The Beast And The Blessed

Fifteen: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

"Do I need to ask if you're okay, or can I assume by your smell that things went well?" Holden asked with a grimace, but there was disappointment on his face. He moved away from me subtly, but I didn't have it in me to feel guilty.

Tobias said I was his.

I had nothing to be mad about ever. The world could burn around me, and I would still be happy.

"I'm better than okay, but you might not be." There was a slight skip in my step when I looked over my shoulder and saw Tobias hadn't left the conference room. He would need a minute to calm himself down, and I bit my lip as I thought about turning around and walking right back in there to claim him as mine too.

"What the hell did I do?" Holden pulled open the door to the dining hall, and a few people looked taken aback by the smile on my face.

Natalie raised her eyebrows at me, and Killian curled his lip when I walked past, no doubt smelling what I had just been up to.

"He's going to kill you," I practically sang happily, but Holden did not look amused. I looked up as Tobias entered the room, his eyes immediately landing on me. It made me happy when he filled up his plate and began eating this time, but I knew he was listening to everything I said.

"For interrupting?" Holden asked, and I laughed when he looked from me to Tobias.

"No, I think it was good you did," I smirked when Tobias growled. I would have loved to have him take me right then and there, but more than that, I wanted to be sure he wanted all of me. He had no problem ignoring my advances for months.

I wanted to be sure that he was interested because he wanted me and not just because I stopped throwing myself at him. He would have to earn it, and I looked forward to the fun we were about to have together while he did so.

"So, cheesecake?" Holden asked, and I looked back at him to see him staring out over the rows of tables with pack members talking and laughing. I knew what he was really asking, and I nodded. Friends.

"Cheesecake," I replied, my smile falling as I looked at him. He looked worried and sad, and I wondered what was going through his mind. He had a mate that was waiting for him. Once he turned nineteen, he could find her, but he didn't seem excited by the idea.

"Does this mean we aren't going dancing tomorrow?" He lowered his voice but could still be heard by anyone who cared enough to listen.

had remained black since our rendezvous in the conference room, and his hand was tight around his fork,

still happening. I'm looking

me smile wider as Tobias stabbed his fork into the wooden table before standing up and leaving the room. He wouldn't be coming back tonight. I had pushed his

killed, aren't you?" Holden asked as Killian and Natalie stood to excuse themselves from the

I was calmer. I also didn't like that the council had stopped eating in the

them to spill everything they knew about what was happening or what would happen. Until I got to the bottom of the magic on

but I shook my head. If Tobias was going to kill my new friend, he would have to wait until after we went

at least walk you back to your room?" Holden asked, and

halfway there when I broke the silence, hoping he would give me some answers after I had told him about my love life.

situation she will be in when I do.’ He lifted his arm, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck as he tilted his head from side

the moon about the prospect of finding their mate, but Holden

anyone else to be resistant to the bond with their

might have already found her. There was this girl growing up. She was the brightest thing I had ever seen. Always

wouldn't let anyone near her though, so I never got my chance. When she was seventeen, she got pregnant, and her light dimmed. When she turned nineteen last year, I thought

you think she might be

blocked." Holden dropped his hand back down, sliding them into the front pockets of his jeans. "I have the feeling that if it's not her, it's going to be someone in a situation like that. They might already have

a few witches who I could introduce you to. We don't get mates, so you don't have to worry about that with

closer to his age but would chew him up and

won't get jealous? Having to see me around all the time with another witch might drive you crazy to know that you

and into my heart. All of my possessiveness and jealousy were reserved

attend the mating mixer and see if any women here recognize you as their mate." I had not been looking forward to it. Every few months, everyone with Lycan blood who hadn't found or chosen a mate would meet to search

doorknob, feeling the

right. My smile fell, and the markings on my

shit," Holden muttered as he stared at me

my tower." The low declaration made his eyes turn black, and all amusement melted from his face. He looked ready

guess had been while we were on the cliff this morning. I