Chapter Three

I groaned, stretching my stiff muscles. I froze when my left hand hit something warm and breathing.

What the. . .? I frowned as I trailed off mid thought.

Like a train, it hit me right in the face. Connor. Memories of the mating ceremony and the events after made me shoot into a sitting position.

Oh, crap! I'd had sex with Connor Slaughter.

I flattened the nearest fur against my chest and scoot until I was able to slide off the bed. It figures that he would have furs as blankets on his bed. What was I saying? Why would I care what he did or didn't have on his bed?

I located the dress from the ceremony and put it on. I hurried outside to use nature as the bathroom since I didn't see an outhouse or actual bathroom in the tent.

I re-entered the tent to grab my shoes, it was uncomfortable to walk on roads without them. I intended to try to walk home before he woke up and realized I was gone.

I found them beside the throne like chair he sat in the first time I was here.

"Where do you think you're going?" Connor's gruff voice rumbled.

I jumped, tripping into a skull. I pushed off the wall and straightened out the dress a little nervously. "Oh, I was just. . .uh. . ."

"Leaving?" He finished, silver eyes narrowed as he watched me.

"Yeah." I shifted uncomfortably, this was awkward.

"I believe we agreed that you would stay here when you weren't running the bar." He replied, staring me down.

"Well, yes, but I wanted to stock up before tonight." I fibbed, hoping he wouldn't catch on. I'd already stocked up on everything I could.

"You don't have to go to the bar until it's time to open."

"What would I do here?"

"I make breakfast and we eat it."

So, Connor walked to a small kitchen. He opened a structure that looked like a freezer, but it wasn't plugged in or emitting a chill like a freezer. Instead, meats were neatly stacked and covered in natural preservatives to keep it fresh. He chose a stack of bacon and sausages, then closed the not-freezer.

Surprising me, he walked to a sort of side door and to a small fire pit that sat against the cliff. Or was shielded from wind by the tent, the cliff, and a wall of stones. I hate to admit it, but that was pretty clever.

I watched Connor in silence as he cooked us breakfast, I'm not sure why. He wouldn't poison the food or anything.

My mouth watered, that bacon smelled really good. Wait a minute. . . Why didn't I smell Connor when he left the bedroom? I frowned as I pondered that.

Once the food was fully cooked, we walked to a sort of dining room past the kitchen and near the bedroom. He at one end of an oval dark wood table and I sat on the other, we ate in awkward silence.

What do you say when you eat ten feet from the room you let an almost stranger mate with you?

"It's delicious," I offered weakly, unsure if I should say anything.

"Yes, it is." He replied, silver eyes darkening slightly and staring intensely at me. I had the feeling he wasn't talking about sausage and bacon.

I cleared my throat loudly, focusing on my plate.

He laughed, making me jump. "Relax, Angelina, I won't take you on the table."

I blinked at him, my pulse jumping anxiously. Was that supposed to help me feel comfortable?

"Um. . .?" I blew out a breath and set my fork down, not looking him in the eyes.

"Angelina," he sighed, pushing his empty plate away and clamping his hands together on the table. "Look at me."

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "Connor."

"We mated, we are mates now. Avoiding my eyes will not make that fact go away. Neither will it make things better by themselves."

"I know that, I do."

"We have to get comfortable with each other, because there is no guarantee that mating once will be enough. It will be easier if you don't act like a startled fawn hiding from a wolf."

I sighed, Connor was right. "You're right. The thing is, Connor, I don't know you."

"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning at me.

"I know some things. You're a wolf, your name and where you live. That you're the alpha of the hills pack and now, my mate. However, I don't know anything else about you." I took a breath and looked into his silver eyes. "I don't know what you like, what you don't, any allergies or phobias. The important things. We are practically strangers."

"I see. Do you normally give your body to strangers?" He asked, silver eyes cutting into me.

I tensed. "You know damn well I don't."

"Watch your tone, mate."

"I don't respond well to insinuations that I am a whore. We made a deal, remember? I steered clear of unmated males as you asked, gave myself to you, as we agreed."

"Perhaps you should remember that the next time you say we are strangers."

I hate that he had a point. I also hated that his distance bothered me.

"Why don't we use the new circumstances to get to know one another? We are mates now.." Connor suggested calmly, staring at me.

"I can agree to that." I replied, hugging myself.

This could be a long few days.