When Daisy looks at the mirror she smiles. She touches the side of her neck where his mark would soon be. She could feel it. And she feels giddy and shy like a newly engaged girl with the anticipation of her wedding.

Then the smile disappears. Speaking of weddings, she's also overwhelmed by the urge to let the world in on the truth that she and Nate are mates. Especially...

Her phones rings. It's Lily.

"Hey, you wanna come over? Tim is here," Lily says and then whispers, "I think he wants to talk."

Daisy understands. Lily's place is just down the street. Daisy ends the call, puts on her coat and starts walking.

When she enters Lily's living room, Tim is on the couch, head hanging low. Lily and Daisy exchange glances. "I'll bring you coffee," Lily says and leaves for the kitchen.

Daisy sits opposite Tim. "How are you doing?"

Tim sighs. "I don't know."

"You know, I promised Hannah I'll talk to you after everything was sorted out with the pack's Alphahood."

Tim looks up and leans back on the couch. "Yeah, Lily mentioned that. I'm sorry we're bringing you into this shit."

"Don't be. I'm more than happy to be here for you and your sister. So... did you think about it? Accepting her?"

Tim starts biting his nails. He suddenly looks like a small boy to Daisy. Lily returns with three cups of coffee, and sits next to Daisy after handing the other two their cups.

"I just..." Tim starts. "I just..."

"You're scared?" Daisy says.

Tim doesn't say anything.

Seeing him, Daisy is reminded of her time when she was scared like this. She came to this pack, following a mate who she didn't even know anything about, except for the rumors she had heard about him.

She didn't know if Nate was good, bad, kind, mean, selfless, or stubborn, anything... She didn't know if she could trust him. All she felt was a deep love for someone without even knowing what she really loved about him.

"Why don't you two just try being friends first?" Daisy says.

Tim looks up.

"Sounds like a good idea," Lily says.

Daisy says, "You don't trust her yet. Understandably. I don't think it's a good idea to make your bond permanent with her without something as basic as trusting each other. That doesn't mean you can't give her a second chance. Get to know her, not as the girl you find attractive, but the girl who could be your best friend."

"But what if it doesn't work out?"

Lily says, "You're doing fine without her now, and you'll be fine without her in the future as well."

Daisy nods. "I agree. I know it seems like there's no future for you without her. But all I see before me is a very accomplished fighter, a loyal friend and a successful member of his pack. When you lose things you love, that doesn't mean you'll love nothing else. You'll always be in love, and you'll always be loved. Just not in the way you're imagining it in your head now. So don't bother thinking about whether it'll work out or not. It's a hand of friendship, Tim. People reach that out to even enemies some days. How difficult it could be to do that for someone you care about?"

Tim puts down his mug, rubs his hands against his thighs, and bobs his head. He gets up. "You are right. I'm going to talk to her."

"Now?" Lily asks him as he nearly runs out of the house, throwing the front door close behind him.

Daisy chuckles.

"He's always in a hurry. Anyway, thanks for that, Daisy," Lily says.

"Anytime. How about you, though? Are you okay with it?"

"A part of me is terrified he's going to get hurt again. But... it's like you said, no matter what happens, he'll always love and be loved. I'm here for him, so are his friends, including you. He has nothing to be scared of."

Daisy smiles, looks down and blinks. Her tears stay within her eyes.

Somehow it felt like Lily was talking about her. Daisy indeed has friends now. People who love her. What's there to be scared of?

A thunder rumbles in the sky aloud. Lily groans. "I thought we were done with the rains."

They both look out the window and see the light of the world dim. "I should head home, I hung some clothes outside to dry," Daisy says.

"Want me to drop you?" Lily says.

"I'll run. I think I'll beat the rain."

Daisy steps out of the house. Cold wind makes her shiver. It's amazing how the weather flipped in just a minute, and exciting, too. She pulls up the collar higher and breaks into a run.

Only a few feet from Nate's house, the heaven opens up its flood gate. Water pours on Daisy like marbles, and drenches her completely.

When she enters the living room, she sees Nate. He was dropping by to grab the file that's in his hand now. He looks at Daisy, soaked in rain. "What happened? Why are you a—"

Daisy had crossed the distance between them and crashed her lips over his.

Nate drops the file to the floor and grabs onto Daisy like a warm blanket against a cold wind.

They don't break their kisses and stumble into Daisy's room. Nate reaches one of his hands to the back and closes the door shut.

The room is dark, save for the pale, broken, dim sunlight that survived its travel through miles of dark billows.

Nate rips off her top and grabs her breast as his lips leave a trail of hickeys across her neck and chest.

Daisy is grabbing the edge of the dresser. Her head flung back. Her eyes closed. Her lips, apart from each other and quivering.

Nate straightens up and takes her lips again. His hand hungrily tugs at her jeans and his fingers coarsely undresses it. He shoves his hand in, and grabs her.

"Ah!" she moans out, unable to hold herself in anymore. His teeth graze the length of her neck as his fingers, tucked inside the fabric of her pants, pleasure her.

While she's still high in the lust, he separates from her for a second to take off his t-shirt. Daisy grabs the waist of his pants and pulls him close, pressing his naked chest against hers. He growls.

She starts unbuckling his belt and undo his pants. The strokes of her fingers against his skin send shivers down his spine. His breathing breaks. "D-Daisy," he says, "I don't t-think I can hold b-back this ti—"

"Sh..." Daisy says. "You don't have to. I'm all yours, babe."

Nate grabs the back of her head and kisses her passionately. He has waited for this moment from the second he first laid eyes on her.

He hoists her up on his waist. They both feel the jolt in their pelvis. They fall on the bed. Still kissing her, he strips her pants off and throws it away.

When his hands grip her inner thighs Daisy's fingers claw into him. "Nate," she moans. He pulls her by her thighs towards him. Daisy's hands grab onto the sheets bundled above her head. Her chest curves up. She bites her lips.

Nate leans down, grabs her wrists and pins her to the place, and steadily enters her.

She cries out. Nate's breath trembles from the insurmountable pleasure he's feeling. He looks down at Daisy whose eyes have teared up. He kisses her tears away. And then her lips. Then he moves his head to her side and presses his waist against hers. Daisy moans out. Her thighs latch onto him.

Nate starts moving inside her. Slowly first, like a gentle pulse, and then the bed starts to shake. It rubs against the dresser at the side and creaks. With each thrust, even before Daisy could let the pleasure slip out from her mouth, the next wave hits her, giving no break.

And just when it seemed like they were finally at the end, Nate bites her neck sending their bodies to a heightened state of lust that neither of them ever imagined, even in their wettest dreams, their body was capable of feeling.

Nate growls as they reach their peak and his mark is embedded on her.

When they finally come down from the apex of their sex drive, Nate smiles and meets the eyes of his mate that seem to glisten more alluringly than the stars of a beautiful deep summer sky. "Mine." 

🗳 His, indeed ;) Don't forget to vote ✌️