Essex padded up the stairs and opened the door to his home. He’d borrowed a pair of shorts from Lucas to wear home. Nudity was a part of pack life and didn’t bother anyone here, but Haven wasn’t used to it, so he wasn’t sure how she would react to him strolling in naked.

It was a good thing he had covered up, because she was sitting at the kitchen table with a spoon in hand and a tub of his mint chip in front of her.

She’d changed clothes, too. Now she wore a form-fitting tank and short shorts that made his cock ache.

“Are you okay?” Haven asked. She set her spoon in the tub and stood up, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’m sorry. I should have known better.”

“It’s my fault. I should have warned you The Hags might try to distract you. I should have gone with you, actually.” He took a few steps toward her and put his hands on her shoulders, wanting to comfort her. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“That’s what Maggie said,” Haven said. She let her chin fall to her chest before she slumped back in her chair.

“Maggie’s a smart woman. You should listen to her.” He wiggled his fingers, instantly missing the warmth of her skin.

Shaking his head, he went to the silverware drawer and drew out a spoon. “Mind if I join you? Mint chip is my favorite.”

Haven cracked a smile. It lit up her eyes, making her even more mesmerizing. She scooted the tub toward him, and he took a seat in the chair next to her. “It’s your ice cream.”

“You seem to be enjoying it.” Half the tub was already gone, and he didn’t remember opening it. “I’m glad we both like the same thing. I’d hate to have to taint my freezer with butter pecan or rocky road.”

Haven laughed out loud. “I don’t know... butter pecan is pretty good.”

He shrugged. “If you say so.”

Haven sobered and looked around the room before meeting his gaze again. “Everyone else is okay too, right?”

“No one was hurt except one of the guys who tried to attack you. There were two of them. The one in the black jacket teleported out before we could get him, but the vampire has been taken care of.”

“Taken care of?” She said the words slowly. The smile fell from her face, like she didn’t approve.

Essex nodded. “He was a bad man that wouldn’t have stopped until we were both dead. He’s killed others. The human court system doesn’t work for people like us.”

“I’m guessing there are a whole different set of rules for people like us,” she said.

“Yeah. The laws you know don’t pertain to us in Emerick.”

Haven shook her head. “There is still so much I don’t know or understand.” She sighed and licked her lips. “I used my powers today. I didn’t even know I could do that.”

“They must have manifested because you were in danger,” Essex said. “That’s a good thing. You protected yourself.”

She looked at her hands. “I don’t even know what I can do. What if I hurt someone?”

“We’ll work on your magic. I’m a little familiar with witches’ magic. I could help.”

“You would?” she asked, her voice sounding hopeful.

“Of course.” He couldn’t have his mate unprotected. Haven needed to know how to defend herself. There was no way she’d get lucky multiple times if she got cornered again. And now that The Hags knew where Emerick was, they would most likely be sending more. Depending on how many they sent, the wards around the town might not be enough.

“So is teleporting a big one for witches?” Haven asked, drawing him from his thoughts.

“Teleporting?” he asked with a frown.

“Yeah. You said the guy in the woods did it. I did it, too, when the vampire came at me. One second he was right in front of me, and then poof, I was gone and somewhere else.” She shrugged and picked up her spoon again taking a big bite.

He hadn’t heard of any witches teleporting before. That was more of a demonic power. Astral projection and moving things with their mind was more for witches. They had some other active powers, but nothing like teleporting. Some mixed-breeds had the ability, but Haven wasn’t a mixed breed, she was a Goode.

It didn’t make any sense. It shouldn’t be possible. He’d have to ask Lucas to do some digging in the morning.

He cleared his throat. “A witch’s powers will vary from person to person. Some are better at spells and incantations. Others are better at potions and such. Active powers vary as well. I have a few books that we can look at in the morning.”

They were books that he’d picked up, knowing that if he and Haven were ever reconnected, he’d want to know more about her. It was too bad she didn’t know about wolves. He could already imagine how hard it was going to be to explain wolves and their mating habits to her, or the rules of the pack.

It’d be best if they tackled one thing at a time. Since she was a witch, it made sense to talk about her heritage first. The more she knew, the better she could protect herself against The Hags.

“Why don’t you tell me more about my family? What were my parents like?” Haven asked.

“You know nothing at all? Do you have any pictures or anything?” he asked.

Haven dipped her spoon into the tub and took a big bite before shaking her head. “I have flashes of a woman every now and again, but it’s not enough to make out her face. I know you said they were liked and respected, but I’m hoping maybe you could tell me a little bit more about who they were?”

