The wind wasn't the only thing that wrapped around me like a blanket when it blew again. Tristan's essence floated toward me on the breeze and mingled with mine. Whenever we came together, something surreal always occurred between us. It had taken me a few times to understand that it wasn’t my magic causing the feeling, but rather our wolves urging us to come together and complete the bond. Since I was fifteen years old, I knew that Tristan was my true mate but it wasn't until months later that I understood how big of an impact our union would have on each other and the Caedmon and Arnou communities as we knew it today. Now three years later, I still felt the same about everything…about him.

Tristan.

My Queen, he responded.

True mates could communicate with each other without ever speaking a word, and sometimes if the connection was strong enough we could project thoughts, even across continents. Likewise, I knew when he was in distress or in trouble or overly excited. Under the thick wave of sexual tension and attraction surrounding us, I detected a heavier emotion. Someone had recently angered him.

Tristan closed the gap between us. My back was still turned to him, so I couldn't see his face…yet. He put his hand on my shoulder and all tension faded away from me. He had reputation for being domineering, possessive, forceful, but he had always been gentle with me. In the past, I had wrestled with the idea that it was all a front and that he'd somehow turn on me if we were ever to complete the mate bond. Right now, I was so confused. Not only about Tristan, but about a lot of things surrounding the history of my people and how alliances, grievances, and battles had shaped the Packs in the past. But was it my place to worry about all of this when we had two very determined, very capable Alphas leading the Packs?

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said.

His voice was low and deep in tone. His accent was strong courtesy of his Serbian heritage.

I put my palm on top of his hand where it rested on my shoulder. "So was I," I said.

He chuckled softly.

Genetically speaking, Tristan was a very complex being. More complex even than I was. I was part Caedmon wolf shifter, part Caedmon witch. Simple. Not only was Tristan a direct descendant of Caedmon and an Arnou wolf shifter, but his blood relatives were also comprised of members of the Other branch, a branch of humans with the spirit of Caedmon—those who could not shift but possessed the same intellectual abilities of our ancestors. Those who knew our history believed that our union was fated. A union that would reunite Caedmon bloodlines.

"What happened?" I asked.

There was a long pause and I felt the change in his demeanor as he worked to expel himself of the negative energy he'd brought with him.

"It doesn't matter now. When I'm with you, none of that matters," he replied.

Tristan's fingers spread across my shoulders and then glided up the back of my neck. He moved my hair aside. When his lips connected with my nape, pressing a single kiss on my skin, I gasped and nearly fell back into his embrace.

I couldn't succumb. Not now.

I turned swiftly and my gaze landed on his face. He was exceptionally handsome. With thick lashes that hooded his troubled stare. The moment I first gazed upon him—the moment we met—I had noticed something about him. Something about his demeanor. It felt there were two sides of Tristan. Maybe even three. And as I looked into his eyes now, I saw it again. His eyes often changed colors. Sometimes they were deep and dark in color. Almost the same mahogany color as his wolf's fur and as his hair. Sometimes they were the color of a translucent jade. And sometimes, they were a mix of the two…like now. This feature instantly labeled him different—not entirely human. All who gazed upon him knew that something was off about him.

It didn't take me long to understand why Tristan was revered as the silent leader, the absent business partner. His wolf shifter nature was still very much a secret, even among most of the men and women who worked with him in that organization. COBRA was what they called it. One day, he'd tell me everything. That's what he'd promised me anyway. Unbeknownst to him, I excelled at research. The kind that didn't involve the use of my gifts. And what I didn't know, I knew he'd tell me…one day. All I had to do was ask. But did I really want to know his lifestyle? I'd heard the rumors about him, but that's just what they were—rumors that could be confirmed or denied. I didn't need to believe the gossip about Tristan when I already knew what kind of man he was and the things he'd done to get in the position he was in today.

I knew one thing at this moment. I wanted him like my life depended on it.

"Let me guess…my brother told you where to find me," I commented.

He grinned. "No. I followed my instincts."

"Of course you did."

His eyes moved away from my face to gaze at my evening attire. A form-fitting A-line dress that stopped just below the knees. Even in my heels, I still wasn't tall enough to match his height of 6'2".

"You're lovely in a dress. In anything really. And I'd bet my life that you're even more beautiful in nothing at all," he commented.

A heated blush washed across my face, spreading down my chest and overwhelming my core. This was what being in Tristan's presence did to me. He knew I was attracted to him, yet still, he taunted me. Only a few years ago when I was just fifteen, he promised me that he'd never force the mating on me. When it was time and when I wanted, I would go to him. That's the promise we made to each other when we first discovered we were fated to be together.

