lva fed Ash dinner while waiting for Simon to finish his eting with the Alpha King. Since Gavriel didn’t want the wolf pup inside their shared chamber, she let it stay with her for the night.
“Stay here, alright? I’ll just check on my mate,” she said softly, patting Ash’s head before leaving.
On her way, lva stopped by the inn’s kitchen to prepare a quick al. She knew Simon must be hungry after hours of etings, so she fixed sothing simple but warm and carried it to his quarters.
He wasn’t back yet, so she set the table and made sure everything looked neat. Then her gaze drifted to his bed, and a playful smile curved her lips.
Without hesitation, she slipped out of her dress, leaving only her thin nightgown and a pair of panties underneath. Her heart fluttered with nervous excitent.
“Tonight,” she whispered to herself, “I’ll make sure we finally share a bed.”
Things had been so chaotic lately, and she longed for at least one thing to feel certain—her bond with Simon. She wanted their matebond to take full effect so they could finally establish a proper mindlink.
Besides, she had already learned enough from Ben to know the truth: Simon had once been in love with Princess Riela. He’d confessed, but Princess Riela only saw him as a brother.
lva sighed softly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “He should move on already... and I’ll help him do that,” she murmured, determination flashing in her eyes.
With that, she crawled onto his bed, laying comfortably across the sheets, waiting for her mate to return.
lva adjusted the sheets and glanced once more at the door. The quietness of the room made her heartbeat sound louder than usual. She lit a small lamp by the table, its golden light spilling gently across the room. The warmth from the glow cald her nerves a little.
She looked at the food she’d prepared—warm stew, a few slices of bread, and tea—and smiled faintly. “At least he’ll have sothing warm to eat,” she whispered, though she knew that wasn’t the only reason she ca.
Her gaze drifted again to the door. The thought of Simon returning made her chest tighten.
She wanted him to see her, really see her as the woman chosen for him by the bond.
A sudden doubt crossed her mind. ‘What if he didn’t want this? What if he still didn’t want to let go of Princess Riela?’
She shook the thought away. “No,” she told herself quietly. “He’s my mate. The bond doesn’t lie.”
lva settled more comfortably on the bed, lying on her side so she could see the door the mont it opened. Her fingers brushed lightly against the fabric of her nightgown as she exhaled slowly, steadying her heartbeat.
The faint scent of his musk still lingered in the room—earthy, clean, familiar. It made her smile again. “Hurry back, Simon,” she murmured softly, her voice barely a whisper.
Outside, the sound of boots echoed faintly in the hall. lva’s breath caught as the door handle turned.
The door opened slowly, and Simon stepped inside, his hair a bit ssy and his uniform slightly wrinkled from the long day. He looked tired but alert, his sharp eyes instantly sweeping the room.
“lva?” he called out when he slled her scent.
She smiled softly from the bed. “Welco back,” she said. “I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared sothing for you.”
Simon blinked, surprised, his gaze flicking from the table to her. His breath hitched when he realized she was lying on his bed, dressed in nothing but a thin nightgown that revealed more than it covered.
His inner wolf was on fire, growling and clawing within him, demanding to claim their mate right then and there. The scent of her—warm, sweet, and maddening—filled his senses until he could barely think straight.
Simon swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe. Every second that passed made it harder to hold back. His muscles tensed, his jaw clenched, and his pulse hamred in his ears.
He was losing control—slowly, dangerously. One more push, and he knew he would snap.
“lva...” he started, his tone uncertain.
“Don’t look so tense,” she said gently, sitting up. “You’ve been working nonstop. I just wanted to take care of you tonight.”
He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “You shouldn’t have—”
“I wanted to,” she cut in softly, stepping down from the bed and walking toward him. Her movents were slow, almost cautious, as though she was afraid he might pull away.
When she stopped in front of him, she smiled faintly. “We’re mates, Simon. You don’t have to keep your distance.”
Simon’s jaw tightened. He didn’t move, but his scent deepened, a mix of restraint and longing. “You know it’s not that simple,” he said quietly.
“I know,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. “But I’m tired of waiting for the right ti. I want you to see , not as soone filling a space—but as your mate.”
Her hand brushed his chest lightly, and he froze. For a mont, neither spoke. Then Simon exhaled heavily, his hand rising to cup her cheek.
“lva...” he murmured, his voice low and rough.
She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. “Just let stay with you tonight,” she whispered.
Simon didn’t answer right away. His fingers traced her jaw, then fell to her shoulder. The tension in his body slowly eased. “You’re impossible to say no to,” he muttered finally.
He was exhausted, tired of constantly fighting the battle within himself, struggling to resist lva when every part of him was aching for her. His control was slipping, and the bond between them only made it worse.
lva gave him a small, nervous smile when he finally leaned down, their foreheads touching. She could feel his uneven breath brushing against her skin. Gathering every bit of courage, she closed her eyes and gently pressed her lips to his.
lva froze for a mont when Simon’s lips t hers. Her heart raced so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest. It was her first kiss—sothing she’d only ever imagined, never truly experienced.
She didn’t know what to do, how to move, or even how to breathe. All she knew was how warm he felt and how her stomach twisted with a strange mix of nerves and happiness.
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