Page 14 of Simon's Runaway Mate

“He’s her mate.”

“A mate who doesn’t have a pack of his own. He’ll be a great asset. Make him an offer. His sister will be a part of our pack. I’ll see what I can do to talk his mom and my mate’s dad into coming back, as well. Plus, you know your sister. She’ll have her mate wrapped around her finger in a matter of minutes.”

Bas snorted. “I swear. My sister went streaking downstairs in her skin and jumped right into his lap. She refused to listen to reason. Then she initiated the mating in front of everyone there.”

“She what?” I interpreted the refused to listen to reason as not doing what Bas told her. But initiating a mating in front of her brother and others? Bee wasn’t bashful, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist either.

“She bit him.”

I had to hold back a laugh again. She’d most likely been afraid her overprotective brother would try and stop them from mating. I didn’t blame her one bit. I’d done the same with Cecilia. I’d bitten her without explaining anything about what I was and what we were to each other. I’d only thought of starting the bond, so she couldn’t leave me. Yeah, I understood Bee completely.

“He’s her mate. I vividly recall the night you met your mate. It didn’t take you long to initiate the mating between the two of you. Do you really blame Bee?”

Bas sighed. “You’ve got a point,” he conceded. “Call me when you get there and give me your impression of his mom.”

“Will do.”

“And, Simon…”

“Yes?”

“Congratulations. From what Hannibal said about his sister, she sounds like quite a handful. Sounds like she’ll keep you on your toes.”

I grinned. She already was. “Seems like it.”

Bas disconnected, and I removed the earpiece, dropping it back in the console pocket.

“What happened the night your alpha met his mate?”

Cecilia’s voice had me glancing her way. She sat up, twisting her body while she worked out the kinks from falling asleep in the car.

“Did I wake you up?”

She shook her head. “Answer the question, Simon.”

“Bas’ mate didn’t like the idea of her pack offering her to Bas in exchange for the James Pack stepping in and absorbing the Rigton Pack.”

“Offered her to him? I don’t blame her. That’s archaic. Do wolf packs really do that?”

“Once upon a time but not so much anymore. The Rigton Pack lost their alpha in an accident. His truck overturned and caught fire. He didn’t make it out. He was Raina’s brother.”

Cecilia sat up, crossing one leg under her as she turned toward me. “Raina is your alpha’s mate.”

“Yes. She took exception to her pack’s decision and went to a bar to let off steam and decide whether or not to run. Her father called Bas, and we headed to the bar to make sure she stayed. You could have cut the sexual tension between those two with a knife. She basically told him to fuck off then shifted and ran into the woods.”

“And?” Cecilia prompted when I paused. She was completely enthralled with the story.

“And he followed. The next time I saw them, they were both naked. She was passed out in his arms. I held a blanket out for them. He wrapped her in it. They got in the car, and I drove them back to the house.”

“That was all it took? He chased her into the woods. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and she was fine?”

My mate looked disappointed.

“No such luck for him. She ran a second time. Whatever was holding her back from the mating was worked out when he found her again. Once again, they were naked when I showed up. I held up another blanket and drove them back to the house. She’s good for him. She doesn’t let him get away with anything. And she makes him happier than I’ve ever seen him.”

“They love each other.”

“Yes.” It was what I hoped would happen for us. I wanted Cecilia to love me. Hell, I was already halfway to being in love with her as it was. “Tell me more about you. You said your mom walked out one day. Did you ever try to find her?”

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