7: Mine

Lottie threw her hands in the air, walking around in a circle before pointing at Xenia. "I can't believe you were going to keep this from me."

"I'm sorry, Lottie. This is…new for me, okay. I've never felt like this around someone, especially a stranger and werewolf. You know how I feel about the latter."

Xenia leaned her head against the counter with refrigerated goods, hoping the coolness would help with her inflamed cheeks. She had to get better control of this blushing. It was unbecoming to her.

"I don't know, Lottie. I just met the guy. Now look at me. He keeps popping in my head even more than Cristobal. I don't think I've thought about someone as much as I have about Cristobal. It's quite...strange."

Strange, yet the pit of her stomach was still filled with butterflies. Did he do something to me? She wondered as thoughts of how he caught her and held her for a few seconds played on a loop in her mind.

Lottie slammed her hands against the counter, making Xenia jump up and back away from her with a curious look.

"What if…," Lottie started with a crazed look in her eye, "...what if he's your mate? We could have werewolf mates together!"

Xenia returned her shocked expression. Mate?! Xenia couldn't fathom the idea of being mated to anyone, much less a werewolf. This was impossible, at least for her.

"Lottie, just because I shared a little connection with a man who happened to be a werewolf doesn't mean I'm his mate. I mean, my mother definitely had her share of the kind, and she isn't mated."

Lottie thought about it for a minute, seeing the truth in Xenia's words, but still… "Fine, but it's still a possibility. Think about it..." Lottie said, pacing back and forth. Only pausing after every question to get Xenia's answer.

"Did you feel anything special when he touched you? Like a spark?"

"No." Yes.

"Really? So you didn't get any tingly feeling that travels through your whole body?"

"Umm...No." Yes. I totally did.

"What about his voice? When he spoke, did it feel like velvet caressing your ears?"

"No." God, yes. Oh shit!

"And when you're near him, does he remind you of a specific scent? Like something you love?"

"No," Xenia said proudly. This was actually true. She loved sandalwood, but her favorite scent was red blossoms, not orange. There, she thought to herself. It's all the proof I need. There was no way I'm a werewolf's mate. "Look, all those things could be true about Cristobal," Xenia said matter-of-factly. "You're reading too much into Lottie. It's just a little crush that will go away when I meet Cristobal tonight."

Lottie studied her friend, who obviously lied to her but didn't press it. She knew eventually if this mystery guy was Xenia's mate, he would find her again and never let her go. Lottie smiled at the thought.

"Welp, all this mate business has me missing my mate," Lottie smiled. "Just thinking of him is getting me all hot and bothered, and I refuse to take off this dress unless I'm not putting it back on. It took me forever to get it on." Lottie gave Xenia a long hug before looking at her. "Are you sure you don't want to say 'Fuck Sergi' and come with me? It's going to be fun. You can finally meet Spencer, and we can see the fire displays and eat until we can't move."

Xenia laughed but shook her head. "You know I have plans with Cristobal tonight. Besides, I don't want the dinner you made us go to waste."

"True, it is perfection," Lottie said with a chef's kiss.

"Especially your grandmother's pie. Maybe if we both whine, she'll give me the recipe the next time we go back home for a visit."

"Highly doubtful. That woman guards that thing like Excalibur, but it's worth a try. Lock up early, okay, and enjoy yourself. I will come by tomorrow for breakfast."

"As long as you're making it," Xenia smiled. "Oh! Let's do a late lunch in case Cristobal wakes with a morning delight."

"Please don't make me gag," Lottie joked, hugging Xenia before floating out the door. Xenia's smile dropped almost immediately. She knew there would be a time when Lottie would leave and wouldn't return the next day. She had to prepare herself but didn't want to admit it.

So, Xenia decided to bake. It was the only thing that kept her mind off of it and the fact that Cristobal was coming over later. So at least Xenia had something to look forward to. She adjusted her apron, tightened her pony, and got to work. She lost herself in the sugar, butter, flour, chocolate, and berry sauce. Occasionally, a customer would come in, and Xenia would play 'What are you in the mood for?' and 'Surprise me' games.

When the sun dipped, and the moon hung high in the sky, Xenia picked up a few boxes of puffballs and closed the shop. As Xenia locked up, she noticed the streets were less crowded than usual. Everyone was already in the center courtyard for the fire displays, while others lounged around the open food carts and bars.

As much as Xenia wanted to go, she had plans and didn't want to miss them. So, she slowly balanced the boxes in her hands and walked around the side of the building to her motorbike. She placed them in the basket when a musky smell of ale invaded her nostrils, and she turned to see two drunkards blocking her path.

Xenia knew these guys from the bar. Soldiers from a neighboring town come here for 'fun and games.' They laughed as they got closer, and Xenia slipped her hands behind her coat, only to find that she had left her daggers at home. She mentally slapped herself for rushing out earlier today.

"Well, if it isn't Sedgwick and Donnie," Xenia said, pretending to be nervous.

"Hey there, Zee-knee," Sedgwick slurred, leaning against the wall. "Got anything sweet to give me?"

"Yeah," hiccuped Donnie. "And we're…not talking about the sweets…in the cart."

So cliche, Xenia thought, but she decided to play along. "Oh, boys," she said innocently, "I don't know what you mean. I'm a good girl just wanting to go home."

They moved closer with sick grins on their faces as if they had hit the jackpot. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as her hand wrapped around her father's necklace. She did this every time she needed courage and a bit of luck. Please let them be easy drunks. She observed them while maintaining an innocent look as they stopped about a foot away.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Someone asked us to see you safely home, right Donnie," Sedgwick asked, trying to touch her face. She stepped back from his advance.

Someone? "That's okay. I like being alone, so how about you go find some other damsel in distress, yeah?"

Xenia grabbed her bike to push past them, but Donnie held it while Sedgwick grabbed her arm.

"I don't think she likes our hospitality, Donnie. Should we show her the correct way to thank us for our services?"

The nerve of the guy, Xenia thought. It infuriated her so much that Xenia took her knee and drove it right into his balls. Sedgwick immediately bent over, clutching them while Xenia drew back her arm to strike him. Before Xenia could, Donnie grabbed ahold of her hair and pulled her back.

"Ah, you coward," Xenia screamed, trying to regain her balance, but Donnie was strong and pulled her against him. Wrong move. Xenia stomped his foot and planted the bottom of her palm into his nose. He tried grabbing her, but Xenia ducked his outstretched hands and swept his legs from under him. She moved to knock him out when Sedgwick yanked her back by her hair. Really? Again?

"You little ungrateful bitch."

I think it's time for a haircut, she thought to herself. She reached back to grab his wrist and yanked it forward. That brought him against the back of her body as she secured her grip on his wrist. Xenia used the momentum to flip him over her to the ground. His hand was still gripped in her hair, but two jabs to the face suddenly freed her. With the two men on the ground, Xenia started to gather herself and pick up her boxes when she caught the flash of a blade.

Xenia didn't expect it; it was coming too fast for her to dodge it. She got one arm up in a partial block, then…nothing. She started to think that she had actually dodged it. Xenia cautiously opened her eyes and saw a massive wall blocking her view. The smell of orange blossoms and sandalwood clouded her thoughts as she looked up.

There he was, holding Donnie by the throat, choking him to death.

"Mason," Xenia said, barely realizing her lips were moving.

"Mine," he growled with such vigor that Xenia felt her knees shaking enough to bring her to the ground.