“Sure.” He couldn’t imagine not remembering his mom and dad. They had been so kind and loving. Everyone in his family had been close. Not a day that went by that he didn’t think of them. If he tried hard enough, sometimes he could still catch his mother’s scent in the wind. Haven didn’t have that luxury. Her parents had died when she was an infant.

He cleared his throat. “Your mom was very beautiful. You have her eyes. She was very kind and was helping to broker a peace treaty between my family and the Montrose demons before her death. A lot of people thought it was noble of her. It was a job that no one else wanted. Our two families have a long-standing feud that has stretched on for many generations.”

“Did the peace treaty fall through because of her death?” Haven asked.

“No. Not exactly. The Hags attacked and murdered my family before the deal was completed. Your mother was a good soul who truly seemed to care for everyone. I don’t think there is anyone on this earth who could replace her.”

She smiled at his compliment, and he continued, “Your dad was one of the most powerful witches ever. He excelled in everything he did.”

“They sound pretty great. What about your parents? What were they like?” Haven asked locking gazes with him.

“My family?” he asked surprised by the change of topic. He thought of his mother and father, of his aunts, uncles, and grandparents. “They weren’t as outgoing as your family by any means. Wolves are all about family, about being together. We have the pack mentality, if you will. Family first, everything else second.”

“I’m not sure there is anything wrong with that.” Haven shifted in her seat, causing her knee to brush against his. She sucked in a breath and let it out, but didn’t move her knee.

He relished in the feel of it before he continued, “I don’t think so, either. My parents always put us first.”

“You had siblings?” Haven asked. She touched his hand, letting her fingers linger over his. “I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay.” He swallowed hard. “I had three brothers and two sisters. We were my parent’s world. They’d be there when we woke up in the morning and then we always read a story before going to bed. Sometimes they’d make up a story, or sometimes they’d read us something. It was always something different every night.”

“That sounds amazing.”

“It was one of those things that you never know how precious it is until it is gone,” he said. At eleven, he’d thought it kind of silly even though his younger siblings had enjoyed it. Now, he’d do just about anything to hear one more of his parents’ tales.

“I’m so sorry, Essex.” Haven squeezed his hand.

He curled his fingers around hers. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. I can find a little comfort knowing that they are at peace now.”

“I sometimes think my parents are looking down on me. Is that silly?” she asked.

“Of course not.” He felt the same way. If his mom and dad could see him, he was sure they’d be proud of the man he’d become. He’d had to earn his title of Beta. It wasn’t just given to him because he’d been raised by the Alpha. He’d had to prove himself to everyone that he was the strongest warrior and capable of protecting the pack.

There wasn’t a man or woman in the pack that could beat him in a fight. When he’d been named Beta, some had feared he’d take the Alpha position from Lucas. Honestly, he never would. Not only was Lucas his brother in every way that mattered, but also Essex didn’t want the daunting responsibility of being in charge of the whole pack. Beta was hard enough as it was.

“So, there is some sort of celebration tomorrow night?” Haven asked, drawing him out of his thoughts once again.

Celebration? He frowned, then it dawned on him what day it was. Tomorrow night was the first full moon of summer. Wolves were more fertile during the full moon, and the first one of summer and winter always seemed to be good for the pack.

His cock stirred in his shorts, and he had to shuffle in his chair. The thought of Haven’s belly swollen with his child was almost too much for him to handle. Before they had a child, he wanted to get to know her, to have some time to themselves first. Maybe a few years from now...

Of course, he was getting ahead of himself. She might not even like him like that. Though judging by the way her hand still clasped his, he didn’t think that was the case. She felt the pull to him; he just didn’t know if she would want him to act on it.

Haven shifted, and her knee brushed up against his again. Her smooth skin was like silky butter and he wanted to run his fingers all along it. He suppressed the urge to growl.

“What’s the celebration about?” Haven asked.

The question was innocent, and it shouldn’t affect him, but it did. His cock hardened to the point of pain. He needed a shower – a very cold shower.

“It’s something we wolves do.” He cleared his throat and shifted in the chair again, trying to get comfortable. “It helps with our fertility.”

“Oh!” Her eyes widened, but she didn’t jerk away from him. If anything, she clasped his hand tighter. As his mate, it was reasonable to assume that the magic of the full moon could affect her, too.

“It’s fun for the whole pack. We tell stories and eat and drink. The fertility festivities take place behind closed doors.”

