2. Levi

"I knowyou came to Fox Haven to find a mate," Owen, my lead alpha, was saying but I found myself lost in my own thoughts.

Owen voice faded into the background, distant and commanding, like it was echoing from some far-off place.

My mind drifted back to a recent chat with Dan, my older brother. He"d been all in when I decided to make the move, convinced I"d find a mate here in Fox Haven.

I figured since the Mullins brothers managed to find theirs quickly, it would be the same for me.

But six months had passed, and that spark, that magnetic pull towards someone special, still eluded me.

Fox Haven wasn't like Golden Pines, my hometown, where every face was a familiar one, and family ties ran deep.

I guess, I was just waiting for Fox Haven to feel like home…but it never did.

"What are you still doing over there?" Dan had asked on our last phone conversation.

My brother had a point. I needed to face the reality of my situation.

When I entered Owen's office this afternoon, I intended to inform him of my decision to transfer back to my old pack. But before I could get in a word, Owen had spoken first.

"I hope you don"t mind, but I offered you up as a potential candidate for this marriage," Owen said and those words finally woke me up.

"Marriage?" I repeated dumbfoundedly.

Now I wished I had paid more attention to our conversation. Owen had mentioned something about forging permanent ties with the McGowan Mage Coven, but my mind had been elsewhere.

Our pack had a tumultuous history with the McGowans, but after enduring months of turmoil together, both Owen and Fergus McGowan had finally set aside their differences.

It seemed they were now seeking to solidify this newfound alliance through…marriage?

My first instinct was to reject Owen"s offer outright. Marriage was a weighty commitment, especially with someone I barely knew.

But as Owen slid a photograph across the desk, my hand hesitated, hovering over the glossy image.

I stared at the dark-haired mage captured in the picture, and a flicker of recognition stirred within me. Luca McGowan.

The name rang a bell, a familiar presence I'd seen lingering around Ollie and Liam, the mates of my pack members.

I traced the contours of Luca"s face in the photograph, my heart quickening at the sight of the mischievous smirk playing on Luca's lips.

There was an undeniable allure about him. The fox within me stirred awake, an interesting reaction.

"What would it feel like to kiss this man?" I found myself wondering, my thoughts drifting into uncharted territory.

"We"ve scheduled a meeting tomorrow, if you"re up for it," Owen said, pulling me back to the present. "What do you think?"

I lingered on Luca"s photograph for a moment longer.

Despite the uncertainty that clouded my thoughts, a sense of curiosity tugged at my heartstrings, urging me to take a leap of faith.

"Yeah," I heard myself say. "I"ll be there."

After that rather intense and interesting conversation with Owen, I felt the need for a drink—or several.

The drive to the nearby bar, a favorite haunt of some of my packmates, was a well-worn journey.

The familiar sights and sounds of the night welcomed me as I parked my car and headed inside.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I made a beeline for the bar, my thoughts still swirling with the prospect of meeting Luca.

Ordering a beer, I took a moment to survey the room, letting my gaze wander over the clusters of patrons.

And then, I saw him. A lone figure at a nearby table, his features illuminated by the soft glow of the bar"s lights.

It was Luca, looking just as gorgeous as he had in the photograph Owen had shown me.

A grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I realized the opportunity laid out before me. Without hesitation, I grabbed my beer from the counter.

I approached Luca"s table with a confident stride, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves.

As I reached him, I flashed a friendly smile and gestured to the empty seat opposite him.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked.

Luca looked up, his gaze meeting mine, and a warm smile curved his lips. I didn't miss the way he eyed me up and down, or the appreciation in his eyes.

Working out three times a week at the gym certainly paid off, I thought.

"Not at all," he replied.

Taking his response as encouragement, I slid into the seat opposite him. The air between us crackled with a charged energy.

"So, what brings you here tonight?" I asked, leaning in slightly, eager to keep the conversation flowing.

"Just looking for a bit of excitement. And what about you? Are you here for the same reason?" Luca asked, sounding amused.

I chuckled, feeling a surge of boldness coursing through me.

"Maybe," I teased. "But I have a feeling things are about to get a lot more interesting."

Sensing the mutual attraction simmering between us, I decided to take a chance.

"Hey, why don"t we go somewhere a little quieter? Somewhere we can actually hear each other talk," I suggested.

Luca"s smile widened, and he nodded in agreement.

"I like the sound of that," he said, rising from his seat.

As we made our way out of the bustling bar, I felt a rush of anticipation mixed with excitement for what was to come.

Stepping outside into the cool night breeze, we sought out a quieter spot away from the crowd. Nestling into a cozy corner of the bar"s patio, the soft glow of string lights wrapped us in a comforting warmth.

A nagging thought tugged at the edge of my mind as Luca shared bits of himself.

Maybe I should have told him who I was, revealed my identity as his potential shifter husband.

But then again, I reasoned, Luca probably received the same folder with my information on it. Was Luca playing hard to get?

The idea lingered in my mind, accompanied by a flurry of uncertainty.

Shifters were known for their playful nature when it came to romance, but mages—weren"t they supposed to be the opposite? Strait-laced and sticklers for rules?

