Page 28 of Lost Fate

“Ember,” he whispers. “What…”

Suddenly, I feel his doubt. His concern. But most of all, I feel his love.

He’s such a liar. He wasn’t falling in love with me. He already is in love with me.

And that’s a good deal, because I think I love him, too.

His eyes widen, like he heard my thoughts.

I know what’s happening. Through the glow, I reach forward and grab his hand. I tug his mouth to mine again, but this time, it’s just a quick kiss. When I pull back, I smile.

“You’re my fated mate, Leander. I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”

He looks down, then back up at me. “I thought… My mom told me about fated mates happening out West, but I had no idea…”

“I know, right?” I hold my hand up, watching the glow as it starts to fade. “Who would have thought that it would feel like this?”

Gently, he takes my hand and puts it on his chest. “With you, Ember? Everything is amazing.”

I return his smile.

As the light fades, I settle. I can feel Leander through the bond, kind of an echo. It’s like I can’t read his thoughts, but I can sense them. I feel like my heart is a torrent of emotions and concerns right now, and I know Leander wants me to come back with him…

I’m not so sure. There’s just so many changes. Yes, I want to be with Leander. I definitely don’t want what we have to end. But do I want to meet my dad?

“Leander,” I say, some of the joy fading as the questions plague me again. “Why can’t we stay here?”

I’m not sure that I’m ready to meet my dad yet. I’ve been alone for so long. Ember Greene against the world.

His alpha—my dad—could be nice. Or he could be a huge jackass.

Leander shrugs. “We could.”

I look over at him. “Wouldn’t you lose your position as beta?”

“I would.”

Through our bond, I look for any reaction to that. Is he upset? Wouldn’t he be pissed about losing that power?

But I don’t find any of that. Instead, I’m rocked by the honesty and clarity I find.

Leander wants to be with me. He really means it when he says he would stay here. He would do anything just to make me happy.

It’s… shocking.

I look deeper. Through the bond, I can feel that he really does care about me. He didn’t hide who my family was on purpose, and he didn’t lie about it. He does want me to come back to Florida with him.

I sigh. “Florida is so far. Where did you say the pack is? Fort Myers?”

He nods. “Yeah. Southwest Florida. It’s so pretty, though, Ember.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I’ve never known anything but the mountains.”

“I know. You’ll love the beach,” Leander says softly.

“What if I don’t?”

“Then we’ll leave,” he says simply. “I just want to be where you are, Ember. I don’t care where that is.”

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