knew the answer, but she didn't want to say it. "This is fine." For now.
"Tell me about your realm.", James demanded. He was genuinely curious.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything. I want to know where you lived so far and how you normally spend your days." He swallowed hard, and forced himself to ask, "Do you have a man there?"
Cornelia shook her head. "There are no men."
He noticed she used the plural. "Not even one?"
"No. In my realm, after the portal was sealed, only females remained, if you don't count the animals."
James was elated to find out that it's not that Cornelia didn't have a guy there, but there were no men at all! Her response also contained other intriguing information. "If the portal was sealed, how did you get here?"
"Alpha Talia opened it.", Cornelia responded, and she wondered if Talia opening the portal was a secret. Why was she blabbering whatever came to her mind? But talking to James felt natural and she had difficulty keeping her guard up, so she warned him, "You can keep that as a secret, right?"
"Of course", James assured her, but more than opening the portal stuff, he picked up another interesting bit. "Alpha Talia?"
"Is it wrong to call her like that? Others are doing it."
"Who are others?"
"People in the Midnight Guardians pack."
James wondered if he misunderstood. "Are you saying that Talia is the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack?"
"Axel is acting as an Alpha when she is not there, but…", her voice trailed when she realized that James's mouth was half-open in surprise. "I guess I should stop talking now." She didn't know that was a big deal. Was that another secret? But everyone was talking about it openly there, and Cornelia didn't think it was a big deal.
James needed a few long seconds to process this information. He knew that the timid girl by Alpha Damon's side was more than it meets the eyes, but he would never dream that she was the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack! What happened with Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia? Even if they were unable to lead, or thought of retiring, Axel should take over, but now Cornelia told him that Axel was only Talia's proxy. How did Talia manage to become an Alpha?
James wanted to ask more questions, but he noticed Cornelia's troubled expression and he cursed internally. Why did he allow his greed for information to take over?
James touched Cornelia's chin, to make her look at him. "Cora, don't ever stop talking. I want to hear whatever you are willing to say and don't worry that you said too much. Your secrets are safe with me."
Her lips lifted into a dazzling smile in slow motion and then she told him about her Coven and how they are living there, and time passed like someone put it on fast forward, and then he got a call from Maya and here they were, in the packhouse, and James didn't want to let go of Cornelia's hand.
James glanced toward the living room. "My sister will be there any minute, and I need to get to work. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Ten, at most."
He lifted his hand that was holding Cornelia's and planted a kiss on the back of her palm.
His lips rested there as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Now that her knuckles were touching his nose, he could clearly pick up her sweet and mysterious scent, like sensual wild berries and his wolf stirred again. When they were in the forest, it was faint and it mixed with other scents of the forest and wildflowers, but now he sensed it clearly.
James' eyes snapped open to meet Cornelia's that were staring at him. He knew that she was not breathing, and he held his breath as well because more than just attraction and accepting their closeness as something natural, that specific scent confirmed his suspicion (or maybe his hope) that Cornelia was his mate.
What will he do with that information? Can he take her home and risk her being bullied or mistreated because she doesn't have a wolf? Forget about not having a wolf, his father will go ballistic!
Alpha Edward didn't try to matchmake James so far, but James knew that his father had plans, and if James brings Cornelia home, she will be either treated like a not-important girlfriend or chased away because Alpha Edward won't allow James to be in a serious relationship with a female who won't bring them benefits.
And what will happen if people find out that Cornelia is a witch? Even James was not sure what it meant.
But… could James return to the Red Moon pack and leave Cornelia behind?
James decided to push those thoughts for later. First, he needed to deal with Marcy and then he will spend the day with Cornelia, and everything else will come later because he needed time to think things through and figure out something that will work, for both of them.
"Wait for me, Cora.", he spoke against her skin, and then he kissed her there again.
