Everything about Keith confirmed he was Arya's other half. But why was he reluctant to embrace her? Didn't she express her willingness to be with him?
Arya thought how it was ironic. Since guys started flocking around her, she always wondered if there would be one worthy of her. All the attention she received made her feel she was above others. Yet here she was, standing in front of a complete stranger, looking like a mess, and wondering if she was good enough for him.
She would call his name, but she realized that she didn't know it. It didn't matter. Adam, John, or Klark, it wouldn't change how important he was.
"What do you say? Will you give me a chance to show you that I could be a mate worthy of you?" Arya asked Keith.
Keith swallowed hard. His mouth suddenly ran dry. Was Arya serious? He could feel her doubts and reluctance, but there was also determination and attraction, and… she wanted to be with him.
Since Talia came to the Dark Howlers pack, Keith's emotions were confusing, and in the last day, he lived through a lifetime of ups and downs.
He didn't know what the right choice was, and he was not sure if he even had one, but something told him that if he pushed Arya away, he would regret it for the rest of his life. The only way was forward.
Slowly, very slowly, Keith leaned closer to Arya, measuring the distance between them and giving her a chance to pull back.
Seeing that Arya didn't move away, Keith pecked her lips, and they both jolted upon contact.
Arya smiled a little. It was a kiss from her mate.
She licked her lips to confirm that he tasted as good as he smelled. Cotton candy.
And then she leaned toward Keith to close that tiny gap between them because she wanted a kiss that was longer and deeper, and she could feel that he wanted the same.
Keith was not the one to disappoint a lady, especially not his mate.
His arms wrapped around Arya, and he held her as their lips glided against each other in sensual movements, and no other female ever fit so good against him. She was made for him.
His fingers curled at the back of her head to fist her hair, and he swallowed her whimper when he deepened the kiss.
Keith kissed many girls, but this was his first cantaloupe-flavored kiss, and he knew he will never get enough of this. And the best part? She was hugging him back while returning his kisses with equal fervor.
Talia and Damon walked toward the pack hospital, noticing several people gathered on the left.
Keith's and Cristian's fight attracted attention, and no one left so far, waiting to see how Cristian will deal with this situation because that didn't look like a friendly sparring match. Who would spar in front of a hospital?
Talia's eyes lit up at the sight of Keith and Arya locked in a kiss. She squeezed Damon's hand excitedly while talking through their private mind-link, 'I was worried because we came late, but it seems we were not needed at all.'
They were supposed to come in the afternoon, but after their lovemaking, Talia fell asleep, and she crashed for the rest of the day. Once she woke up, Damon demanded that she eats first, and they hurried to the pack hospital. Talia feared that Arya's condition might have worsened, but now it seemed that everything was great. Better than great.
Damon was happy as well. Finally, that measly coach found his mate, which meant he will stop ogling at Talia.
Damon's eyes moved to Cristian to see the latter's disheveled appearance. Michelle was with him, fixing his hair while inspecting his face, which was bruised, and there was some blood there.
'Why does Cristian look like he came out of a fight?' Damon asked.
Talia thought that it was weird. And there was one more point. 'Why are they outside? Arya seems better, but she doesn't look like someone discharged from the hospital.'
Damon agreed that things don't seem normal. Why would people gather to watch a mated couple kiss? Damon tugged Talia to head to Cristian and Michelle and find out what was happening.
"Rough day?"
Cristian made a face. "You have no idea." After the attack of rogues, Cristian was busy organizing patrols, assessing damage, reading reports from interrogations, assuring his people that things were under control, and pretending that everything was fine in front of Ashton and guests. This visit to the pack hospital ended up in a fight that bruised his reputation. It was a horrible day!
Michelle frowned at the people who were watching the show. She waved at them, gesturing toward the pack hospital. "If you have time to idle and gossip, maybe we should give you more responsibilities," Michelle said, and people quickly dispersed.
As for the newly mated couple…
Keith wanted to kiss Arya more and to do more than kissing, but Arya was wearing a hospital gown, and wherever he touched her, he felt bandages. That reminded him that she was hurt, and she needed to get inside, and that anything beyond kissing was out of the question. For now.
Keith leaned his forehead on Arya's, and they both took a moment to compose themselves before inching away.
"I am Keith," he said.
"I am Arya. Your mate."
"My mate." Keith liked the sound of that, and his expression hardened. "Mine only. I don't care what you did before this moment, but if you want this to work, you need to understand that I am not a man who will share."
Arya blinked at him. His bossiness turned her on. "Same goes for me, except for the man part. I am a woman who won't share. You are mine, Keith of the Dark Howlers pack. If you can handle that, everything else is negotiable."
Keith's lips lifted into a smug smile. "We will see if you can handle me."
Arya wanted to respond something snarkily, but she was distracted by a dimple that formed on his left cheek as he smiled, making him even more handsome, if that was even possible.
Keith licked his lips, wanting to taste more of Arya, but he knew he shouldn't. "Let's get you back into the room and call a doctor to check your condition."
At the mention of doctors, Arya remembered, "Thank you for saving my life and taking care of me."
"Don't mention it."
"I want to. You see… I am an orphan, and no one ever stayed like that with me, for me." Only for her. Will he see that as a negative?
"An orphan? I hope you are ready to meet my family. They can be noisy, but they are good people."
Arya was nervous. "Will they like me?"
"They will love you."
"How can you be certain?"
"Because they love me, and you are my other half, so… They might think you are a pain in the ass, but that comes with my family, so don't take it personally."
"They sound like nice people," she said.
"They are the best." Now that he thought about his family, Keith remembered that he was using one room in a house that belonged to Katya and her mate. That might be a problem.