“Good.” She laughed out loud. “Because it would be weird if they were out and about in the open.”

He loved the sound of her laugh, hearty but soft.

She licked her lips and leaned even closer to him. “Is it some sort of magic?” she asked.

She felt the intense attraction between them, too. He was sure of it, now that she’d asked that question. “Sort of, yes. What you are feeling toward me is a magic of sorts.”

She bit her lip, but still didn’t pull away. “How do you know it’s toward you?”

“I feel it, too.” He broke their eye contact and looked away, trying to decide if he should tell her everything or not. “We are soul mates, Haven. That’s why my touch comforts you, why you like touching me. We are destined to be together.”

“Destined to be together? Like true love?” She shook her head, and this time she snatched her hand back so hard that her elbow rammed into her chair. “No way. There is no such thing as real love.”

“What? Why not?”

Haven stood up and shook her head. “Are you kidding? Look at the divorce rate? Half of all marriages end in divorce. I bet you all of those people thought they were marrying the love of their life.” She put her hands on her hips and met his eyes as if daring him to deny it.

“It’s not like that for a wolf.”

“Because you’re magic? I don’t think it matters. I’m guessing Stephen’s wife was magic. Let me tell you, that was a match made in hell. That woman was evil. By the time she got done with him, we were living in a two-bedroom apartment eating Ramen for dinner every night.”

“Shifters are the only ones who find true soul mates,” he said.

“I’m not a shifter.” She lifted her brow to challenge him.

“Well, no, but because we are soul mates, you react to the same magic I do, it just might not be as strong for you as it is for me.” He hoped that made sense. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. They were finally making headway, and she seemed to trust him. He hoped this conversation wouldn’t make things worse for them.

Haven held her hands up. “All this talk of magic. I don’t know what to believe anymore.” She ran a hand through her hair and went to the counter.

Essex got up and stopped a few feet behind her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it harder or to confuse you.”

She put both hands on the counter and exhaled loudly. “It’s not entirely your fault. I blame Stephen. He should have been telling me this my entire life. Then it wouldn’t be such a shock.”

He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure that this makes it any better, but uh, it’s my understanding from him that he wasn’t able to tell you the truth, like there was some sort of magical barrier preventing him.”

Haven turned around to face him slowly. “Is that possible?”

Essex shrugged. “Maybe. If the person who cast the spell was strong enough.”

She put a hand over her heart. “Do you think it’s true?”

Essex scratched the back of his head as he thought about it. “I don’t see why he’d lie to me about that.” It was the truth. Stephen had no reason to lie to him.

“What if he’s wanted to tell me all along and he just couldn’t?” Her face fell, and tears shimmered in her eyes. “I feel horrible. I left home and wouldn’t return his calls.”

“Hey.” He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his embrace. If he could ease her sorrow, he would. “It’s okay. You couldn’t have known.”

Haven burrowed into him. Her hands clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer to her. They stayed like that for a long time. It could have been minutes or hours. Her embrace was comfortable, and there wasn’t anywhere else he’d rather be.

When she finally pulled back the sadness was gone from her face. Her hands trailed up his chest, and she peeked up at him through her thick lashes. “Thanks for coming out after me today.”

He cupped her cheeks. “Haven, I’ll always come for you. Don’t you ever doubt that.” He’d known her for a day, but still felt the overwhelming need to protect her and never let any harm come to her. She was his mate. He would do anything for her, no matter the cost.

She held his gaze. Her lips parted and she inched closer. She gave him a slight nod and that was all the affirmation he needed to close the tiny distance between them.

Her lips were soft and tasted like mint chip. He groaned at the feel and taste, wanting more from her. She ran her hands up his chest, skimming the pads of her fingers up and down the bare skin. His length shot to attention.

Essex put his hands on her hips and spun them around so her back was against the counter. He lifted her up and sat her on the granite and placed himself between her thighs.

She locked her ankles against his lower back, which pulled him closer to her. His cock strained against the confines of his shorts, and he wanted nothing more than to sink into her right this second. He fought against the urge, determined to keep things slow.

This was their first time together. It needed to be special. He wanted to worship every single inch of her body.

He broke the kiss and peppered kisses along her jaw line and then to her collarbone. Haven shuddered and grasped him tighter while panting in his ear. He scooped her up and carried her down the hall to his bedroom. Kicking the door open, he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.

His eyes roamed over the gorgeous woman beneath him. She was everything he’d always dreamed of, and so much more.

