Mated To An Enemy

It didn’t take them long to set up camp. It was only for one night, after all.

While Bell finished setting up the sleeping bags and pulling out the snacks, Galen got a fire going.

She came out of the tent holding something behind her back. Galen eyed her suspiciously.

“Should I be afraid?” he asked with a smile.

Bell wiggled her eyebrows at him. “Maybe…”

Galen laughed.

Bell sat down beside him. She turned to face him, putting on a very serious expression.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

Galen gave his own very serious expression. He nodded.

“Ok…” she said and took a deep breath.

Bell pulled out a large shoebox from behind her back.

Galen stared blankly.

“Well, it wasn’t what I expected, that’s for sure,” he said.

Bell laughed.

She pulled the lid off the box, revealing marshmallows and graham crackers.

“S’mores!” Galen shouted gleefully.

Bell laughed at his excited reaction.

“Guess you’re a fan?” she asked. Galen nodded.

“Well, alright,” she laughed, pulling out the marshmallows and graham crackers, revealing various chocolate options below.

Galen was surprised.

“What’s all this?” he asked.

Bell looked at him.

“Don’t tell me you’re a basic s’mores guy?” she said.

“Uh… ok… I won’t…” Galen laughed.

Bell shook her head.

“Have you never tried anything beyond the basic chocolate, marshmallow, graham crackers?” she asked.

“Well, I mean they work so well together… why mess with success?” he laughed.

“You poor sweet thing….” Bell sighed dramatically and looked away from him.

Galen tilted her chin to look back at him. He raised an eyebrow and gave her a hungry grin.

“Educate me, Bell,” he said quietly, in a voice that made her draw a breath. “Teach me the things that you like.”

Bell turned away quickly, using her hand like a fan. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She looked back at him. He gave her a satisfied yet still hungry look.

“S’mores making is a sacred art,” she began. “So, please, let’s keep it professional, ok?”

Galen laughed at her mock serious tone.

“My mistake,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Please, continue.”

Bell nodded, smiling to herself as she reached into the box and moved the candies around, searching for one in particular.

“That is an awful lot of candy,” Galen said. “I didn’t realize you had such a sweet tooth.”

“I don’t really,” she replied, “I confiscated most of these from Axel. It’s just fun to mess with him.”

“You and Axel are pretty close,” Galen commented, his voice falling just enough for her to notice.

Bell stopped her search. She sat up and looked at him carefully.

“I told you before we are friends,” she said, her voice taking on a defensive tone. “Is this going to be a problem for you? Because if it is, then let me make something clear right n–”

“Whoa, Bell, stop,” Galen interrupted. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to sound like I was upset or angry or jealous or anything really, I promise,” Galen said quickly.

Bell took a breath and crossed her arms to listen.

“I like you, Bell, you know that, “ he began. “Am I jealous of how close you and Axel are? Of course, but that doesn’t mean I am an idiot.”

Galen smiled at her.

“I’m jealous of everyone who has had the chance to be with you longer than I have. Of anyone that can make you smile, that might know your secrets,” he said. “I want all those things, but I know it

will take time. Until then, yea, from time to time, I might get a little grumpy about how well Axel already knows you.”

Bell relaxed her arms.

“Galen…” her words were lost.

“I’m not trying to rush you, Bell,” Galen laughed. “You don’t need to be scared.”

She laughed awkwardly, and then she felt a grip on her heart. She wasn’t being fair to him.

“Listen,” she began. “I like you; I really do.”

She bit her lip, trying to find the right words.

“But I’m… scared,” she laughed. “Of everything.”

Bell hugged herself.

“I want to be open; I want to try and see what we might have between us,” she continued. “But I’m not sure where I will draw a line or when I will pull back. But I know I will.”

Bell sighed, knowing that what she was saying was true. Galen was the only person she had ever been interested in pursuing as more than a flirtation, and he was dangerous. The thought of losing him was scary, but giving him her heart, was terrifying.

“I’m a broken doll, Galen,” she whispered.

“No,” he stated. “You’re not.”

She looked up at him. The firelight reflected brightly off the tears in her eyes.

“You are amazing,” he whispered. “You are beautiful, kind, smart. Your laugh is like music, and your smile is joy.”

Bell looked away, feeling the warmth in her cheeks getting stronger.

“Nobody is perfect,” Galen said. “But some people are worth waiting for. If you still need time, I’m not going anywhere. I told you before, I will wait for you.”

He was so willing, so devoted already. Bell swallowed hard.

“It’s not that simple, though,” she said. “Is it?”

Galen furrowed his brows.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“If your real mate shows up…” she said, feeling a drop in her stomach as she said the words. “I want you to know, I will let you go. I won’t stand in your way.”

Galen didn’t respond right away. Instead, he got eerily quiet, and Bell was afraid to look at him.

“Bell, I don’t think of you as someone I want to flirt with for a little while and then move on,” he said. “I want a future with you.”

Bell was speechless. She knew he was serious; she knew he felt something more than just a crush, but this…

“My mate won’t be a concern,” he said, his voice holding a note of sadness that struck a chord with Bell. “She has come and gone already.”

Bell looked up at him. She was shocked and confused. How could anyone have left this man? But as she saw the haunted expression, she understood. No one would have left such a man willingly.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said gently.

“It was a long time ago,” he smiled sadly. “I didn’t even understand what I had lost.”

Bell’s heart ached for Galen.

“The point is,” he continued. “That for me, it’s just you.”

The warmth that spread through her chest left her breathless.

‘What is this feeling?’ she wondered.

“But,” he said, “I won’t stand in your way either.”

Bell looked up at him. He wasn’t looking at her now.

“If one day your mate arrives,” Galen said quietly, hesitantly. “I will do whatever you want.”

Bell felt the chill of the air in her lungs. Galen turned to her. His eyes held a passion and determination she had never seen in him before. He took her hands in his, their warmth fighting away the chill she had felt.

“I won’t be able to just walk away as though you mean nothing to me,” he continued. “I will do everything I can to convince you that I am the wolf for you. But if your mate is the person you want to be with, I won’t stand in your way.”

Bell took in a shaky breath. The warmth in her chest was growing like the morning sunrise filling the sky.

‘Oh, that’s what this is’ she thought as understanding dawned on her. ‘I love him….’