Forgotten - Dawn Nicole Stevens Page 0,29

the waters. Every unmated wolf she?d met so far had, even Fritz. But looking back now, she didn?t think that that had been his reason for shaking her hand. Maybe he already had a mate. She wasn?t sure, but even Dirk had touched her. As soon as the memory hit her, her mouth fell open and she felt like all her air had been ripped from her lungs. Dirk had touched her, several times, yet she didn?t remember him shocking her.

Her head snapped to him and her eyes bore into him. He was still studying her as well. She extended her hand shakily toward his, hesitating for a moment before she placed her fingers on top of his. Instead of the jolt she?d been expecting, Dirk turned his hand and held hers, lacing their fingers together. ?You?re my mate,? Jane whispered. ?How long have you known?? As she asked the question, her mind raced back to the first time he?d touched her. It was in the hospital, minutes after she?d met him when she asked him to remove the IV. ?You?ve known all along,? she stammered.

?Please don?t be angry with me mein Liebling. I was hoping to wait until your memory returned. I thought it would be overwhelming to wake up not knowing anything about yourself, heading off to a strange land, and on top of that, discover your mate.?

Jane stared at him, still confused by the discovery. ?I thought you said that we?d sense each other?s emotions?? The moment the words left her mouth, a wave of emotions more intense than anything she?d ever felt came crashing into her. Love, happiness, longing, sadness and guilt. She knew that they weren?t her own; they had to belong to Dirk. ?Why didn?t I feel them before??

?I was trying to hide them from you. I thought that you were going through enough without sifting through my emotions as well. I?m sorry if I made the wrong choice, if I should have told you sooner. I always assumed my mate would recognize me the moment I recognized her, but then I found you and you?d lost your memory and didn?t remember anything about our kind.?

Jane was angry that he?d hidden this from her, but realizing what he was to her overrode that emotion and replaced it with utter joy. She moved closer to him, whispering, ?You should have told me sooner, but I can?t be angry with you. You were in a tough situation. I?m sorry that I didn?t know who you were.?

Dirk caressed the back of her hand with his thumb and leaned in closer to her. ?I still didn?t plan to tell you so soon, but I knew that if one more male touched you I might not be able to stop myself from ripping off his arm.?

Jane flinched at his words and the memory of the anger that she?d felt when Stan had grabbed her. Now it made sense. That was where the emotion had come from, from Dirk. She couldn?t blame him. Now that she knew that he was her mate, she wouldn?t be putting up with any she-wolves sniffing around him. She stared up into his gorgeous amber eyes and asked, ?How did you keep this hidden from me as long as you have??

Dirk sighed, ?It wasn?t easy. I am a wolf after all and wolves are one of God?s most possessive and territorial creatures. It was all I could do to restrain myself from staking my claim on you and I?ve craved the day that you would claim me, but I wouldn?t push myself on you until I knew you were ready and I hoped that once you arrived here, you?d love it here and would be excited to stay here with me.?

Jane squeezed his hand and whispered, ?So how is this traditionally done? It?s not like dating, just floating on a whim to see where things go. I?m destined to be with you and I?m not protesting it one bit, but I?m not ready for the bonding yet either.?

Dirk laughed at her comment and Jane admired his eyes, the amber color sparkled so much that it looked like there were flames dancing in his eyes. ?It varies among couples, but most males do court their mates for some time. We have a few weeks before the next full moon so we can?t bond right this moment anyway.?

?A few weeks? I?m sorry, but I don?t think I can get to know you well enough in mere weeks.?

Dirk