Page 2 of Protector

That’s because she is.

Besides, since Lorelei would’ve sensed my return the same time I noticed she was home, it would be a fucked-up thing to do, refusing to introduce the two of them. She knows I’m seeing someone. Even if we haven’t mated yet, Cal’s scent is mingled with mine anytime I come home late from another date. She doesn’t ask, though, because she knows that I’m notoriously tight-lipped about my lovers until I get bored and dump them.

Another reason why I always wished I might be able to form and finalize a mate bond with a male. Once it’s snapped into place, I can’t dump them. A one true mate is a gift from the Luna, the other half of your soul. How could you ever get bored of someone who’s supposed to be perfect for you?

Then again, I’m a twin. Maybe I already have that, just not the way most shifters do…

I take Cal’s hand as the elevator dings, the doors opening to my floor. “We’ve got the second one over here. Come on. I’m sure Lorelei will love to meet you.”

Famous last words. Later on, I’ll remember how flippantly I said them as I turned the knob and pushed in the door to our apartment.

Because the moment I lead my boyfriend inside, Lorelei appears in the front hallway—and goes motionless. Her eyes flicker from brown to silver, a sure sign that she’s experiencing some really strong emotions all of a sudden.

I think I’ve seen Lorelei lose control maybe twice our entire lives. To flash her eyes in front of a full human could lead to a whole ton of pesky questions we don’t want to answer if they’re not in the know, but she’s still flickering like a damaged phone screen.

My first instinct is to protect Lorelei. I tug on Cal’s hand, trying to get his attention so that he’s looking at me and not my sister.

“Babe—”

He shakes me off. Then, as if he can’t help himself, he takes two big steps toward Lorelei.

“You… you’re beautiful.”

What the…

I look from Lorelei to Cal and back again.

Okay. I shouldn’t be jealous. Lorelei is literally a carbon copy of me physically. He calls me gorgeous all the time.

So why does it seem different to hear Cal breathe out that my twin is beautiful?

Lorelei’s lips part. And though she can’t take her eyes off of Cal—and he’s nearly fucking drooling looking at my twin—she mouths one word.

Mate.

I take a few stumbled steps back as the realization of what she said—what that means—slaps me upside the head.

Neither one notices.

Honestly? At this very moment, I think I could walk out of the apartment and it would be ages before Cal and Lorelei realized I was gone.

And that’s exactly what I do.

My heart is thudding against my rib cage. I jab my pointer finger against the ‘down’ button for the elevator; the force of the push coupled with my unsheathed claw cracks it, but it works. Seconds later, I’m going down—then I’m bursting back out onto the sidewalk alone.

Well. No. Not alone.

As always, when I need her, the Luna is there.

My child…

Her thrumming, clear voice pops into my brain. Because I’ve always found it easier to speak out loud to talk to her, I mutter, “Is it true? Did Lorelei just find her fated mate?”

Yes.

I take a sharp left, stopping along the corner. The rough brick bites into the back of the light winter jacket I wear so the humans don’t wonder why I’m walking around in short sleeves at the end of November. I bang the back of my head against the wall, barely noticing it when I send some mortar falling at my feet.

“I thought… I thought we didn’t have one.”

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