Page 24 of Destined Bear

“I was fine, so I sent her home.”

His face twisted in surprise. “Sent her home? She needs to be watching you!”

This conversation was going nowhere. Between cabin fever, just getting over being sick, my hormones racing, and my mate being overprotective and filled with worry, nothing good could come of us continuing on like this.

I stood up, and Patrick was instantly at my side, ready to hold my hand. But I pulled away from his touch—a first for me—and I noticed the hurt in his eyes. In that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

“I know that you’re scared, Patrick, but you need to let me live. I’m not going to do anything to put our baby in harm’s way.”

I headed to the kitchen, determined to prepare something for myself. We had enough leftovers to last us until the end of time,and at that moment, I was incredibly grateful for it. I might not have all my strength back, but hunger hit me like a ton of bricks.

“I can make you something,” he offered. “Just let me know what you want, and I’ll prepare a plate.”

I glared at my mate. “I can handle it.”

He watched me with laser focus while I heated up some of the casserole that Miss Martha had brought over. Then, of course, I got a huge slice of her apple pie and topped it with some ice cream. Today was an ice cream kind of day.

Patrick followed me into the living room as I carried the food. Normally, I wouldn’t eat in there, but I wanted to be comfortable. My poor mate looked miserable, and I hated seeing him like that. But even so, I couldn’t pull myself out of my current spiral.

“Your brother texted me,” Patrick said, his voice tinged with concern. “He said that he is coming to visit.”

“Great,” I replied, my tone flat. That was exactly what I needed—another alpha hovering over me.

I loved my brother, I really did. But I wanted him here to spend time with me, not because he was freaking out the way my mate was. One overprotective alpha was one more than I needed. I definitely didn’t need two.

After finishing my food, I reluctantly let my mate take the dishes to the kitchen. I wasn’t going to overdo it. Besides, I was tired now that I had eaten, and my annoyance had definitely burned some calories.

“Maybe this weekend, we can go for a drive to your old diner again,” I suggested, trying to feel a little more hopeful.

Patrick winced, his hands wringing in front of him. “I was thinking just around here. I don’t want to get too far from Rissa, right?”

“Of course.” I flipped on the television, letting the sound wash over us as background noise.

They say never to go to bed angry, but I didn’t think anything was going to resolve this issue tonight. I was too worked up, and try as he did, my mate wasn’t going to go against his concern over me. We were at a stalemate. Maybe I could ask Rissa to tell him it was okay. That could work… maybe.

I sighed, feeling the weight of frustration hanging in the air like a thick fog.

“I need to shower and go to bed.”

Patrick looked at me as if he wanted to stop me, but he didn’t say a word.

“If you wanted to help me so I don’t fall, I would be okay with that.” It wasn’t exactly admitting I was wrong, but also… “They say the number one place people fall is in the bathroom.”

“Of course I’ll help you. That’s what I do. I’m your mate.” He stood up and held out his two hands for me, and I took them. “Let’s get you cleaned up so you’re comfortable for bed.”

We didn’t speak much, Patrick helping me in the ways I asked, but nothing more. I wanted to apologize to him, to tell him that everything was going to be okay. But I couldn’t bring myself to. Instead, I let him help me wash the day away, dry me off, and into pajamas.

My head barely hit the pillow before I fell sound asleep. Tomorrow would be a better day. I just knew it. Because the alternative? I wasn’t ready to consider that.

Chapter 16

Patrick

Before all of this, I’d never dreaded going to work before. It had been my solace, my home. Most days, it was easy to get up, go in, and enjoy my routine—especially the two hours of solitude I got in the morning. But since being mated, and especially since my mate took ill, I found myself reluctant to leave my home. Now, the reluctance had turned into something much stronger.

I’d hit snooze on my alarm more times than I could count.

Archer had started coming in earlier to help with prep, since I was always running late. It made me feel like I was slacking—not just as a mate, but as a Beta and as the person who managed the diner.

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