Chapter 1

Teagan’s Point of View

At first, we tried to resist it, this constant push and pull between us. We both knew the ramifications of this bond. This mating tether that tied us together. In the human world, we would have been branded as weirdos. Society would have shunned us. Let us rot in our own filth.

Within the werewolf community, we would be thrown out of the pack. Labeled as rogues. Vagabonds that only deserved to roam the earth. With no real home and no one to help us. All on our own.

I was well aware of how unnatural this mating was. How utterly disgusting it might have looked from the outside. The option to reproduce, to have a family of our own, wasn’t an option anymore. That was another thing the two of us had to come to grips with.

The dreams we had shared to have a large family as children were now gone to ash.

Needless to say, we couldn’t resist it. It was near impossible, especially with our proximity. One misstep could lead to a world of problems for us.

Thus, we hid it to the best of our abilities. Late-night talks. Cuddle sessions when no one was around. It was difficult. It was hard to accept. But it happened and right now, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Yes, the daunting aspect of any relationship was a physical one. Sex was off the table for now. Not that Harland needed me for that.

Before we found out we were mates, he had had a ton of female attention. Left right and center. I on the other hand was still a virgin and happily so.

We were going to wait. Not just because of the dangerous situation but because of the ramifications that might occur if I ended up pregnant. It wasn’t a chance we were willing to take. Besides, our situation wasn’t one that I would want to give to any child.

A stable home of our own could be just another fever dream for us. For the future together was unknown but it was worth it. Seeing him smile and laugh was worth it.

Feeling his skin pressed against mine was worth it. All of it was dangerous. All of it could end up being our undoing but it was all so worth it.

Especially when Harland did things like he was doing now.

A mop of brown curly hair popped up as my door opened slightly. I was lying on my side, remembering two years ago to the day. How he had done exactly this.

Sneaking into my room with a cake he had made for me. Only this time around, there would be no nasty surprises. No shocking news and disgust that followed.

This time around, it was just the two of us in the house. But we still wouldn’t risk us getting caught by going out of this room. No. This was our little world. Our bubble.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Harland sang excitedly and lit the candles as he walked closer. With a backward kick of his foot, the door shut behind him. “Happy birthday dear Teagan! Happy birthday to you!”

“Hip hip!” I added in, a smile sitting snuggly on my face.

I was already sitting up straight, waiting for the goodies at the end of the rainbow. And not just the cake in his hands but the hands itself. His touch would make me melt time and time again.

Sometimes it took me off guard how much I craved him. Craved just being close to him. The love we shared could never be described.

“Hooray!” Harland replied and fell down on the edge of my bed.

Hurriedly, he held out the cake for me. Wanted me to blow out the candles. Make a wish in the process. Hopefully one day one of them would come true. That we would escape this place and find a home together.

Until that day came, we would live this secret life.

It was worth it. Utterly so, seeing as he was right here with me. Pressed in close around a chocolate-covered cake. Face riddled with happy lines. My stomach did a few flips.

Taking in a long breath, I blew out the candles. Made my wish like a silent prayer. It was up to the goddess now. All of it was up to her. She had chosen a hard battle for us to endure.

But endure it we shall.

“Happy birthday my love,” Harland breathed and picked up my hand from the cover. Kissing it softly, he smiled as he pulled away. “May there be many more to come,” He mused, that dashing smile of his still on his lips.

The normal sparks of our contact flourished down my arm. Settled in the pit of my stomach where it spread out into my lower limbs. Into places I hadn’t yet explored with him.

The urge to take him at every twist and turn was becoming harder and harder by the day. Even now, it took everything inside of me not to go at him. Smash our lips together and let our bodies do the talking all morning long.

“Happy anniversary as well, my darling,” I replied, reminding him of what had taken place two years ago. How we found out we were mates and how utterly petrified the both of us had been.

But exactly one year ago, on my 18th birthday, we took the plunge and decided to give this a go. Give us a go.

Scooting closer to him, I cupped his cheek with my palm. Adored the sight and smell of him for a moment longer. Breathed him in.

“So, are you going to sit there the entire day or are you going to get into bed?” I asked, fluttering my eyelashes in the process.

Harland gave me a toothy grin in reply and placed the cake on my bedside table. With a huff and a fuss, he was beside me. Crawled into the blankets and placed one of his arms around my waist.

“I brought two spoons as well. Want to share some cake in bed with me?” He asked, a devilish grin spreading across his face. I huffed out a laugh and nodded.

“You know me so well, don’t you, Mr. van der Merwe?”

“I do, Ms. van der Merwe. Now hush up and enjoy your cake. Josephine went to a lot of trouble to make it for you.” He almost scolded as I dipped my spoon into the side of the cake.

This cake eating in bed had been a tradition since the dawn of time. My parents had done it. My grandparents had done it. Now I shared it with Harland. Which was wonderful in and of itself, if not for our sticky circumstances.

“You bribed her to make this?” I asked, referring to our old scullery maid.

She was a burly woman with gnarly teeth. A sailor’s tongue. But a heart of absolute gold. We had known her since we were children. My parents knew her even before then. The old bag gave us advice on our birthdays. Never cake.

“Not really. She was the one who surprised me with the thing. I was ready to go and buy one, like always but she stopped me. According to her, you deserve something special on your day.”

I raised a brow at him. This was unlike Josephine. Very much so. It was worrisome. “Do you think she suspects-“

Harland only leaned in and kissed the side of my head. Hushing me in the process. His concern, or lack thereof, was comforting in a way. Out of sight, out of mind. Today wouldn’t be ruined by our despair. Instead, we were going to focus on the positive.

“I have another surprise for you. This one I specially chose. Once the cake is done, get dressed.”

“Another little surprise for my birthday. I am a lucky girl.”

***

As we walked through the house, almost all of the staff members uttered Happy Birthday to me. It was lovely. Warm smiles. Shallow nods of the head. They were more than happy to see me as we went outside.

Harland was right beside me. Smiling. Beaming. But never touching me. Our secret was still our own and it would remain that way for the rest of our lives if we chose to stay in Desert Sun. Which didn’t seem likely anymore.

I wanted his hand in mine. Wanted to feel his warmth pressed up against my body. The urge to run my hands through his lush dark brown hair was unthinkable. But as we passed more people, the distance between the two of us grew larger.

Finally, we emerged from the house. The sun was a blistering ball in the sky above us. Mid-summer in Namibia wasn’t the best time of the year. Everything was stifling hot. Almost unbearable.

But standing in the middle of the driveway was a brand new SUV. A sleek black boxy car with a lifted suspension. Custom number plates that read ‘Tea 001’.

I looked at Harland in sheer surprise. Kept myself as composed as I could. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself in his arms. Hold him close.

“A car? Seriously? That is a little out of the box, don’t you think?” I exclaimed and punched his arm playfully.

Harland beamed down at me.

“Nothing but the best for my little sister!”