His Arrogant Human Mate novel Chapter 73

He held my face securely, shaking his head. "Stop. Stop that. This was my decision, my fault. I decided to have the ceremony so suddenly and I told the Elders that I wasn't ready. Because if you aren't ready, then neither am I. That's how this works, sugar. We are a team now. Please, stop second guessing yourself and us as a team. Look at me." My eyes had left his face for a moment and his sharp command brought me back. "We aren't the first ones to do this. Would you rather I have sex with you tonight, before you're ready? Because I wouldn't. Besides, what's the difference between having this now versus in a couple months, or however long it takes?"

"I just feel like we are lying to them."

"We aren't. You are freaking yourself out." He kissed the corner of my mouth softly, chastely. "Are you able to finish up or do you want to go up to bed now? Either is fine."

After a few deep breaths, I shook my head. "No, I'll stay." I had to. It was the least I could do for the sweet pack members that had gifted us things and supported us tonight. Dominic reassured me that it was fine if I wanted to leave, that no one would blame me, but I promised him I wanted to finish it.

About ten minutes later, everyone had left. Save for Nina and Jeff, who were by the patio talking in hushed voices. "Great job today, sugar. Thank you for going through with this at my side," Dominic said as he closed the gate and then entwined our fingers, strolling towards his second in command and his mate.

Nina saw us coming first and I saw a flash of fear cross her face. She nudged Jeff and said something to alert him to us and they both shut up. Dominic glanced knowingly down at me and I believed that we were about to create a war. I clutched his hand a little tighter.

"Don't stop talking on our account, kiddos," Dominic claimed with a calm smile.

Jeff folded his arms over his chest with a brow raised, the tension beginning to heighten. "Both Nina and I are older than you, Dom."

"True. But that's besides the point. Have you decided on a date for the Challenging?" Dominic asked him, as if he was asking about the weather.

Jeff looked as startled as I did to have Dominic bring it up so casually. "Not yet, Alpha."

A few moments later, his butler appeared with two champagne flutes, smiling politely at us. "Celebrating what?"

Dominic gave me a playful grin as he passed me my glass and lifted his into the air. "To no one laughing at my beautiful mate and to my beautiful mate not passing out on me."

I rolled my eyes at him, but clinked my glass to his. "How about to progress?" Progress was the only thing I felt that could be deemed successful. If you told me a couple months ago that I'd be here now, accepting this life at Dom's side, I would have laughed and maybe flipped you off. Yet here I was. And I wasn't miserable. It is a slow development, but an advancement nonetheless.

"To progress, indeed," he hummed before we both took a sip.

Dominic's eyes fluttered as if the drink tasted amazing. Me, on the other hand, who hadn't had champagne before, set my glass immediately down and stuck my tongue out in distaste. "Ew. People celebrate with this crap?!" I gasped.