Page 28 of Fated Obsessions

“Demons too, but they are an aggressive bunch of bastards and thankfully keep to themselves most of the time.” He took a step toward me, but I held my ground, even though I was still a little nervous about all this. “I hope to tell you about all the different kinds of creatures that make their homes amongst humans.”

I want that too.

I swallowed and smoothed my hands down my thighs. “How old are you?”

He paused for a moment, and I was pretty sure what he was about to say would be another shock to my system.

“Over three centuries old.”

And yup… the air went right out of my lungs, and I staggered back.

An over three-hundred-year-old werewolf… Lycan… whatever he called himself, was standing in front of me, claiming I was his mate.

“Do you live forever?”

He shook his head. “Some of the species in the supernatural world do possess immortality. My kind is not one of them. The oldest known supernatural is rumored to be over a millenniumold, but we have our own folklore within the supernaturals, so I couldn't tell you if that’s just rumor, what his species is, or if it is true if he’s actually out there still.”

I felt my eyes widen.

“Although I’ll live far longer if I have my mate by my side.”

I felt my brows lower at his use of thatmateterm again. “What does that mean when you say I’m your mate?” Did Ireallywant to know this?

He exhaled and ran a hand over the back of his short, dark hair, then he turned and faced the fire. “I wanted to go slow with you. But I’m running out of time.” The last part was muttered so low I wasn’t quite sure I heard him clearly. But before I could ask, he faced me again. “I have one female born to be mine and mine alone.” He stared at me right in the eyes as he let that sink in.

I swallowed, knowing this was fucking insanity, but another part of me felt like what he said couldn’t be anything but the truth. Ifeltsomething the moment I’d seen him, this pull, a weird connection that was undeniable. Could what he said actually be the truth, actually make sense? Or was I allowing myself to be pulled down to some crazy world where this man needed to get professional help.

But his eyes. The size of him. The way he seemed so…nothuman.

“And if I… don’t want to be your mate?” It felt so very wrong to even utter those words. It was physically painful to say them, like acid being poured down my throat. I noticed how tense he became after I said it, as if the very thought of me not wanting to be his was too unbearable. “What if you don’t wantmeas a mate?—”

“Not possible,” he cut me off. “You were made for me and me alone.” I swallowed at hearing those words again. He soundedso final. “There isn’t any part of you that I don’t find desirable above all else.”

And there went my heart, just plummeting into my belly.

“And every part of me—especially my Lycan—wants to claim you,Mikalina,” he growled my name, and I took a step back, sensing he was changing in this moment, becoming more primal, animalistic.

“What happens when you claim me?” That question was barely a breath from my lips, but I found myself desperate to know the answer.

“If I told you, I’d frighten you by the intensity.”

“Tell me,” I breathed out.

A moment of silence stretched, before he growled out, “I’d become more animal, my canines lengthening in preparation to bite you, mark you.” He was breathing harder—the same as I was—as if speaking these words turned him on. And I was shocked to find they were arousing me. “My nails would lengthen to claws, my body becoming taller, bigger.”

“Would you turn into a wolf?” My voice was so breathless. Oh my God, was I actually entertaining any of what he said?

He growled low but shook his head. “I’d never fully change when I took you.”

When hetookme.

That sounded so erotic.

“But it’s getting harder and harder, Mikalina, to stop myself from making you mine.” He took a step closer, his eyes flashing blue. “My beast wants you so fucking much.” His voice didn’t sound normal. “And the full moon is coming, teasing me, tempting me. It’s the one time I’ll let him dominate… because he wantsyou.”

I took another step back, shaking my head, afraid of what he said, confused… needing it like I needed to breathe. I closed myeyes and ran my hands over my face, feeling like the world had just opened up and swallowed me whole.

“I should probably go.” I was surprised I could say anything in that moment. I let my hands fall from my face and looked at Ren again.