Page 48 of Bonding with the Beta

I narrow my eyes at Ava and tilt my head. “Yeah…and?”

“I don’t know if that’s sensible.”

“Why?”

“What about your mate?”

“We’re hanging out as friends,” I defend.

Ava hums and flicks her eyes between mine. “Really? I saw the way you flirted with her when she came over for the baby shower.”

“And? She’s an attractive woman.”

“You should wait for your mate. Don’t get Kayleigh caught up in this.”

I scoff. “That’s easy for you to say. When I see you and Jaxon together, Lucy and Bash. It fucking kills me sometimes, do you know that? Don’t you think I wish I had met my mate already? I want to spend my life with someone. But because I haven’t met my mate, does that mean I should be alone for the rest of my life?”

“Kayden.” Ava’s voice is soft and sympathetic. “You know that’s not what I’m saying.”

“I know I have a mate somewhere, Ava, and you guys are beyond blessed to have found each other. But what is the likelihood of me finding her, huh?” I pause as her eyes drop. “I have pretty much explored this district and more, yet I still haven’t found her.”

Ava is silent for a long moment as I perch on the stool. “I’m not saying that you should be alone. I’m worried about Kayleigh, okay? I don’t want her getting hurt or caught up in a crossfire because it’ll be messy, and that girl deserves better.”

I nod once. She’s right. Yet I know I won’t be able to stay away.

“I can hear her thoughts, Ava. That’s why I’m pursuing her,” I admit.

“What?” She coughs. She hops off her seat and walks straight towards me, her hand grabbing my elbow so I turn to face her. “You can hear her thoughts?”

“Yes,” I say as I look into her stunned eyes.

For a long moment, she says nothing. Instead, she processes.

Trust me, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it, too.

“How in the world?”

“I don’t know.”

“And you’re sure she’s not your mate?”

“I would know, Ava,” I whisper and run a hand through my hair. “My wolf would know.”

Although deep down, a part of me wishes she was.

“Sorry.” She waves a hand. “I’m just…surprised.”

“That makes two of us.”

“You should ask Jax to go see those people who know all about the spells, myths, and ancestry.” She clicks her fingers.

My eyes narrow. “You mean the elders?”

“That’s the one. Surely they would know, right?”

“Yeah,” I exhale. “I guess they would. It might be nothing, some weird mutation in my wolf or something.’

Ava perches back on the stool again. “Worth a try, though, isn’t it?”

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