Page 53 of One True Mate

“Awe, you think she's your one true mate?” Lily sighed.

“Oh, I know she is. I've always known she was.”

I nodded, “Yeah, I didn't even know what a one true mate was, but I knew from the start too. It's why I insisted on only calling him Mr. Westin and keeping everything one hundred percent professional.”

They both laughed.

“God, did you drive him nuts with that!” Lily confessed.

I felt like, after the initial shock of it all, that the girls accepted me with open arms. It felt good and right.

“Okay, well, it's quitting time. I only came back to see you for a few minutes before they whisk you away. Mom has forbidden me from showing up during your training. She thinks my presence in your den with the girls around had more to do with your territorial aggressions than them actually being there. I guess we'll see if that theory holds true.”

“Training? Mom's going to train her?”

“Yeah, E's taking her home and mom was going to explain things then. Guess now she doesn't have to.”

“When will the announcement be made?”

“Sunday at the monthly pack meeting.”

“Sunday! That doesn't leave much time for training.”

“No, but my girl's gonna do just fine. You'll see.” He turned to me and kissed me sweetly. I couldn't help but blush with his sisters right there gawking over us. “I'll be nearby. Let me know when you guys are through and we'll head home, okay?”

A warm happy feeling enveloped me when he spoke of home, and I nodded.

“Okay, okay, let's go. We'll take good care of her, big brother.”

“I know.” He said, full of confidence.

“Lil, you coming too?”

“Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it for the world!”

Mary was right, my wolf didn't mind the girls in the den when Kyle wasn't there. She also suspected that the aggression would be lessened now that we were properly mated, but we weren't going to risk training to test the theory. I only had a few days to learn the skills of fighting that other she-wolves were taught from birth.

She was happy to see the level of control I had over my wolf. I was able to shift easily now from human to wolf and wolf to human form. They already knew I was fast, but while defensively I was thought to be lethal, I had no offensive aggression whatsoever.

After three grueling days of training and learning basic techniques for defense and offense, Sunday arrived. I knew the likelihood of a challenge being issued on the spot was slim to none, so I'd have a few more days, maybe even weeks to continue training before I actually had to fight.

I hadn't slept a wink the night before, tossing and turning and stressing over the day's events. I would do just about anything to keep Kyle in my life. But could I kill for it? Would I be able to sink my jaws into the neck of another and hold her there until her life ended? That was what they were trying to teach me and the best strategy for attack. Did I really have it in me to do that? I mean, if someone was threatening my mate, my friends, my family, I have no doubt I would kill without thought, but to kill just because another she-wolf was interested in him? It seemed so barbaric, and I just hoped that when the time came I could push past my reservations and do what was necessary.

KYLE

Chapter 20

Waking up with my mate in my arms each morning meant the world to me. I had barely seen Kelsey since she began training. She came home late and exhausted. I understood the importance of it, and greatly appreciated what my mother and sisters were doing for her, but I could not wait for the next month to pass and we could finally start our lives together.

This would be the day, the day we would share with the pack the truth about our mating. The day my mate could be threatened with challenges. I knew she was strong enough to handle herself, even with the little training given, but I still worried, and everything inside me demanded I protect her.

At the meeting, Kelsey was asked to stand up front shortly after Dad called everyone to order. There were lots of whispered murmurs and surprised faces to see it. Even though after our race word had spread, the fact that an outsider was invited to a pack meeting said a lot.

“Please settle down, settle down,” Dad called to order. “I think just about everyone present knows Kelsey Adams. She has come forward to speak to me and ask the Council to join the Westin Pack.” He paused to allow the shock of the news to settle down.

“Why now?”

“How can we accept when she's been trespassing on our territory for so long?”

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