Sebastian left me alone with my thoughts. The room was too quiet as I paced it's length. My mind was swimming with thoughts and questions, my heart ached with so many emotions, and tears streamed down my face. I didn't understand what was going on. I wasn't usually the type to break so easily, to let so many emotions overcome my stubborn attitude.
As I paced I could feel my body become unnaturally warm, and sweat started to mingle with my tears. There was a painful pulse in my core that made me gasp and stop halfway across the room. Was all this stress finally getting to me? Was I getting sick? Was my body starting to deteriorate again? My already panicked body started to shake and my breathing came in short shallow gasps. Was this how I was going to die, all alone in the room of a manor that was out in the middle of nowhere?
"You aren't dying." I turned when I heard the low cultured voice behind me. Kade had appeared from the shadows, so silent that I hadn't heard his approach.
"Then what is this?" I sobbed as I wrapped my arms around myself.
I watched as Kade lifted his head and scented the air. "You smell like spring rain and jasmine." He whispered as he took a step towards me.
I froze immediately. No one had ever commented on my scent before. Even once the suppressants were out of my system no one had said anything or even been affected by my scent. It was never an issue and I had begun to think of myself more as a beta than what I actually was, but as I watched this Alpha vampire glide towards me, his pupils dilating, I knew he could smell my omega pheromones.
"You are going into heat." He murmured as he nuzzled my neck where my scent was the strongest.
I pulled back as if he had burned my skin. "No, no, no! This can't happen!" I ran my fingers through my hair as I continued to pace.
"You are an omega, I assure you it can." Kade didn't make a move towards me this time and only watched my frantic movement.
"I haven't had a heat in years, the suppressants should have made it so I would never have one again." I stopped my pacing and looked at him. "Why now?"
"Our bond is strengthening and is affecting your biology. My presence is also a factor." Kade answered as he looked at me, not like a predator stalking its prey, but with an understanding that seemed out of place for an ancient predator.
"What am I supposed to do?" I whispered as another wave of pain pulsed through me.
"I can help you through it. I can take away the pain." He offered as he took another step towards me.
"And what will I have to do in return?" My tone was defensive, suspicious.
"Nothing you don't want to give." He paused. "I would never force you Riley. You may choose to endure this alone. But I can assure you, this will be agony for you."
"What do you mean, 'choose'?" I asked, my body trembling with need and fear.
"You can choose to accept me. Choose to accept the mate bond. Let me ease your suffering." I watched as he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing the pale skin of his throat. "Or you can suffer through it alone."
"That's not much of a choice." I grumbled as I stopped a few steps away from the vampire. This close to his exposed throat I could smell his scent. The scent of shadows, dark chocolate, and the warmth of cinnamon. It called to my omega on a primal level I had never experienced before. He smelled like strength, like safety, like home. 'My Alpha!' I felt the thought rage through me.
I doubled over in pain as a moan escaped my lips. "It hurts!" I gasped as I felt the heat race through my veins.
"Breath through it." Kade said softly as he closed the gap between us and rubbed my back tenderly. "This is only pre-heat. It will get worse once your full heat hits. When that happens you will no longer have the capability of rational thought so you need to make a decision now Riley, while you can still think clearly."
"I didn't want this." I cried, fresh tears streaking my already red and blotchy face.
"I know." Kade's reply was full of emotion I didn't know he could feel as he walked me over to the bed and sat me down. He kneeled before me so that our eyes were level and for the first time I saw the fear, the regret, and the need in those crimson orbs as he looked at me.
My breath caught in my throat as I was trapped in that gaze. "I never wanted to hurt you Riley. I took you back to your home after I healed you to give you that chance to live the life you wanted. I was afraid that if you ever found out about me you would reject me because of what I am."
I didn't know what to say to that. Deep down I had wondered why I woke up in my childhood room instead of being sent straight back to the pack house, to my father.
"It doesn't matter what you are." I sighed as I came to terms with the fact that it really didn't matter that Kade was a vampire or an Alpha. He treated me with a kindness and respect I had never experienced before. "What matters is what you do." I looked down at my trembling hands and took a steadying breath. "You saved my life. Twice." I looked back at him and saw the vulnerability there.
"So what is your decision?" He asked softly.
"What will it mean if I let you... help me?"
"It means you will be mine. And I will be yours. Fully and completely." His fingers gently brushed my cheek. "We will be equals, you and I. A true mating."
I thought about that. A true mating. What did that even mean? Was it like my father and my mother? Two halves of the same soul? A love that would transcend all else? Or was it just a biological imperative? A need to breed? Was this what the goddess wanted for me? Did I even believe in the goddess anymore?
"Alright." I whispered. "Alright, Kade. I choose you." I had to force myself to say the words. I wanted to run, to hide, to deny this heat, this bond, this fate. But the pain was getting worse and I knew deep down that I couldn't face it alone.