Page 77 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

We took our prizes and moved on to the next activity, which I actually found the most fascinating. “These are absolutely gorgeous,” I said quietly to Oscar as we walked among the blocks of ice that had been carved into various shapes. There were dragons, gargoyles, bears, wolves, different types of large cats, and what looked like some sort of wolf but not. I stopped in front of it.

“That’s a hellhound,” Oscar told me. When I pulled my eyes from it, my attention was immediately taken by the snow that suddenly started falling. I glanced up briefly but looked back to my mate with a smile on my face.

“A hellhound?”

“Yes. When I was rescued with Chase and Eli, it was by a hellhound. He wasn’t the only one, but he was one of them that rescued us. Actually, if not for him, I wouldn’t be here because we were being held in a basement in New Orleans.”

I wasn’t sure what that actually meant, and it obviously showed on my face.

“There aren’t basements in New Orleans because the city is below sea level. They flood. The only reason that particular basement wasn’t flooded was because of the demon who had us. He had some sort of magical stone or something. It was keeping the place from flooding. Probably some other things as well. But when the stone was taken away, the basement started to fill with water in a hurry. We were locked inside a room with bars for a door.”

What he was telling me was actually terrifying. The thought that he could have been trapped in a basement while it was filling with water… I shook my head. It did no good for my mind to wander in that direction. I needed to focus on now. We were both here, on this mountain, together. We were about to start a new adventure together. I wouldn’t fret over what happened in the past. I would be supportive of my mate if he was still dealing with what happened to him. I wouldn’t dwell on it though.

“So you were rescued by a hellhound.”

“Yes. I’ve seen him and the other hellhounds a couple of times while they were on runs or when I was up here and one of them would be doing patrols. They all take turns, as far as I know.”

That was incredibly interesting. I hoped to one day meet this hellhound and was given the opportunity to thank him for what he did for my mate and the others he rescued at that time.

“What do you want to do now?” I asked. “Would you like to continue with the sculptures and other games and things?”

Oscar shook his head. “I want to go home. I’ve just met my mate today, and although I don’t expect anything to happen until he’s ready, I don’t really want to be around others either. My wolf isn’t really happy, and I just want to be in a little bubble with you for a little while.”

I honestly hadn’t thought about things from that perspective. I just wanted my mate to have someone show him attention and that someone cared. But why would he think that nothing was going to happen between us?

“Then home we will go. I apologize for insisting we come out tonight. It wasn’t the best planning on my part. I only wished to show you that I valued you and wanted to give you the attention I feel you deserve.”

Oscar grinned up at me. “Good. Let’s go,” Oscar said as he pulled on my hand. I chuckled as I let him lead me away from the ice sculptures, and we quickly departed the area where the festival was being held. Once far enough away for Oscar, he slowed his pace, and we continued on at a relaxed walk while the snow floated down around us.

“I have never seen snow fall like this,” I said after a time. “Well, this heavily. It was snowing earlier, but this is different.”

It was truly a beautiful sight. We could see it falling in the light the lamps provided along the pathway, and there was just something so serene about it.

“I’ve seen snow before, but it wasn’t until I moved up here that it was an every-winter thing. There isn’t snow where I’m from in Mississippi.”

“Do you miss it?” I asked suddenly. I knew there would be certain aspects of the fae realm that I would miss, but as a whole, I wouldn’t wish to go back. There wasn’t enough positive there for me to desire to return.

“Not really, no. I understand my birth pack has been through a massive overhaul, and everyone that was in charge is no longer in charge.” Oscar snorted. “Most aren’t even alive any longer, from what I’ve been told.”

If I didn’t know of Oscar’s past and how his pack was involved in his being sold, I would be concerned about his comment. But I wasn’t. He had every right to feel that way.

“I believe the correct response to that is rightly so,” I hedged.

Oscar gave me a beaming smile. “Yes,” he said quietly. We continued walking at a slow pace in silence for a few minutes until our new house came into view. The lights from the top of the council building gave the falling snow a completely different feel, and I could only call it romantic.

“May I kiss you?” I asked suddenly. I’d wanted to for hours now but had lacked the courage to do so. It hadn’t felt as if it were the right time, but now, possibly, it would be. The mood felt more romantic, at least for me.

“You don’t have to ask. You’re my mate.”

“Ah, but I do. Yes, we are mates, but I would never force you to do something you were uncomfortable with.”

I leaned in, cupping Oscar’s face with my free hand, and gently pressed my lips to his. The tingling that had been coursing through my body all afternoon flared before it calmed slightly. It seemed to center where we were touching though: my hand on his face, our hands laced together, and my lips on his.

I was a bit insecure about it all, but when I heard a quiet moan from Oscar seconds before his lips parted slightly, those insecurities fled. When Oscar’s tongue gently touched my lower lip, it was my turn to moan at the sensations it caused.

Oscar’s tongue pushed forward, causing a zing to go through my body when it touched mine. Wanting nothing more than to participate fully, I pulled my other hand free and placed it on the back of Oscar’s neck at the same time my own tongue pushed back and found its way into Oscar’s mouth. He moaned once more but then pulled away by turning his head to the side.

“I apologize,” I said immediately and took a step back. I wasn’t sure if it was my lack of experience that made things awkward or that he felt I was pushing too fast for too much. Either way, I didn’t wish to upset my mate, and I wanted to make sure I addressed whatever was wrong that caused him to pull away so quickly.