"Well, you know me. I prefer jeans any day of the week," I told him. "I only wear one brand. I don't know how you do it. You're always dressed to the "T". I couldn't keep up with all the designer labels on the market if someone paid me to do it."

He made a show of adjusting his tie and collar. "I pay someone to do it for me."

"Well, they have my compliments. They're good at making you look innocent in those purple labels, diamond watches, and that belt you always wear." My gaze dropped below to admire the belt. It was made of the finest gold. The badge on it was large and was ingrained with his family crest.

"You mean this belt. The Belt?" He took my hand and placed it on the hard leather and gold belt around his waist.

"Yeah, this belt." I touched the ruby stone in the center and felt his breath fan across my forehead. "What does the ruby signify?"

"Ruby is my birthstone. The gem is from the mines in Burma. My great-grandfather had the badge made for me and he gave it to me on my eighth birthday. The Senior, not the Junior."

"Yes, I knew of your great-grandfather, Thibaud Arnou Sr. It's beautiful. I had never seen anything like it before I saw yours. But there's more to you than gold and rubies. When the suit and this belt comes off…"

He raised an eyebrow. "When the suit and the belt come off…go on…"

I traced one of the buttons on his dress shirt, noting the audible gasp when I pressed firmly on his chest. "You're all animal underneath. Feared. Misunderstood. Lonely."

I picked up his right hand, turned his palm over, and our gazes locked. I held my hand poised over his palm waiting for his permission.

"Go on," he urged.

The moment my fingertips touched his palm, the connection between us strengthened, and I continued.

"You trusted once. Easily. But then someone betrayed your trust." I let my magic escape as I worked along the delicate veins on the exposed portion of the inside of his wrist. "There's blood. A father's blood. It's everywhere. The blood of an Alpha. The son becomes his father. He's no longer a boy. He's their leader now. The Pack evolves. The leader yearns for more. He yearns for what was promised." The images came just as quick as I could interpret them. "There's an elder…'wolves don't live on machines' he says. He's nearing the end of his life. Something or someone holds him here, in this world. The boy is now a man, but he has no family except for those who kill for him, lie for him, steal for him. There will be more blood on his hands. In the end, the betrayal will be epic."

He took his hand away from me and took a couple steps back. His chest rose and fell rapidly. A look of astonishment and despair crossed his face. The bright jade color in his eyes had suddenly gone mute until only the deep brown hues remained.

"I'm sorry…" I breathed.

"No, you did nothing wrong." He closed the gap between us again and took my hands. "It's just that you're very skilled in dragging out the truth. I don't think you know how powerful you are."

I frowned. "It's a gift and it's a curse, really. People think they want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth until they actually know it and it's too much for them to handle."

"Unfortunately, that's very true," he agreed.

I dropped my arms to my side and looked downward. "Still want me?"

He lifted my chin gently with his fingers so that our gazes met, and then pushed a few strands of stray hair away from my face. "I want you just as you are. You're mine, Elisa. Nothing about that will change."

"No, this can't be changed," I told him.

"Remember what we decided when we first knew what we meant to each other?" he asked.

"You made a promise," I replied.

"What was my promise to you?"

"That you'd never force the mating."

"And you promised me that you'd come to me the moment you were ready," he added. "I've upheld my promise to you. I'll wait for however long it takes. I'll wait until my last dying breath for you to say the words to me, the words that will complete our bond. If you want to go and live your life first, fine. If you want to know how it feels to have a normal man, okay. You want to play the field…I'll deal with it. But when you are done, you come to me. And when you come to me, I'll give you the world like you've never seen it before."

"Tristan…" I wasn't sure what to say to that, but I knew this man would have me one way or the other. He had waited patiently until I was old enough. He had supported me while I pursued my degree. Now he was still waiting for me to accept him as mate.

I looked up at him again, my face only centimeters from meeting his. He had never kissed my lips before, but I wanted him to. If I asked, he would. But I've never asked. I knew the moment that we shared something as intimate as a kiss like lovers shared, I wouldn't be able to go back—even if I wanted to. Our wolves were drawn to bond with each other even if the union caused more chaos than harmony.

Tristan's mouth lingered over mine as if he would take my lips at any moment. He must have reeled his desires back in because he lifted his mouth to my forehead and kissed my temple instead.

"You come to me when you're ready," he spoke softly against my face. "You are mine. And I don't care what our people think about that. I would start a war to win you. Don't you know that?"

I nodded and leaned my head into his chest. "That's what I'm afraid of, Tristan. That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

"Of war? You're afraid of war? You have the power to stop a man's heart, yet you fear war?"

"Yes…of the outcome."

"Don't worry, my Queen. Just as you predict, there will be more blood on my hands, but with my victory, our Packs will know peace again. I will crush anyone who tries to take you from me."