Chapter 32: Chapter 32
Mink’s P.O.V
I closed my eyes, getting lost in the kiss that sent fire through my veins.
A whirlwind of emotions churned within me because I had convinced myself that leaving him behind was the right decision, for the both of us. But now, with him standing in front of me, with his lips on mine as he pulled me closer to his body, I couldn't deny the undeniable pull of the mating bond between us. It surged through me, a force that I couldn't resist no matter how hard I tried.
My heart thrashed inside my chest, skipping a beat as the realization hit me like a tidal wave. Abhay had come for me. He had moved across the country just after receiving a letter that could’ve been a fake, and still he had done everything in his power to reach out for me, despite everything that had happened at Gujarat and everything that he had witnessed.
My wolf was elated, basking in the scent of its mate, lost in the warmth of his embrace, because deep down, I had always wanted someone who would be brave enough to love me so completely that they would cross the seven seas just to be with me.
Yes, I knew just how cheesy that all sounded, but in the end, I hadn't been able to help who I was and those fantasies of mine had remained fantasies because no man had ever been able to stand me for who I was. I had always been ‘too much’ to handle.
Abhay may not have crossed the seven seas to be with me, but still, he had moved across the country, leaving everything he knew behind and here he was, in my arms. And from the way he was kissing me, it all felt very, very real. He wasn’t a fragment of my imagination. He was really here. He was with me…in my arms.
Who would’ve guessed that out of all people in the world; after all the men I had met over the course of the century that I had walked this earth…it would be the shy boy with a heart of gold who would have the guts to follow me.
Maybe that was exactly why the Moon Goddess had given us mates. Because nothing in this world could beat the purity and strength of a mating bond. The bond connected us in ways that I had never expected. It was a connection of the soul.
We broke the kiss to catch our breaths. My lungs burned for air and even as snow continued to fall all around us, I felt my veins buzzing with warmth.
As I gazed into Abhay's eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch and the depth of our connection, I knew with absolute certainty that nothing in this world could rival the purity of our mating bond.
It was a bond forged in the fires of love and passion, one that transcended mere physical attraction and delved into the very depths of our souls. With him, I felt complete, whole, as if I had finally found my missing piece in the vast puzzle of life.
But just as our embrace threatened to consume us both, a sudden clearing of a throat shattered the intimate moment. Startled, I reluctantly pulled away from Abhay, though not before silently promising to continue this later, when we could be alone once more.
Turning towards the source of the interruption, I found Ruksaar standing there, her expression a mixture of amusement and annoyance. She knew all too well the intensity of the bond between Abhay and me, having witnessed it firsthand on numerous occasions.
"Is this what you disappeared off to do last week?" I asked, unable to keep the slight edge of accusation from creeping into my voice. Ruksaar had a habit of disappearing without explanation, leaving me to wonder where she had gone and what mischief she had gotten herself into. But this time, her little ‘shopping trip’ turned out to be something else entirely.
When Abhay mentioned that ‘letter’ that told him the address where he needed to head to, I instantly knew who it had come from.
Ruksaar merely smirked in response, her gaze flickering between Abhay and me. "Well, if I hadn't been the one to do so, then you certainly wouldn't be sucking his face at the moment," she retorted, her tone teasing yet tinged with a hint of something deeper.
Despite myself, I couldn't help but laugh at her brazenness. Ruksaar had always been the wild one, the one who danced to the beat of her own drum without a care in the world and yet, beneath her carefree exterior, I knew there lay a heart of gold, fiercely loyal to those she cared about.
"Next time, at least leave a note," I said with a mock glare, though the affection in my voice was unmistakable. Ruksaar may drive me crazy at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way. She was family, after all, and family stuck together through thick and thin.
"Hey, hey, let's watch our language, ladies," Kashmira interjected, her voice calm but firm. "We have a little one here."
Her actions drew everyone's attention, and the chatter slowly subsided. And it drew my attention to the more pressing issue at hand…Kashmira’s presence in my safe heaven.
When we left that night from Gujarat, I had made sure to give her enough cash to last her a year, if she was careful with her spending. She had the opportunity to start anew anywhere she pleased, away from the struggles of the pack she had fled. But here she was once again, at my tail, refusing to leave my shadow. So I asked her, my curiosity piqued.
"Kashmira, why did you come back to me? You had a chance to leave, to find a better place for you and your son."
Kashmira met my gaze, her expression serious yet determined. "I couldn't leave," she replied softly, her fingers brushing against her son's hair.
"My wolf has accepted you as my Alpha, so I can’t change my heart any longer. And living as a rogue with a child... it's not an option for me."
Her words resonated with a deep sense of duty and loyalty, characteristics I had come to admire in Kashmira but still, I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for her and her son.
In that moment, a sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach. Her words hung heavy in the air, echoing ominously in my mind. The very idea of a Luna from a prominent pack settling in my newly found home, that too with the Alpha’s heir in her arms…it was a call for an attack. The hard earned peace that I had sought after for so long was about to be disrupted because of this one woman who couldn’t seem to find her own way.
Gathering my thoughts, I straightened my posture and met Kashmira's gaze with a firm resolve.
"I'm sorry, Kashmira," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within. "But you're mistaken if you think this is a pack. There is no pack here and I’m no one’s Alpha. This is a simple house, far away from civilization, where I want to spend the rest of my life in peace. If you want the protection of a pack, then you need to search elsewhere."
The tension was palpable as my words hung in the air, waiting for Kashmira's response. Her expression changed to helplessness, something that tugged at my heartstrings, but I knew I needed to be firm in order to lead the peaceful life I had sought for all my life.
“But…I can’t!” She argued back, hold Kushal firmly against her chest. “You are my Alpha! That’s what my wolf tells me. And now that I have accepted my fate, my wolf will bow to no one!”
“Enough!” I snapped, causing everyone in the area to flinch at my sudden outburst. “I told you this before…I am no one’s Alpha! And this is not a pack! If you want to stay here for a short while, take refuge while you figure out your life…you’re welcome to do so! But your stay ends by the end of this month! After that, I better not see your face again!”
With that, I turned on my heel and walked away from the rest of them, leaving Kashmira to stew in her own frustration. Though my decision weighed heavily on my mind, I knew deep down that it was the right one.