Essex put his hand on her ankle and lifted it up. He placed his lips to her ankle and slowly moved them down her leg. It was silky smooth, and he let his fingers trail up and down the exposed skin.

When he reached the hem of her shorts, he gently sat her leg down and unbuttoned them. Haven lifted her bottom and wriggled out of her shorts and panties, exposing her lower half to him completely.

He knelt so he was on his knees before her, burying his face in her warm, wet core. She tasted like heaven. He licked, nipped, and kissed, enjoying the moans that escaped her perfect lips.

Haven squirmed, her hands grasping the bed sheets. He put one hand on her hip to hold her still and the other he put over her clit. Pressing down with his thumb, he timed his licks and kisses to the steady beat of his thumb pressing down on her clit.

She grabbed one of his pillows and held it over her face, but it did little to stifle the screams that were coming out of her mouth. She was getting close. He could tell by the way she was tensing up. What would she taste like?

He nipped some more, increasing his pace until she began to chant his name. Before long his name turned into a loud, moaning whimper. Warmth flooded out of her, and he took joy in lapping up every droplet. She tasted better than he’d imagined. Like warm honey.

Essex glanced up at her before standing. She dragged the pillow off her face and let it sit next to her. Her cheeks were a rosy red and her chest heaved as she fought to control her breathing. He wasn’t anywhere close to done with her, though.

That had been the beginning. Tonight was going to be a long night. A warm smile slid over her face as if she’d heard his thoughts. She sat up and pulled her tank up and over her head.

He swallowed hard when he realized that she hadn’t been wearing a bra. Her breasts were perky and looked like they would fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. He reached out ready to test the theory, but she tsked at him and shook her head.

She pushed up to her knees and reached out. Her fingers went to the waistband of his shorts. She rolled them down slowly until they flopped to the floor at his feet.

Her hand reached out for his cock, but he stopped her at the last second. Oral sex was one thing, but actual sex was different.

“There’s something you should know before we do this,” he said. They were mates. He already knew that for a fact, but she didn’t. She needed to know what she was getting into before they mated. There would be no going back once they were together.

She frowned and dropped her hand to her side. “You don’t have something, do you?”

“What? No.” He shook his head and laughed. “Nothing like that. It’s just that we are mates, Haven. If we do this, it will change the way you look at men forever.”

She quirked a brow at him. “I already think they’re assholes. It can’t get much worse than that.”

He chuckled. “You’ll never be attracted to another man. I’m the only guy you’ll ever want.”

She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “I told you, I don’t believe in the ‘soul mate’ nonsense.”

“Once you’re with me, you will,” he said with a smile.

“Cocky much?”

“I just want to be honest with you.” That was the truth. She was his mate, and he didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their relationship. Even mated couples had arguments. He didn’t want to start their forever off on the wrong foot.

She sat down on the bed before flopping back on the pillows. “Thanks. I do appreciate that.” She traced her tongue over her bottom lip and grinned. “Why don’t you prove me wrong, then?”

He grinned. “Are you sure?”

She spread her legs and put one hand on her breast. “I’m sure that if you don’t get over here right now, I’m going to go to my room and finish what we started myself.” She crinkled her nose up as if it disgusted her. “I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

He put his knee on the bed and placed himself between her thighs. “I wouldn’t mind watching that sometime.”

She curled her fingers around his cock and slowly began to pump up and down. “Maybe someday. Right now, I just want to feel you inside me.”

His length hardened further, if that was even possible. He lowered himself onto her, and captured her lips.

She released his cock and wrapped her arms around his neck at the same time she angled her center for him by locking her ankles on his butt.

He pushed into her tight, wet, folds a few times before burying himself to the hilt. They moaned in unison at the joining of their bodies. She fit him like a tailored glove – perfectly. He was home.

Essex set a slow, steady pace while keeping himself buried deep inside her. He wanted to take his time and really get to know her.

Kissing his way down her jaw to her collarbone and then to her breasts, he took one pert nipple into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it. She arched her back while dragging her fingers through his hair.

He peppered kisses to the other breast and licked it too. Haven whimpered beneath them. She bucked her hips into his faster, harder. She was getting close. It was a good thing too, because so was he.

Part of him never wanted this moment to end, but the other part was ready for climax only so they could do it all over again.

Haven cried out. Her heels dug into his ass harder and her inner walls tightened around him, spurring on his own release. He found her lips once more as he came. This was just the beginning for them. Now that he had his mate, he was never letting her go.