i stretched and sighed contentedly as I woke up the next morning. My body felt like it was humming. I was warm, my skin was tingling, and I had a delirious grin on my face. I'm fairly certain my pupils were still blown out wide. I mewled happily as I felt Alcide's big body shift behind me. My pheromones were spiking again, and the feel of his big hard body, and equally big hard member prodding my behind, had me primed and ready. I wriggled myself backwards against his crotch and moaned deeply, grabbing his hip and pulling him closer behind me. He didn't object as he splayed his hand across my stomach and moved with me, rolling his hips in a tantalizing way. "Shit.. We need to stop. Now." I managed to think clearly for a moment. I hurriedly scrambled away from him and backed into the corner of the room. "Why? I want this. You want this. After last night, why stop baby?" Alcide rumbled. He licked his lips as his eyes raked over my naked body. "You're an Alpha." I whispered, trying to strengthen my resolve. "Uh huh..." Alcide mumbled and stood. His jeans sat dangerously low on his hips, and I whimpered at all the exposed muscles. "I'm an Omega." I stated. "I'm aware of that honey." He replied stepping closer. "We can't! When an Alpha and Omega... You know... During a Lunar mating cycle, they mate for life!" I rushed out in a last ditch effort to get through to him. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold off. He froze in his tracks, his face going blank. His big body tensed, shoulders toght. "Yeah.. I got it. Loud and clear." He growled and turned away from me. I nearly sobbed when he moved away. "A-Alcide?" I questioned softy from where I stood. "What?" He barked roughly. I jumped and wrapped my arms around my middle, my eyes dropping to the floor. "Why are you angry?" I asked quietly. My eyes watered and I locked them shut to keep the tears at bay. "Why?" He asked harshly. "W-why what?" I replied hesitantly. "Why not me? Am I that shitty of a prospect for a mate?! You know that I could provide for you. Make you happy. Protect you. Am I that awful?!" He exploded. My eyes snapped open and I locked my gaze with his. "Y-you think I was rejecting you as a mate?!" I exclaimed. "That's sure as shit what it sounded like to me." He growled as he reached for his shirt. I scrambled out of the corner and ripped it out of his hands with a vicious snarl. He shot me a warning glare as I shoved him back towards the bed. He went to speak, but I shh'd him, "no! It's my turn to talk, you listen here Big Guy!" I growled as I paced back and forth in front of him. "I sure as hell wasn't rejecting you. Do you have any idea how long I've wanted you?! Honestly Alcide, and this isn't my heat talking. I've known since I was born that you were my mate. My One. But you never seemed to feel the connection. I figured it was one-sided. So I never bothered-" he cut me off as he stood quickly. Nearly knocking me over. As he steadied me, he locked his eyes with mine. "One-sided? Hell no sweetheart. I've known since the second you were born. Since the minute you opened your eyes for the first time and reached for me instead of your Momma. I've always known baby, always. But I wanted to give you the time to realize it for yourself." His gaze softened and he pulled me into his chest. I let out a sigh of relief and melted into his arms. "Is that why you kept scaring off Bobby-Lee Pickens when he kept sniffin around me?" I giggled. Alcide growled and swatted my bare behind, I jumped. "That little shit deserved to get his ass kicked. The thought of his hands on you.." He paused to growl again. "I could kill him for touching you." He finished, nuzzling my neck. "Huh?" I asked confused. "Sorry, I'll try to dial it down with the caveman shit." He apologized. I shook my head. "No, I mean, Bobby-Lee never touched me. He never even held my hand." I corrected him. "That little fucker came bragging to me one day about hooking up with you. I wanted to rip his throat out." He growled. "Oh quit growlin, he never touched me. I couldn't stand him. He gave me the creeps!" I laughed. Alcide chuckled and sat down on the bed, pulling me into his lap. "So if you don't mind me askin, how many men have you been with Annie?" He grit his teeth as if he didn't really want the answer. "Well... I am a woman, and I do have needs..." I drug it out. "Are you sure you want the answer?" I was giddy inside, but kept my face collected. He nodded jerkily. "None." I finally told him. "Wait.. What? Are you fuckin with me?" He asked carefully. "No Al, I told you, I always knew it was you. I found my mate, why give something that special to someone else? So I waited." I told him honestly. My cheeks were red, but I held his gaze anyways. "Annie..." He shook his head. "How the hell did I get so lucky?" He asked as he pressed his forehead against mine, holding my cheeks in his hands.