Yet, Luca seemed different from what I expected. He was confident, daring and full of life. It was hard to look away from him or his mouth, which I was tempted to kiss.

Perhaps Luca hadn"t seen my photo or read my file yet. What would happen when he discovered who I truly was? Would he be angry? Pleased?

Pay attention to what he's saying, I reminded myself. Luca spoke about his passion for art, although he admitted he wasn't good at painting.

"Are you a newcomer to the Fox Haven pack?" Luca remarked after I told him I was a member of the local pack.

"Just moved six months ago," I said.

I found myself sharing tales of Golden Pines, recounting stories from my childhood. Huh.

I'd never felt this comfortable sharing details about my life with a stranger, but talking and being around Luca made my inner fox feel at ease.

As the night wore on, I notice he seemed to feel at ease with me. As the clock ticked steadily towards midnight, I found myself unable to part from his company just yet.

"Hey, do you wanna get out of here?" I asked him.

Luca"s eyes met mine. "I thought you"d never ask," he replied.

"Your place or mine?" I asked, the question hanging in the air between us.

My mind raced with thoughts of the complications that came with bringing Luca to my cabin, situated on pack lands.

Would he feel uneasy passing through the compound gates, surrounded by my fellow shifters?

"Not my place. I don"t want the other mages to gossip, and there"s not much privacy," Luca admitted.

"What about an inn or motel?" I suggested, eager to find a solution that would afford us the privacy we craved.

"You"ve read my mind," Luca replied with a grin.

With our destination decided, we made our way back to my truck, the cool night air swirling around us as we walked.

Starting the engine, I navigated the familiar streets with ease, the soft glow of streetlights illuminating our path.

The drive to the nearest inn, a charming bed and breakfast nestled on the outskirts of town, passed in comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional exchange of glances between us.

Pulling into the inn"s gravel driveway, I cut the engine and turned to face Luca.

"Here we are," I said, getting out of the truck.

Luca and I approached the inn"s front desk, eager to get a room.

"One room for the night," I said.

"I'm sorry only the honeymoon suite is available," the innkeeper said.

"What"s the price for the honeymoon suite?" I inquired.

The innkeeper, a kindly elderly woman with a warm smile, quoted a price that seemed surprisingly reasonable.

After a moment"s hesitation, I nodded in agreement, exchanging a glance with Luca.

"We"ll take it," I said.

With the formalities settled, the innkeeper handed us the key with a smile.

"Enjoy your stay, gentlemen," she said warmly. "And don"t forget, breakfast is included in the morning."

The moment I closed the door behind me, Luca tugged me close for a kiss. The boldness surprised me and admittedly, it was a turn-on.

Taking control of the situation, I grasped the back of his neck and kissing him hungrily. Luca gripped the collar of my shirt as I deepened the kiss, thrusting my tongue down his throat.

He sucked down on it, delighting me even further. When I pulled away, we were both slightly panting.

"Clothes off," I said.

"Funny. I had the same idea," Luca answered.

In a matter of seconds, we were both undressed. I took my time, appreciating the slender lines of his body. When I gave an appreciative growl, he jumped, but there was absolutely no sign of fear in his eyes.

"Bed," I chuckled, unable to suppress a grin as Luca struck a pose on the edge of the bed.

With one hand propped beneath his chin and a playful look in his eyes, he gazed up at me as though I was a prize.

I shook my head in amusement, feeling a rush of affection for the man before me who could be my potential husband and mate.

"You"re something else, you know that?" I teased, crossing the room to join him on the bed.

Luca let me straddle him and I wondered if the hunger in his eyes reflected my own. I plundered his mouth, revelling in the sweet taste of him and committing his scent to memory.

Pulling my lips from his, I left a trail of more kisses down the column of his throat. I sucked on the hollow of his collarbones, licked at his flat nipples, eliciting a groan from him.

Lower I went, taking my time savouring every inch of him. Finally, I knelt between his legs and gave the tip of his leaking cock a kiss.

Remembering I was forgetting something, I slid off the bed and snatched the condom and lube from my jeans.

I was planning on getting some action tonight, so I came prepared. I just never expected it to be with Luca.

"I thought shifters were more impatient when it came to sex," Luca argued beneath me.

"Are you complaining?" I asked, tearing the condom file and slipping it on.

Then I lubed Luca up, making sure he was prepped for my access.

"Not one bit," Luca said, sounding a tad breathless.

With my preparations done, I hefted his legs over my shoulders and entered him, slow and steady. Luca moaned, clawing the sheets above him, probably needing something to hold on as I slid inside him, balls deep.

He whimpered as I started pushing in and out of him, picking up the pace when he begged me to go faster. In no time at all, I reduced us both to panting and needy animals.

"Levi," he whispered. "I'm close."

The next time I sheathed myself deep inside him, Luca came, painting my abs with his seed. I pumped in and out of him a few more times, before climaxing. Spent, I pulled out of him.

After disposing of the condom and cleaning us both up, I settled onto the soft mattress beside him, pulling him possessively close, like he was already mine.