Page 14 of One True Mate

"Anyway, I was in and out of foster homes til I turned eighteen. My parents had left me a small trust fund, but it wasn't enough to cover four years of college if I wanted to live on my own too. I went for the first two years before taking a year to see some of the country. I knew I was home the moment I drove into San Marco, and when I found the little cottage for rent, I knew it was perfect. I re-enrolled online to finish my degree, as you know, and this job has helped me afford to stay here and live on my own. I can never thank you enough for taking a chance on an outsider like that. I know better than anyone around here how much you people hate outsiders. But I have no complaints. I can't ever imagine living anywhere else, but, back to the scar. I've been scared of wolves my entire life, even before the attack."

I couldn't even comprehend what she was saying. How could a wolf shifter be afraid of wolves? I had once wondered if maybe she just had never made her first change, but I knew now, after having run with her, that that was not the case. How scared must she have been facing her first change all alone.

"Kyle, you're doing it again."

"I'm sorry. Please continue."

"Anyway, the scars were really ugly and a constant reminder of that terrible day. So, I decided to do something about it. It's taken a few weeks, but it's finally complete. It's not exactly something I had planned on showing anyone, but since you were freaked out about the blood, I thought I should tell you. I really am fine, though."

"Can I see it?" I asked with true curiosity over what picture Kelsey chose to erase those awful memories.

She nodded and slowly peeled back the fresh bandage covering most of her leg. I couldn't stop the gasp when I saw it. My heart nearly jumped to my throat staring at the vivid picture of myself in wolf form covering her beautiful leg. She had marked herself with me, and she didn't even seem to know it.

"Do you like it?" she asked hesitantly.

"Like it? It's beautiful, Kels," I said quietly, unable to stop staring. "Did Cole design this?"

"No, I drew it myself. I've actually done several designs for his shop already as he was so impressed with this one. Of course, he tried to convince me that the wolf would look better black, but this is my wolf and I wouldn't have had it any other way."

I almost chuckled, thinking of Cole's formidable black wolf. I'd punch him for it the next time I saw him.

"Why this one? Tell me why you chose this wolf and this pose."

She went quiet. Of course, I knew that night depicted on her body. The small creek in the background, the full moon in the night sky. I could even smell the pine on the breeze looking at it. It was the night we had run together, but something told me she would never confess that to me. I suddenly realized that I was going to have to present myself to her and explain some things before she truly understood anything. All this time I had thought she was ignoring things, but hearing her story, I realized she had no pack or anyone to show her what to do or explain our ways. I finally realized she honestly just didn't know she was living in wolf shifter territory, and so much seemed to become crystal clear with that realization.

"It's going to sound silly really, but I see this wolf almost every evening by my house. I've grown comfortable with him and like to imagine he's keeping watch over me. It makes me feel safe and secure knowing he's out there. He's truly as big as the tattoo depicts too, so by all rights, I should be terrified of him, but I'm not. By using his picture, I feel like I'm conquering my fears, facing the past, and ready to move forward, leaving all the ugly scars behind."

"Babe that's beautiful," I told her honestly, even knowing I slipped up again and she'd probably call me out on being inappropriate at work. I was thankful when she didn't.

"Thank you for not thinking I'm a freak. There's more I want to share with you, but I'm not sure how. I have secrets, Kyle. Secrets I've never confessed to anyone. Secrets that could hurt me and those I care about. Do you understand?"

Her confession was frightening me.

"I know you think you have feelings for me. But you can't. It's not safe for you. I'm not good enough for you no matter how much I wish I were."

She had tears in her eyes and was trying to make a quick exit. I grabbed her and pulled her onto my lap before she could escape and without thinking I kissed her.

Kelsey

Chapter 7

A part of me knew I shouldn't be kissing him back. I had tried to tell him, tried to warn him to stay away from me. I'm not even sure how we got to this point, but I had never felt such love.

At first his kiss was possessive, like he was consuming me and couldn't get enough. Then he softened and took his time, coaxing my mouth open. I was a little shocked at the invasion when his tongue slowly slipped past my lips, but the taste of him, combined with his scent surrounding me, was like pure ecstasy. It didn't take long for me to meet him stroke for stroke. I selfishly kissed him back with a wild abandon.

When I let out a soft moan against his mouth, he finally pulled back to stare into my eyes. I was entirely breathless. I had never felt something so exquisite and right.

My first kiss. I knew enough to know that was no ordinary first kiss. My entire body was tingling all over. He kissed like a man who knew his way around a woman, and the mere thought made my wolf surge to take control. I had to fight to reign it in and knew I had to put some distance quickly between me and Kyle Westin.

"I'm sorry," I said, knowing the tears were only seconds from falling again and I would be unable to stop them. "I can't do this."

The pain in his eyes nearly broke me, but I forced myself to get up and run.

"Kelsey!" I heard him yell after me.

I didn't stop or turn around, and I ran out of the office leaving everything behind. When Lily called to me from the lobby, I ignored her and kept running. I ran past the parking lot, cursing and kicking off my heels, and ran down the street. I needed to get home. I needed my den. I couldn't deal with the emotions that kiss had stirred within me. I had never wanted anything or anyone in my entire life, but I wanted Kyle Westin, and I knew I could never do that to him. I couldn't drag him into the living nightmare of my life.

I just kept running, not even noticing two men walking out of the woods next to the road until they were blocking the path in front of me. As my wolf went on full alarm I slowed up in my approach of them.

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