Page 21 of Mated

He gives me a harder look, and I know he is probably going to do something about me speaking to him that way. But the expression on his face softens.

“I’m going to get you some warm milk,” he says.

“That sounds incredibly gross.”

He pauses. “You’re right,” he says. “It does. What would you like?”

“A hug?” I say the words in a small voice mostly because after pulling away and being so snappy, I feel quite shy about asking for his physical affection. It’s one thing to be ravaged and railed by my boss. It’s something else to want him to snuggle me after a bad dream.

“Of course,” he says, wrapping me up in his arms immediately. “I will always hold you when you want me to or need me to.”

He pulls me down to the bed and pulls the covers up over the pair of us. He leaves the light on, which I appreciate. I snuggle into him, burying my face in his neck and breathing his scent in.

Cain strokes my hair, his big hand running down over my scalp and my back. He rubs me in slow circles, settling my nervous system much faster than I would be able to on my own.

Next thing I know, it is morning. Beautiful golden light is flowing through the blinds, casting perfectly parallel lines of cozy glow. I am alone in bed.

“Pancakes,” Cain says, entering the room with a tray replete with coffee, pancakes, orange juice, croissants, and Danishes. He’s still not wearing any pants. He’s perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I say as I sit up in bed. He settles the legs of the tray over my thighs, boxing me in with a range of deliciousness. “You’re being so nice to me.”

“You are my mate,” he says. “I’m going to do this for you every day for the rest of your life.”

“Wow. Lucky me. Thank you so much,” I say, digging into a Danish. My words don’t really convey everything I feel at hearing him say something so deeply committed. I don’t think I entirely believe him. Not that I think he’s lying, but I’m sure once he really gets to know me, he’ll start softening all this heavily committed talk.

“You have a lot to learn about your new identity, and your new place in the world,” he says. “That’s why we’re going to go to the country estate where our pack traditionally lives. You need to be able to shift and run free in the countryside without risking being discovered. The pack will be gathering at the next full moon. They will be very excited to meet you.”

“There’s a whole pack of people like you?”

“People like us, yes.”

That makes my stomach do a bit of a flip. The notion of being in front of a whole lot of ferocious wolves all looking at me and knowing I am mated to their leader feels scary. I know that I’m one of them too, but it doesn’t feel real, and I know I’m never going to be frightening to anybody.

“Do I have to?”

“Do as I say? Yes,” he says. “Don’t worry, you will be well protected.”

“Do I need to be protected from your pack?”

There’s a moment of brief hesitation before he replies. “Of course not.”

I narrow my eyes at him a little. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“A great deal, as I haven’t had the chance to tell you much of anything as yet. Too busy chasing you around the park and getting you into bed for a decent sleep.”

I smile at his tone, which is indulgent. There is a lot I don’t know about him, about myself, about everything. I suppose I have to trust him, because there’s not really a lot of choice.

I wonder what would happen if I decided I didn’t want to be his mate? I wonder what would happen if I told him I don’t really like the countryside? Everybody says they love it, because it’s so peaceful and nature is beautiful, yadda yadda. But most people live in cities if they get the chance. I fled to a city as quickly as I could when I got the chance.

“I’ve taken the liberty of having someone go to your apartment and get your things,” he continues. “All your clothing and toiletries will be waiting for you at the country house.”

“Oh… thank you?”

“Invasive, I know, but it was a necessary part of the preparations. I hope you will forgive me.”

I smile, half-because he’s charming, and half-because I never imagined someone like Cain Lupin would make any kind of anapology to me. I don’t really even know what to say, so instead I eat.

By the time I’m done with breakfast, I feel an overwhelming tiredness coming over me. I let out a yawn and just barely avoid the urge to curl up under the blankets and go right back to sleep.

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