When they touch me (Shelagh Milano) novel Chapter 13

Artemisia

I walk through the living room, looking into the other rooms. There is a small kitchen, a large bedroom with a king-sized bed and large windows, leading onto a terrace, as well as a gorgeous bathroom, walk-in closet, and small library.

The happiness that I feel while checking my new small apartment out is unreal. I can’t help but feel bad for not being more scared about the consequences I will face because of my dormant wolf, being afraid of my supposedly brutish mates, and not feeling more uncomfortable here.

Must be this stupid mate bond.

After unpacking the few things I took with me, I settle into an armchair in the library and call Ramona.

“Oh my God!” She squeals as she picks up my call. “Bitch, I thought you were already dead!”

I laugh as hearing her voice is a balm for my soul. “Or tied to a bed at least.”

Literally being able to see her brows jumping before my inner eye, I laugh again. “Such a pervert. I just got here. I hope you wish for a mate for me who lets me unpack and arrive first.”

“Ooooh, no! He should already be obsessed with you, not letting you go for a second.” She jokes, making me shake my head.

“You are impossible.”

She chuckles and takes a deep sigh. “Aw, I miss you so much already. How is it there? How is your mate? You have to tell me everything!”

For some kind of reason, I hesitate, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the subject. “Well, he is rude… And totally arrogant. As well as self-centered. Ugh, but he looks good, and he already complained about not being able to feel my wolf, so I don’t know how this will go.”

She groans, and I play with the fabric of my skirt. “Ah, babes, I’m so sorry. But he might be nervous as well. And you know just how jealous those Alpha males are. He will show you his affection soon, you will see. The mate bond will make him obsessed with you in no time.”

Sure, I already experienced that.

“Let’s hope so,” I say lowly.

Suddenly, she gasps, making me jerk up. “Now, tell me about the Blood Fang! How is the house? Did you get a room or are you currently in the dungeons?”

“No!” I shout, laughing out loud. I overflow her with my description of everything since I got here, naturally leaving out the small detail about having more than one mate.

Even though she doesn't say anything, I sense how taken aback she is by what I tell her. I chuckle to myself as she must have pictured me in some dark landscape surrounded by ogres.

“Babes, I’m so happy for you.” I can hear the smile in her voice as she sighs relieved.

After another back and forth with a few gushy phrases, we wish each other a good night and end the call.

Before I can finally get my well-deserved sleep, I have to call my family. While Giorgio is the only one of my brothers who picks up his damned phone, he is also the one to lecture me about my behavior as a mate, and how I should watch myself on their territory.

I can clearly hear the worry in his voice, but his big brother attitude is pissing me off.

“Can you please research anything about this wolf-less woman for me? I need to know before I might address anything about my wolf in the future. I don’t know how long I can actually hide it.” I sigh, my heart skipping a beat painfully.

Hearing him sit down, I shift in my seat anxiously. “I told you. There is nothing to worry about. It was just a stupid rumor.”

“Still you sound like that time when my hamster died, and you didn’t want to tell me. And we went to get ice cream after school.” I smile sadly at the memory, my fear expanding in my chest.