Chapter 5 Convincing Her

Yorick

I am so in love. And I'm so thankful that she wasn't trying to reject me because of me or because she doesn't believe in the mate bond. The alliance bond is a problem, but I can work with that. I have a year. Worst case scenario, I'll call everyone I know to rain hellfire on her brother's pack, but I'd rather find a way to work things out; something that keeps our packs allied and at peace because we're mates. Fated mates, meant to be together. Forever.

"So, what should we do first? Look over the campus, get books, or get food?" I ask, not releasing her hand even when she tries to tug it away.

Instead, I pull her hand to my mouth and kiss the top of it, holding her gaze. "Please hold my hand."

"People will think we're together," she hisses.

I give her a look that hopefully says, 'Well yeah, duh!'

She huffs and rolls her eyes but doesn't pull her hand away. I'll take the win.

"So, what's first?"

"Mmm, maybe we should go buy our books before the bookstore closes?" she says.

"Okay," I say, practically skipping across campus as I walk beside my mate. My fated mate. MY mate. Did I mention we're fated mates?

"Are you always this ... giddy?" she asks, frowning at me.

"Nope," I say, smiling at her because I can't help myself. It feels so incredible to know I found her and here of all places. It's like the Moon Goddess is confirming that I made the right decision to come here. "This is all your influence."

"And how do you expect to get through any of our classes acting like this?" she asks, still frowning.

I turn, pulling her to a stop. "Well, you could let me mark you. We could mate for several days straight, and after that, I'm pretty sure I could focus on something other than you," I tell her, thrilled when I watch her mouth drop open.

"Which part of that is a surprise? The several days? Or me being able to focus?"

"No man can go for several days straight. Not even an Alpha," she says.

"Oh, my sweet little mate. I guarantee you that when the time comes, I will only come up for air, food, and water. Every other part of my being will be focused on you; your taste, your scent, your touch, and I want every one of your sweet orgasms from that day forward."

I watch as her eyes glass over and she begins to sway. I lean in, running my nose over her jaw to her ear. "I come from a line of men who take great pleasure in making sure their mates are not just satisfied but so fucking happy that they forget their names. That's what you can expect from me, my sweet little mate," I purr in her ear.

Her entire body shivers and I smile before stepping back.

"The bookstore?" I ask innocently.

"What?"

"You wanted to get there before they close, right?"

"Wh ... yes. Yes, books. Right," she says, shaking her head and blinking to regain her composure.

I smile, understanding much more now why my father, brother, and even Quirin tease their mates. It's delightful to see them reacting to just your words. I can't wait until I can make her react to my touch. I'll make sure the possibility of that alliance bond is so far out of her mind that it's completely forgotten. All she'll think about is me, wanting me, needing me. And then we can begin thinking about how we can overcome this contract and have what we should have – a fated mate bond.

I take her hand and lead her to the bookstore. Since we're both first years, we have the same books.

"I can buy those for you," I tell her. Yeah, my money comes from the pack, but I don't care right now. I've earned the money I have, and I want to take care of my mate. I'll pay my brother back if it's more than I can afford.

"My father gave me plenty of money for school, Yorick. You don't have to buy my books," she says.

"What about dinner. Can I buy you dinner?" I ask, practically desperate to show her that I can take care of her.

"I have money, Yorick," she says, as if trying to convince me.

"It's not about the money. I want to take care of you. My wolf wants to take care of you," I tell her.

She looks at me deciding what she's willing to agree to.

"I'll tell you what, I'll buy my own dinner, then we'll walk around campus, figure out where our classes are, and then your wolf and Rina, my wolf, can go for a run together. What do you say?"

Thad pushes forward and I let him. "I say, I would love to run with my mate," he growls possessively. "But my human and I can still take care of you. Dinner and a run," he says, negotiating with Rina.

"Is this a date, Thad?" Rina asks him.

"Absolutely."

I watch as her eyes flicker between the blue-grey of Cyra's color and the nearly navy color that must be Rina's color.

"Alright. I'll let you buy me dinner," Rina says, and I dance around in our mind space.

'Chill, tiny dancer. She hasn't agreed to be our mate or even agreed to be with us,' Thad says to me in our mind link.

'It's a first step, Thad. Take the gift,' I say to him.

'Oh, I'm taking whatever our little mate is willing to give us,' he purrs.

We walk to the cafeteria and order food.

"You know you don't have to buy our dinner, right? Just because Rina said it was okay, I'll remind you that I have plenty of money to buy my own food," Cyra says to me.

"And I'll remind you that as your mate, I feel a very strong need to take care of you. Wolf or no, you're mine. I want you to know that I can provide for you. It's important to me," I tell her.

She looks at me with sad eyes.

"Don't. Don't discount what I can give you. I know great sex isn't everything. You're an Alpha female, you would expect and demand more in a mate. I'm willing to give you anything and everything that you need. I want to be everything you want and need in a mate. So don't look at me like I've disappointed you before you've even given me a chance to prove that I can be so much more than what you were hoping to find."

"Yorick..."

"Yeah, I'm going to ruin you for him. I won't apologize for that. I want you. I want you to want me. And I don't give a fuck about this contract that your father agreed to for you. You're mine," I growl. "I won't give up without a fight. I can promise you that."

"You don't understand."

"What I do understand is that you feel trapped. My job, as your mate, is to help you see that you have options. That starts with having dinner with you, buying dinner for you, even if it is crappy cafeteria food," I say, winking at her.

"And then we'll let our wolves run together. We owe it to them to do this. Don't tell me that Rina isn't practically begging you to run with Thad. I know he's been begging me since the moment we smelled you," I say.

"Fine. One dinner, one run, and we'll see how it goes."

"Fine. Prepare yourself to be amazed," I tell her.