Chapter 2 Fated, Mated, and Mildly Terrified

Cleo's brain was trying to reboot.

She sat cross-legged on a patch of dead grass, surrounded by the pieces of her traumatized Vespa and the werewolf prince she'd accidentally bonded with. Her smoothie was now a sticky, mango-scented memorial to her sanity.

"So," she said slowly, holding her head like it might fall off, "just to clarify: you're a werewolf, I'm your fated mate, and this all happened because I hit you with a scooter?"

"Yes," Luca said calmly, folding his arms over his annoyingly glorious chest. "The moon witnessed it. The bond was sealed."

"The moon witnessed it," she echoed. "What is this, a cosmic reality show?"

He tilted his head. "Sort of. The Moon Goddess likes drama."

Cleo groaned and stared up at the sky. "Dear Moon Goddess, please find another lead actress. I'm barely functional on weekdays."

"You're taking this better than most humans would."

She gave him a look. "I once caught my ex-boyfriend making out with a vampire in the back of my Uber. My bar is low."

Luca actually looked impressed. "Was she hot?"

"She had fangs and a French accent. Oui."

There was an awkward silence. Then Luca sat down beside her, cross-legged like some spiritual guru-slash-action hero.

"Now what?" she asked. "Do we get matching tattoos? Move in together? Start howling at couple's yoga?"

"I need to take you to my pack."

Cleo blinked. "...Are you asking me on a road trip?"

"I'm saying you're now linked to the most powerful werewolf bloodline in North America. You're in danger. We need to protect you."

Cleo narrowed her eyes. "You don't look particularly worried."

"I'm not worried about you dying," he said, casual as a salad bar. "I'm worried about you doing something stupid and getting me killed."

She snorted. "You don't know me."

He leaned closer. "You're wearing a sweatshirt that says Mentally Unstable but Trying My Best."

Cleo stared. "It was on sale."

"You drink mango smoothies at night."

"They help me sleep!"

"You hit supernatural royalty with a scooter and made him apologize."

"Well," she muttered, standing up, "he did step into the road like a dramatic woodland creature."

Luca stood too, brushing grass off his jeans. "We'll leave before sunrise. Bring only what you need."

"Wait, what? No! I have a life here. A job. A cat."

"You're a barista in a bookstore that smells like wet socks and disappointment."

"I-okay, rude but accurate."

"The bond is forming fast. Once it fully matures, we'll be able to sense each other's emotions, thoughts, even pain."

She went still. "Thoughts?"

"To a degree."

"You're going to hear my inner monologue?"

"If we don't complete the bond properly," he said, "it could kill us both."

Silence.

"Define properly."

He looked uncomfortable. "There's... a process."

"Uh-huh."

"A ceremony."

"Sure."

"A mating bite."

"WHAT NOW?!"

"Calm down, it's symbolic."

"You just said it could kill us!"

"Symbolically."

"You are the worst first date."

Luca sighed and rubbed his temples. "Look, if you really want to avoid death, exile, or public nudity during a full moon transformation, come with me. Just for a while. My people can protect you."

"People? You mean werewolves?"

"Yes."

"Do you guys... live in the woods?"

"No. We live in a renovated luxury spa resort in Oregon."

She blinked. "What."

"There's an indoor waterfall."

"I'm sorry, did you say your murder-wolf family lives in a spa resort?"

He shrugged. "The hot stone massages are excellent. Don't judge."

Cleo squinted. "Okay. But if anyone tries to turn me into a werewolf, I swear to God-"

"It's already happening."

She froze. "What?!"

"The bond transfers part of my essence into you. If you stay bonded long enough, you'll shift."

"Into a werewolf."

"Yes."

"Do I get cool fangs?"

"Fangs, claws, strength, speed, a tail."

"I swear, if I grow a tail and it messes with my jeans-"

"You'll also get enhanced hearing."

"So I'll be able to hear you being smug from farther away?"

He smiled. "Exactly."

Cleo groaned. "Okay, okay! I'll go with you to your weird werewolf spa. But I'm bringing my cat."

Luca looked troubled. "Cats don't like werewolves."

"His name is Chairman Meow and if he dies, I'll set your pack on fire."

Pause.

He nodded solemnly. "Noted."