"Why are you treating me like a child?" Zina hissed at Dawn when Dawn closed the door behind them.
"Didn't we agree to this?"
"I changed my mind," Zina snapped. "You know how long I was waiting for my mate." Longer than Dawn because Zina was older!
Zina didn't think much about being unmated before, but in the last few months, Zina got to see all of her friends finding their mates, Dawn included. Zina was lonely and she wondered if the Moon Goddess was punishing her for something, and now that she finally found her other half, Dawn wanted her to stay away?
"I know what you are going through," Dawn said. "But I also know that the situation is messy. Can you trust me on this, Zi?"
"You are keeping me away from my mate and I should go with it because you asked me to? What kind of logic is that?"
"Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself," Dawn said. "Owen won't think about what's best for you because he doesn't know better than this. He probably considers keeping you here and hiding you under a blanket. Will you be OK stuck here waiting for Owen until he can give you a few hours of his day? How long will that last? Even if you go with Cornelia to the Dark Howlers pack, that's only a temporary solution. Let him work for it, Zi. Don't you want to see if Owen is committed to being with you?"
"How will I find out anything if we are separated?"
"If he can't figure out a way around a few obstacles, he won't stand up for you when it counts. The relationship doesn't work because of the bond. It works because mates are fighting for each other no matter who the enemy is. Let him fight for you."
Zina paused. "You are testing him?"
Dawn smiled a little. "You should be the one testing him, but I know that due to the mate bond, the only thing on your mind is sex with the guy who came out of nowhere in a crowded market to defend you while shouting how you are his woman."
Zina was not sure if she should bicker or agree with Dawn because Dawn was right, but it didn't sound right either. Why did she need to stay away from Owen? Why can't they figure out things together?
Dawn gave Zina a hug, wished her a good night, and left with, "Don't you dare go to his room, Zi. We have cameras everywhere. If you step out of this room, I will know about it."
Zina glared at the closed door for a long time before plopping on the bed and staring at the ceiling.
After hearing Dawn's full explanation, Zina feel a bit better, but she really wanted that goodnight kiss, damn it!
And what if Owen doesn't fight for her? What if he stays in his room and submits to George, and later to Alpha Edward? Would she want to be with a guy who would bow in front of obstacles? Did she have the right to expect Owen to put himself in danger for her?
Zina hoped that Owen would appear at the door and then Zina would jump on him, just how Dawn jumped on George when he came home that evening.
Minutes trickled away and Owen realized that he won't be able to sleep. His wolf was restless, urging him to seek mate. But George told him to stay put and… Owen sat up abruptly.
George didn't tell him to stay away from Zina. He told him to listen to Zina and to his wolf, and how Owen saw this, Zina wanted to be with him, and his wolf wanted the same.
The only problems were the cameras and not alerting George and Dawn. How can he get to Zina without being noticed?
Owen's sight moved to the window, and he got an idea.
No matter how many security cameras George had, he wouldn't have them pointing at the building. Owen gave himself a mental pat on the back. It was brilliant!
One minute later…
Owen gripped the windowsill while inching stealthily along the façade of George's villa, moving from one window to another and listening to the smallest sounds. He sniffed the air to confirm if his chamomile-infused mate was there. With any luck, the light will be on, and he could see her clearly.
He didn't know on what side of the building Zina's room was, but he was determined to keep circling and peeking in until he finds her. As long as he didn't bump into George and Dawn, it will be fine.
Owen was a few windows in when he heard shuffling in the room. He put his ear close to the window, careful that his head is not creating a shadow when…
"Oh, James…"
Owen recoiled when he realized that was Cornelia and the low growl was definitely from James! How did he forget about those two? It was obvious James and Cornelia were going at it and that made Owen a super-peeper!
Forget about George! If James catches him dangling off that window, Owen was dead meat!
Owen's only concern was to get as far as possible from that window. How many windows per room? Two? Three? Owen jumped to the next one, and the next one, and his stomach tightened when someone grabbed his wrist and yanked him inside.
What the hell!?
As an experienced warrior, Owen immediately rolled into a crouch and was about to jump on his attacker when he realized that the room he found himself in was infused with chamomile.
Zina quickly closed the window and turned to face Owen. She was sitting in the dimly lit room, hoping that Owen will come to the door. She didn't expect him to come through the window, but the moment she heard some noise there, she knew it was him. She opened the window and hoisted him inside and here they were. Alone. Finally.
"You came," she said.
"I did," Owen responded while getting up.
"Why?"
"Don't you want me to be here?"
Of course, she did! "What will we do if George or Dawn catch you here?"
Owen's insides shook. She said WE, and that 'we' meant the world to him.
"I don't care," Owen responded while stalking toward Zina.
"You don't?" Zina asked in a high-pitched voice as her nerves were acting up. In this dimly lit room, shadows danced over Owen's features, making him mysterious and super handsome, and Zina was not sure what to expect.
Owen stopped when there was only a fraction between them. "The only thing I care about is right here and right now. With you." He was incapable of thinking about anything else.
Zina was confident that she never heard anything so romantic.
"What about tomorrow?"
"I don't know what tomorrow brings, but I know it will be with you."
Zina also wanted to be with him, but the Red Moon pack became prickly uncomfortable, and the incoming event made it worse. "What if we can't be here?"
"Did I mention a location?"
"You didn't." Did that mean he was considering leaving the Red Moon pack?
"I didn't," Owen confirmed. "Where is not important. Now that I've met you, a future without you is not possible, and I am willing to put my life on the line to ensure no one gets between us. I want to be with you, and I want to make you happy. I don't have much, but whatever I have, it's yours." He would do anything in order to ensure she continues smiling at him.
Owen licked his lips nervously before asking, "Zina of the Dark Howlers pack, do you accept me as your mate?"
