Page 33 of One True Mate

“WHAT?!?!? Of course not. Why would you even ask such a thing?”

Elise shrugged, grinning. “Honestly, Kels, it wouldn't be that shocking. He's crazy about you.”

“You're insane, Elise, he's my boss, I couldn't possibly.”

But oh yeah, I thought to myself,I wanted to very possibly. I brushed the thought aside as fast as it surfaced. This was insane.

“Okay, well, I was just asking because Vanessa is convinced you used alpha powers on her.”

I laughed, “How would that even be possible? She-wolves don't have alpha powers. You know that.”

She nodded, “That's why I asked about Kyle. It would be a really tiny possibility, but if you two had mated... which is more than just sex, but we'll get into that when Lily arrives … then you could, in theory, pull power from his alpha line. It's rare and usually only fully bonded mates can do it, but that would almost be better than the alternative.”

She seemed to chew on that thought, but I didn't know what she was getting at.

“What alternative? What are you talking about?”

“I'm talking about the possibility that you could be an alpha she-wolf.”

“I can't be. Kyle said they are very rare and killed as very young pups the moment their powers show.”

“That's true, but there are some cases where people have tried to smuggle them away or hide their powers from the Grand Council.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. The most recent count I know was a set of triplets, identical she-wolves. They lived to be four and were supposedly the most adorable, most manipulative and powerful little she-wolves ever documented. Too much of a threat, so the Grand Council had them sentenced to death. The family tried to escape. The first was caught and killed immediately. The second was injured trying to rescue her sister, but the parents escaped with the third. It was several years before they were tracked down and killed too. But the point is, it's possible. What if that's why you had no pack? Why your parents told you to be scared of the wolves? And why you never knew what you truly were?”

“Elise, that's insane. I'm a nobody. There's nothing special or powerful about me. You know me.”

“Maybe. Regardless, you can't mention this to anyone. I've already got Vanessa convinced she's headed to the looney bin, so just steer clear of her. I don't think she'll bother you again. You really freaked her out.” I was about to address it, when the door flew open and Lily walked in. “We'll figure out the rest later. Not even Lily.” She whispered to me, her eyes conveying the importance of it.

KYLE

Chapter 14

The Crate was the only bar in town. I couldn't stop her from going even if it unsettled my wolf. Sally Merchant was good people, and she was happily mated for nearly twenty years. She was a good friend to have and I couldn't dissuade Kelsey from that.

I hadn't seen her since the morning. I knew she was agitated and not happy about Vanessa's surprise visit. I only hoped that I was able to put a stop to her advances once and for all. My wolf had growled in warning when she tried to physically attack me right there on the couch in my office. How many times had I dreamed of claiming Kelsey there? I shuddered. That dream was officially ruined now.

I hadn't heard from Kelsey since I left the office. She assured me she was still coming but I found myself pacing back and forth wearing a path in my carpet as I impatiently waited. I was excited to have my mate in my territory for the first time. My home. Hopefully someday soon it would be our home, but I didn't want to rush things and scare her off.

I knew she was meeting Sally around five o'clock, so when seven-thirty rolled around and there was still no sign of her, I began to panic. By eight o'clock I was grabbing my keys and heading for the door when I saw car lights flash across my living room. My senses went on full alert. I swung my door open and immediately relaxed being greeted by her scent. That delicious scent that tormented me every day while bringing a peace and calm only her smell could produce.

“Hey,” she said, stepping on the porch grinning. “You were right, my wolf definitely knows this place. It's the cabin where I first came to when I let my wolf out to run that night, right?”

I smiled. She remembered. All I could do was nod. She looked happy and a tiny bit glassy eyed. I wondered just how many drinks she'd had. She didn't hesitate to stretch up and kiss my cheek before pushing past me into my house, ahead of me. I just shook my head. At least we hadn't explained that one to her yet.

“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked.

“I did! Sally's really nice, and Cole was there too. I hadn't seen him in a few days and we had a lot to catch up on. Did you know his wolf is almost solid black? That stinker tried to get me to put his wolf on my body.”

I growled slightly before reigning it in. I didn't like hearing she had been with another male and I was finding it harder and harder to keep my feelings for her to myself.

She patted my arm like she was calming a small child. “Relax, only your wolf gets to mark up this body.”

I could see the moment she realized what she was saying. She whipped around and caught my stare as her hand flew to her mouth and her face turned all splotchy in embarrassment. I couldn't help but laugh. She looked ridiculously cute.

I stepped closer to her, fascinated by a loose strand of hair that had escaped the ponytail she was wearing and I wiped it from her face and tucked it back behind her ear. I had meant to keep things light but the way she was looking at me wasn't helping.

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