Michah practically froze at the sight of her tears.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, startled by her sudden reaction.
The whole thing caught him completely off guard. For a moment, he genuinely thought sheâd burned her tongue or something. Or maybe the soup wasnât to her taste? But the tears didnât look like those of someone offended by flavor.
No, this was something else entirely.
"Iâm so sorry. Iâm so sorry, Micah," She choked out, "Iâm so sorry for hurting you."
Oh. It dawned on Micah at that moment what this was about. The conversation that he had carefully danced around in fear of rejection all over again.
"Itâs alright," he said with a casual shrug, forcing a smile. "Iâm cool with it."
"No!" Adele shook her head quickly. "You shouldnât be cool with it. I was the one at fault here. I should never have done that, tried to erase the bond because I was scared of what the future with you might hold."
Micah said firmly, "And I understand. I already made peace with the fact that Iâd never have a family because of what I am." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Honestly, itâs an honor that the goddess even thought to bless me with a matebond. But I wonât curse you with it. I wonât bring that burden on you, or on the future of my unborn child."
The words cut her deep.
He had given up on himself.
The thought sawed through Adeleâs chest and her wolf whimpered painfully inside her. Mates were meant to complete each other, yet her own actions had only fed the very belief that haunted him: unwanted. tainted. outcast.
Anger â sharp and desperate â rushed through her veins. She set the food aside on the side table and stood abruptly.
"I was wrong about you!" she cried. "I didnât even give myself a chance to know you before judging you. I shouldnât have imagined what a terrible fate itâd be to be mated to a demon." She paused, eyes blazing. "Half-demon," she corrected, her voice shaking with conviction.
"I should have known that there was a man in there. A man capable of fighting his demons. A man willing to overcome the stereotype about him."
Adele stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. "I know I hurt you that day. I didnât say the rejection out loud, but my actions might as well have. I still feel the ache..." she pressed a hand to her chest, voice breaking, "...right here. It shouldâve been enough to drive you away, to make you hate me. And yet you stayed. What kind of mate does that to someone who still chooses to stay?"
She reached out, hesitant at first, guilt weighing on her hand, but the faint flicker of hope in his eyes gave her courage. Her fingers brushed his cheek gently, before she finally cupped his face and stroked tenderly.
"Youâre beautiful, Micah," she said in awe, her voice unsteady. "Both inside and out. I was the fool not to see that. But if youâd have me one more time, I promise I wonât run away again. Iâll be the mate you deserve. Whatâs your problem will be my problem. Youâll be mine and I, yours. I know our journey wonât be easy, but Iâm willing to stand by your side. So please... forgive me."
This time, Adele waited with bated breath, her heart twisting in fear. Micah could still reject her, and heâd be right to. He already saw himself as a burden, and rejecting her would seem like the kindest thing he could do. But unlike him â who could live with longing â sheâd suffer twice as much with her wolf.
Seconds dragged by, her pulse thundered.
Then Micah finally said, "Youâll never take those suppressor pills again?"
"Never!" Adele blurted, shaking her head rapidly. "Itâll never happen again. I swear on my life."
A grin spread across his face. "Then youâre forgiven, my mate."
Adele gasped. Overwhelming joy flooded her chest, and even her wolf yipped in celebration. Before she knew it, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
She stepped back, waiting for his reaction.
Micah froze.
Adele blinked, nerves kicking in. Had she messed up? Was it too soon? She bit her lip, flustered. "You donât want that yet?"
Micahâs brows furrowed. "Was that a kiss or a foretaste?"
"Huh?" Adele managed.
Before she could blink again, his hand slid behind her head and he crashed his lips into hers, kissing her so deeply it stole the air from her lungs.
His lips moved with such ferocityâas if he could swallow her wholeâthat her legs went weak, and she had to cling to him for support. Goddess help her, her mate was devastatingly good with his mouth.
He explored the roof of her mouth, his tongue tangling and teasing hers until Adeleâs thoughts dissolved into a haze of heat and dizzying sensation. Her knees wobbled, balance slipping, as she stumbled under the spell of his touch.
Micah caught her before she fell, his grip strong, possessive, and grounding. Without a word, he turned her and pinned her against the wall. The impact drew a small gasp from her throat that only seemed to spur him on.
Adeleâs fingers found his shoulders, having no choice but to cling onto him as if he were her lifeline. Micahâs mouth was moving against hers like he was trying to memorize the taste of her. Every brush of his tongue sent shivers through her, her heart pounding so fast it hurt.
By the time they broke apart for air, Adele was shaking, her chest heaving, and her mind completely blank. That was also when she saw his eyes, completely black, and gleaming with something both dangerous and divine. Her heart stuttered out.
Adele had no idea how his demon side worked, and what this meant right now, but her wolf knew him, and she felt this confidence : he wouldnât hurt her.
So when his mouth found hers again, she surrendered.
Micah had been in control of the kiss from the start, not that she was complaining. His lips moved harder, deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth before trailing down her neck. When his lips brushed over the mate rune on her shoulder, Adele shuddered and gasped his name, her pulse quick and wild.
"Do it again," she whispered.
And he did.
Slowly, deliberately, he used the tip of his tongue to trace every curve of the mating rune, each stroke sensual enough to make her shiver.
Fuck her life.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as her head fell back, a whimper escaping her lips. Her wolf was right at the surface now, pacing and growling with desire.
Her core throbbed painfully, and her panties were so soaked they could melt off at this point.