The Alpha Prince's Mate (Book 7 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 35

Ethan lay on his back staring at the ceiling. This had been a horrible day, and one he would not want to ever repeat. Now he was in limbo, waiting to see what Mila decided. He knew her well enough to know she was a rational thinker. She would need to think this through. She wouldn't come to his bed tonight.

He knew she'd taken a bath. He also knew she'd struggled to get her clothes off. Her bra would have been the problem. Thoughts of her bra made him think of her perfect body, and he found himself aroused again. He sighed. Just what he needed. Chances were, he'd never see her body again. He'd only be able to fantasize about it. Would he want to fantasize about it after she rejected him and severed their bond?

He couldn't imagine not fantasizing about her. He was so drawn to her. And somehow that would be cut off. His bond to her. He hated the idea of it. He glanced at the time, and sighed. He probably wasn't sleeping tonight. If he wasn't concerned about leaving Mila alone, he'd go for a run, let Maverick out to stretch his legs.

Maverick had been very quiet today and Ethan couldn't blame him. They'd been through a whirlwind of emotions. His wolf already adored Mila and he was hurting from today. Ethan was hurting too.

He glanced at the time. It was almost two in the morning. He wasn't getting any sleep. He slipped out of bed and pulled on his sweats, not bothering with a shirt, then headed into the kitchen, to quietly clean up the mess from earlier.

He realized he was starving, and began to look through the cabinets, deciding to make himself some spaghetti. It was one thing he was actually decent at making and he was craving it. He suddenly felt very homesick.

Ethan pulled out a pan and began to work on his sauce, his mind elsewhere, wondering how long it would take her to make the decision. He wouldn't rush her, but he knew eventually his need to mark her would consume him. It would be at the forefront of his mind. He'd been already thinking about it quite a bit as it was, occasionally feeling an ache in his gums with his need to claim his mate. Something he ignored.

Ethan had always prided himself on control, though his father's Beta, Ragnar, had told him if he didn't let it out occasionally, he'd one day fully lose control.

"So I need to occasionally beat the crap out of someone." Not what he wanted to hear, though he did enjoy sparring.

"Sex is also a good stress reliever," Ragnar had told him with a smirk.

"Well unlike you, I don't have a woman sleeping in my bed every night." Even though he did now, or had, he hadn't touched her. Not in the way he wanted to. His thoughts drifted to her in the shower last night and the noises she'd made when he'd been massaging her head and.. he cut that thought of. He really didn't need to go there.

He tasted the sauce and added a few more spices. The sound of her door opening made his head turn. He had a feeling she hadn't slept at all either, and she was probably hungry. She'd eaten as much as he had earlier, which was absolutely nothing. She'd sensed his tension, and had been affected by it as well. Given that she'd been physically ill earlier, her stomach was probably completely empty.

Her scent filtered under his nostrils, and he breathed it in deeply. He wanted to grab her and bury his face in her neck, before sinking his canines into it. He felt that familiar ache again and turned his thoughts elsewhere.

Ethan had expected her to sit at the table. "Are you hungry?" But she didn't stop at the table. Instead she was standing right beside him.

He turned and took her in. She was gorgeous with her brown hair tumbling down her shoulders, her big amber eyes looking up at him. He watched her gaze flick down to his chest and she bit her lip, causing him to swallow. Her lips parted as her gaze trailed down to his abs. She was aroused and his nostrils flared in response. He had not expected this. He'd assumed she just wanted food. Maybe to talk, not for her to come over and check him out. He was in danger of getting aroused himself. "Mila."

Her eyes darted up to his. "Ethan?"

"Yeah?"

She smiled. "I choose you."

His heart stopped at her words, and his breath caught as he stood there staring at her, trying to make sure he'd heard her correctly. He knew he had, he just couldn't believe it.

"I want to become a werewolf. The other options just don't make any sense, and I can't bring myself to reject you. I'd regret it so much.."

He didn't give her time to finish what she was saying before his lips were on hers, devouring her. He felt like she'd just given him the greatest gift: herself. He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, his hands on her perfect bottom, as she wrapped her legs and arms around him. "Are you sure?" he asked between kisses.

"Yes," she whispered.

He stopped and looked at her, studying her beautiful face while he held her. She was sure. He could see the determination in her eyes. "Okay. Are you hungry?"

"Starving." Her lips curved into a smile and he wondered if she was flirting with him.

He gave her a half smile and sat her down again. "I don't want to burn it."

"It smells amazing," she said. She hadn't moved and was still standing just inches away.

"Hopefully it tastes half that good," he muttered, wrapping his arm around her. All the tension he'd been experienced for the last several hours slipped away, helping him to relax.

A few moments, they were both seated at the table eating the meal he had made.

"This is good, Ethan," Mila said between bites.

"Thanks."

When they were finished, Ethan loaded everything in the dishwasher then walked back over to her. He'd been aware of her eyes on him the entire time. "Stand up."

She stood and he picked her up and carried her back to his room, laying her down on his bed. He crawled in next to her and laid on his back

"Come here. I need you for a bit," he said quietly.

"Like.. on you?" She asked.

"Mmhm."

"Are we sleeping like this?" She asked as she slid on him.

"That's up to you. I just need to hold you and I need your scent," he said softly as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. She smelled so amazing, and he breathed her in deeply, giving both himself and his wolf the comfort they'd been craving.

"You're still wearing your sweats," she murmured.

"Yeah. It's fine," he responded. She was above his waistband anyway, which is where he wanted her. He was half hard, feeling her body pressed against his bare chest, and knowing soon he was going to be claiming her as his. He'd wait though, until she was a werewolf as well, and they could mark each other at the same time.

He took in her scent, breathing her in deeply, calming himself, but mostly settling Maverick. 'You okay?'

'Yes. Today has not been a good day.'

'Are you angry with me?' He didn't think so, but he wanted to make sure.

'No. This has been out of our control,' Maverick responded.

'I don't like it,' Ethan sighed.

'Me neither,' Maverick agreed.

'We can go for a run tomorrow,' Ethan offered.

'No. Stay close to mate,' Maverick said.

'Okay, we can do that,' Ethan agreed. He couldn't blame his wolf for wanting to stay close by Mila after they'd almost lost her.

He'd felt Maverick's excitement when she said she wanted to be a wolf. He was excited too. He would have her with him, by his side for as long as they chose to live.

He closed his eyes, fully relaxing for the first time in hours, as he held his fate against him and finally drifted off to sleep.