When they touch me (Shelagh Milano) novel Chapter 4

Artemisia

Before my panic can rise drastically, I calm myself down, as his scent must have been enough for me to spot him as my second chance mate. And even if his scent is mouthwatering, it isn’t screaming mate.

“Is that a quirk of yours?”

I look at him confused, finding him smiling.

The hell?!

“Erm… what?”

“You do that pretty often. Also, during the ceremony.” His eyes fall to my lips, and I remove my hand swiftly.

“Oh, yes. Sorry, it’s… I do it without thinking.”

“Don’t worry.” He says, directing his eyes back to the lake as he leans back on the bench. “It’s adorable, actually.”

My heart beats so fast, that I risk deafening at the loud thuds in my ears. “Oh… Thank you.”

I’m glad that he is looking at the lake as I must be looking like the most embarrassing tomato on earth.

As I risk a look, I find him watching the surface of the lake concentrated. And I must say that he is quite the eye-catcher. It’s not only that he is tall and broadly built but also his squared jaw, the dark expressive eyes, and the high cheekbones that must set every she-wolf under a spell. The way the moon shines on his features has him looking even more gorgeous.

And now you are drooling.

He clenches his jaw shortly before he turns to me, lifting his brow. The action tears me out of my daydream, but I guess it is too late to regain some of my decency.

Goddess, he must be able to hear my heartbeat go crazy.

So embarrassing.

“You are the daughter of Alpha Franco, right?”

“Yeah.” I spit out, maybe a bit too loudly.

As if I was answering the question of my favorite teacher enthusiastically.

“I’m his favorite, actually.”

Goddess, can’t you stop me?!

His chuckling anew makes me feel less stupid, even if it doesn’t take my wish for a black hole to swallow me this instant away.

“I bet on that.” He jokes, making my heart sing.

“But honestly, I’m so lucky. My brothers are the best, even if they are too protective most of the time.”

“Well, if I had a sister like you, I would probably lock her up somewhere to keep her from all the creeps around.” I laugh out loud, and he shakes his head. “Seriously. I would have nearly started a war at Ricky-boy just breathing in your direction.”

I’m fighting for air as I crack up while he just smirks at me. “Oh, Goddess!”

I push out a deep breath and wipe a tear from my eye. “I don’t think anyone wants to risk a war with you, Alpha Blackwood.”

“Cayden.” He growls, making me stare at him wide-eyed.

He didn’t really ask me to be on a first-name basis with him.

‘And we will be thankful for this opportunity and not decline it to bring shame upon ourselves and our pack.’ My wolf says disparagingly, and I gasp as I haven’t heard from her since the day we were rejected.

“Sure, erm… Alpha Cayden.” I feel my face heat up as he leans in, growling. “Drop the Alpha.”

Oh, dear.

Caressing a strand of hair behind my ear, I push down Cassy whimpering in my head.

“I’d be honored to, Cayden,” I say, feeling as if my tongue had become numb.

“All my pleasure, Missy.”

Shivering pleasantly, I force myself up to escape this situation before I do something to trouble my parents even more.

“Do you have a place like this on your pack lands too?”

As he catches up with me leisurely, my heart starts beating faster in my chest.

The moonlight touches the surface of the lake, creating a romantic scenery. His face gets kissed by the rays of light that illuminate his left side, taking my breath away.

It takes me a few seconds to realize that his looking at me as well. We stay silently for what seems like an eternity, and at one point I think that I must be dreaming. His eyes get black, leaving just single golden flecks to swirl in his irises.

I gasp, and as I’m about to take a step back, he is faster to stop me from it, grabbing my forearm gently. I get captured by his intense gaze, losing myself completely.

As he takes a step forward to stand even closer, I gulp. I’m a bit confused that I don’t feel any sparks on my skin as his touch feels heavenly.

“Cayden?” I whisper, watching him leaning closer.

But he stays quiet, his lips nearing mine slowly. My heart hitches in my throat, and I close my eyes waiting for his lips to touch mine. I feel his warm breath fanning me, making me heat up even more.

His lips have barely grazed mine as a loud growly tears me out of my trance.

Cayden seems unfazed by the threatening roar as I look at him but looks just deadly annoyed. Turning my head to the origin of the sound, I find one of my brothers clenching his fist with his chest heaving.

“What the fuck, Blackwood!” He shouts, his wolf fighting for dominance.