Page 30 of One True Mate

“Why couldn't you just tell me?”

I ran my hand through my hair, searching for a way to explain.

“It's just complicated, Mom.”

“She doesn't know, does she?”

I shrugged. “I see signs that she feels it too, but I don't think she understands what she's feeling.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Mom, she's been on her own most of her life. She didn't even know what she was, let alone anything about our ways.”

“Do the girls know?”

“They know about her, but not about, well, us. I've only ever told Dad, til now.”

“We'll talk later. But you need to man up and talk to that girl.”

I could feel her motherly instincts kicking in towards my mate and I knew that once she knew her story and got to know her, that my mother would stop at nothing to welcome her into our family. It's just the kind of person she was. And I suddenly knew, everything was going to be okay.

Kelsey

Chapter 13

I knew Kyle would beat me in the office. It had taken a lot to convince him I wasn't going to run last night. For a while I didn't think he was going to leave my house at all, but after much convincing, promising, and finally begging, he finally did. I felt him watching me through the night, though. I didn't really know how to explain it, but I would bet money he spent the night in wolf form guarding me. He really hadn't needed to bother. I was so emotionally and physically exhausted from the longest day of my life that I slept like a rock.

He on the other hand, looked exhausted and miserable. I wanted badly to make him feel better like he had comforted me so many times the day before. I walked in his office and straight into his little personal bubble, laying my hands flat against his chest. Anyone else I would have been mortified, but it just seemed so right with him.

“Good morning.” I smiled up at him.

His appearance instantly changed. His dark, tired eyes brightened. The stress I smelled on him ceased, and I felt his body physically relax at my touch. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled our bodies flush. Before I knew what was happening he leaned down and brushed his lips lightly across mine. It was the briefest whisper of a kiss, making me long for so much more as he pulled back and placed his forehead against mine. I knew he was breathing in my scent, just as I leaned in to breathe his. I took in a good deep breath to center me before letting it out in a slow breeze against his neck that caused him to shudder in my arms.

When he pulled back this time, he was all smiles and looked ready to take on the world.

“Good morning,” he finally said.

“I told you not to worry so much. I said I wasn't going to run and I'm not.” I playfully pushed him back to put some distance between us, immediately feeling the loss, but determined to get to work and have something of a normal day.

I handed him a cup of fresh hot coffee I had picked up on my way in at the little cafe in town I knew he loved. It had been awkward and made me uneasy. I was used to the stares by now, but several people, or shifters, or whatever I was supposed to call them, actually spoke to me and Sally, the local barista, invited me out for drinks after work. I was too shocked to do anything but nod. No one except Lily and Elise had ever invited me to do anything.

I was still lost in thought when Kyle poked his head out of his office.

“Hey, lunch today in my office.”

I noted it wasn't an actual question and I felt terrible for having let him down. The disappointment every time I told him no had not gone unnoticed and Lord knew I had done it a whole lot over the years we'd worked together.

“Sorry, Mr. Westin, but I have to say no.” I could already see rejection written on his face and it hurt my heart, so I kept babbling. “I really am sorry. If I could get out of it I would, but Elise hit me up this morning on the way in and I promised her.”

“Elise was in the office that early this morning?” He sounded skeptical and I had to laugh because it certainly didn't sound like his sister.

“Yeah, apparently you weren't the only one betting I'd flee in the night.”

“How about tonight? We could grab dinner after work. There's some things I really want to talk to you about. It's kind of important.”

I knew he could see my answer on my face before I even spoke, and knowing I was letting him down was killing me.

“How about a late dinner? I'm having drinks at The Crate after work.”

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