Page 22 of Mated By Midnight

They grinned at each other. Elijah wanted to kiss those lush lips right now. He almost forgot where they were, what they were talking about.

"Don't give up on finding your mate," Celine said. "It could take a while, but it's worth it."

Elijah had told Celine that Rochelle was Caleb's mate. But it wasn't something the family discussed much. The whole town knew, but they only watched instead of giving any advice.

Rochelle gave his mate a small, distant smile. “I prefer my career over a mate. It’s what I’ve chosen.”

Her words were firm, but Elijah saw something flicker in her eyes—regret, maybe? Pain? It was hard to say. Rochelle hadmade her choice, and she had built a life on it. But was she truly happy?

The conversation quickly turned back to business. With brisk efficiency, Rochelle finalized the loan paperwork, her demeanor shifting back into the professional bank manager. Celine thanked Rochelle as they stood to leave, and Elijah did the same. But as they walked out of the bank, his mind wandered back to Caleb, standing in the shadows, still waiting. He glanced back at Rochelle one last time, catching her watching them, her gaze lingering on their joined hands.

Once they were outside, the cool air hit his face. Elijah felt Celine’s presence beside him, grounding him. He turned to her, his hand still wrapped around hers, and smiled.

“We got the loan. We can put even deeper roots down for our future."

"Come on home so I can tackle you in the bed."

“Will you kiss me senseless, too?”

“We can start that right now.”

Elijah dipped his head down to meet his mate’s lips. As they walked down the street, hand in hand, he felt the warmth of their bond wrapping around him, stronger than ever. He didn’t know what the future held for Caleb or for Rochelle, but he knew one thing for certain—he had found his place. His future. His love.

And that was what mattered most.

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