Page 52 of One True Mate

He wrapped his arms around me, took a deep breath into my hair, then kissed the top of my head as I felt him begin to relax.

He looked right at Lily and said, “Lil, Kelsey's taken, stop trying to fix her up.”

As the initial shock wore off, I saw sheer happiness light her up.

“Are you serious? Oh, please tell me you aren't yanking my chain? Kyle Alexander Westin, are you trying to claim Kelsey as your mate?”

“Already claimed,” I volunteered.

He laughed, “You weren't supposed to tell her that part.”

“That part? You guys told me not to tell anyone anything. I've been faking phone calls and meetings and hiding from her and Elise all afternoon and you walk in and freak out over an innocent conversation and blurt everything out.”

Lily pouted, “You've really been trying to blow me off all day?”

“I'm sorry, Lil, there's just so much going on and it's just making my head spin. Of course I wanted to tell you. Your mom said not to tell anyone till a formal announcement was made. I'm sorry.”

I wasn't thinking when I stood and walked to her. leaning down to hug and reassure her.

“Oh. My. Gosh! Oh my gosh! You, you, you, smell like him.” She jumped and ran to her brother and took a big whiff as he sat there just grinning. I wanted to punch him so bad. “And you, you smell just like her! Oh my gosh! You mated already?!?!? Clearly Mom and Dad know already. Does the Council know? Did you even get permission? How the heck did this happen? I mean, I knew you were crushing on her, but Kyle!” She smacked him. “She barely even knows what mating is. So, did you just have sex and didn't shower off each other's scent or, no, it's too strong for that. Holy crap, what did you do??”

Kyle was holding his side laughing at her. I was horrified. She ran over and picked up his phone pounding on the buttons.

“Elise, get over here to Kyle's office. Right. Now.”

It was only a moment before Elise burst through the door slamming it behind her.

“What's wrong? What's going on?” She was breathless and looked terrified.

I had sat back down next to Kyle on the couch, leaning forward with my hands covering my face in humiliation. He was casually rubbing my back and I could feel the perm-a-grin on his face when he spoke.

“Nothing's wrong, E. Lily's just being overly dramatic.”

“Overly dramatic? Overly dramatic! Elise, he mated Kelsey!”

I dared to sneak a peek at her. Elise was grinning. I knew my face was probably various shades of purple and pink and not just red.

“It's about damn time!”

“What? You knew about this?”

“Well, come on Lil, it doesn't take a genius to know Kyle's been protecting her for two years against the pack. That he stares at her like a lost puppy every time she turns her head.”

I whipped my head around at him.

“You do?”I asked through the bond.

He didn't deny it or show any embarrassment about it, just shrugged his shoulders at me.

“I mean, I suspected pretty early on, then thought maybe it was my imagination when he never acted on it. Guess you were just waiting on her, then, huh?”

“Yup. And like I told the Council this morning, after two years of rejections and denying my feelings, the second she showed interest, I was a goner.” He winked at me.

“Yikes, what did the Council say?”

I know he could feel me tense. I had been wondering the same thing all morning. He rubbed my back reassuringly and spoke directly to me, even though Elise had asked the question.

“Compatibility tests are foregone when it is a true mate situation. As such, they would not have intervened or stopped it had I notified them ahead of time, and therefore no repercussions would be issued over our mating without prior approval.”

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