Page 8 of One True Mate

"It wasn't my idea to hire her, Dad. I think Elise and Lily were too curious about her not to reach out. But honestly, she's the best admin I could ever hope for. I tried to push her away last week as I've done every other new hire they've thrown my way," I grinned sheepishly at the admission, even knowing my dad knew me well enough to know that had been the case, "and she just doesn't back down. Ever. She's strong and capable and super smart. I'm not sure I could possibly get by without her after only one week, so I'm really hoping you aren't suggesting running her out of town."

I watched my dad sigh heavily and lean back in his chair and pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Your sisters have made it clear they've already befriended the little wolf and now she's gotten to you too. You three are putting me in a very uncomfortable position. I cannot appear weak in front of the pack by allowing the blatant disrespect of a lone wolf strolling into town, settling in our territory and not even having the common courtesy to come to me."

"I know this puts you in a difficult position, Dad, but Elise and I have discussed and we really think something traumatic happened to her. She never recognizes her wolf in our presence. I mean not at all, Dad. I've even tried to push alpha command over her and nothing. If it wasn't for her smell, no one would ever suspect she was even a shifter. I've never seen anything like it, but there's more to her story than we know. I can feel it."

I knew that wasn't going to be enough to allow him to keep her here, so I pressed on. "She has shown no signs of aggression to anyone. She mostly keeps to herself, only ever venturing out for work or necessities like grocery shopping. From what little bit we do know about her, she is truly a lone wolf, an only child whose parents died when she was young. As far as we can tell, she has no one, Dad."

He looked surprised to hear that, and then a little angry about it. "What about her pack? She has to have a pack. Where are they and why weren't they protecting an innocent child?"

"I don't know, but I suspect she doesn't know or understand our ways. From working closely, with her I can tell you she is one of the most respectful people I know, insisting on calling me Mr. Westin at all times." I tried not to grumble out that last bit but I could see the questions it formed in my Dad's eyes.

"I'm not exactly sure what to do here, son. We are not in the business of showing weakness and allowing strange wolves to just waltz into our territory unannounced. I've let it go for weeks now but the pack is demanding something be done."

"Meet her. Meet her for yourself and then make the determination and I will try to accept whatever you decide is best for the pack."

"Try? Son, you've never questioned my decisions for the pack. What's going on? I feel as though there is something here you're not telling me. It really isn't like you to take to a stranger this way. What is it about this Kelsey Adams that has you even asking me to consider letting her stay in our territory?"

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I knew I had to tell him, but I hadn't admitted it to anyone except myself, and it was proving harder than a thought.

"Dad, I, uh, she, Jesus, I don't even know how to say it."

"Whatever it is son, just tell me."

I looked him in the eyes and held his gaze, even when my wolf wanted us to submit and lower ourselves to our alpha, I couldn't, he had to know the truth and the full importance of this.

"Kelsey Adams is my one true mate, Dad. She may not recognize it or even understand it yet. I can be patient and teach her our ways. I have to try, because I cannot lose her."

Nothing I had ever said or done in my entire life shocked him more than my revelation about Kelsey. As he tried to compose himself he started laughing, a full, deep, belly laugh that made me irritated.

"I'm glad this entertains you so," I scowled at him.

"Oh Kyle, you do understand the predicament you've put me and everyone else in here, right? And from the sounds of it you've got your hands full with this one without adding the mating craze." He shook his head and laughed again, "Every she-wolf within six packs has been sniffing around you for years, and a little lone she-wolf strolls into my territory and ends up being your one true mate. Priceless. The pack wants me to turn her out, but in light of this, you know I could never do that. The council will have to be told something at least. I assume you are okay with that?"

I hadn't really thought about it. "Um, yeah, if that's what has to happen. But please, Dad, explain to them the need to be discreet. Kelsey doesn't seem to know anything about our bond, or at least hasn't acted on it in any way. Heck, she's even turned down my human advances. I don't want to scare her away by her finding out too soon. Something tells me I'm gonna be tested to the max on patience with her."

"And lots and lots of cold showers in your future." He bellowed out another laugh. "But seriously, son, if she is your one true mate, you need to talk to her. If she truly doesn't understand our ways and customs, you need to explain them."

"I will," I assured him, "but please let me do this in my own way, in my own time. She's not like the other wolves we know."

Kelsey

Chapter 5

I sat on my back porch looking out at the woods and wondering where he was these last two nights. Ever since my very first day at Westin Foundation, each night when I arrived home the wolf had been standing watch and calling to my wolf. At first it had scared me half to death. I've always feared wolves, even before the attack, but there was something different about this one. He called to my wolf in a primal way. She begged to reach out to him and run with him, but I could never risk it.

Seeing him each night brought us comfort and a sense of security. It made me feel safe, even if my wolf was a little sad each time we saw him. The wolf was large, much larger than me in wolf form. He was a deep rich color of brown with startling hazel green eyes. There wasn't really anything scary about him and he never approached me, always just sat at the edge of the woods as if he were waiting for me to join him.

Sometimes I liked to imagine he was a werewolf like me. How awesome would that be? Then I remembered the monsters that created me and knew I could never even wish for that. So, then I'd think, would the wolves accept me as a wolf? Could I live full time in wolf form and find a home amongst them? I was not sure I could do that either, but I've always longed to be a part of something, have a family of my own, a real family. But then I would miss the Westin's so much. I've grown so close to them these last few years and I can't imagine my life without them in it. And I'm not talking just Lily and Elise.

I couldn't help myself from thinking of him. Kyle Westin. I couldn't believe I actually got to work with him side by side every day. There was something so dynamic about the man. He just drew me to him and made me want to do things entirely inappropriate for the office. I had a tough time even thinking straight when he was close by. His smell drove me wild, and more than once a week I was rushing home for a long cold shower. My body's reaction to him was unreal, like something you'd read about in an erotica book.

I sometimes caught him staring at me, and I had this feeling he felt the same, but then at other times I thought he barely noticed my existence. I've never had a boyfriend. Never even been kissed. Anything I've learned about that kind of stuff has come from books and I'm not sure how accurate those things really are.

My mind wandered to his family. I've been working for the Westin Foundation for nearly two years now. It's gone by fast, and yet it also felt like I'd been there forever, like life before I moved to San Marco was nothing more than a dream. I've never been happier and a lot of that was due to the Westins. I loved Lily and Elise like sisters. We ate lunch most days together, occasionally Kyle even invited himself along. We've gone out several times, but I'm not much for partying and hanging out in bars. I preferred my quiet life.

I remember once, shortly after I started working for Kyle, he took me to meet his father. Kyle's dad was quite intimidating, even more so than Kyle himself, yet he had the same carefree spirit of his daughters. I liked him immensely. He had asked me a lot of questions about my past that I hadn't been prepared for, but something about him set me at ease and I was able to answer them honestly. He was surprised and a little disgusted to hear I was an orphan with no family to care for me. But like I told him that day, that's just how life rolls sometimes and all you can do is pick yourself up and move on the best you can.

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