Page 73 of One True Mate

“Are you done?” I asked, turning my back to him as I made my way to the coffee pot. He nodded at me and just watched and waited. Once the sound of brewing met my ears I turned back to him.

“I was out late at the Crate. I have a bit of a headache from it,” I said, thinking, but not admitting aloud, I may have been a little drunk still too. He snorted and I knew he heard that thought through our bond. “I don't sleep well without you and I'm stressed about the upcoming challenges. I wasn't sleeping anyway so came in early. I'll be fine after a couple pots of coffee.”

I knew I was whining but didn't care. What was the point in hiding it when he already knew and felt every second of worry I had anyway. He pulled me into his arms and I flinched, my eyes flying to the open door.

“Kyle, we can't. The Council. We promised.”

“Right now, my mate needs me. I don't give a shit about what the Council has to say about it.”

His embrace tightened around me and I relaxed against his chest, breathing in his scent, and feeling the stress fade away.

“Thanks,” I whispered as the gurgling noises of coffee stopped, silencing the room and the aroma drew me from his arms in desperate need of caffeine.

“Grab an extra cup for me and meet me in my office.”

It felt kind of clandestine knowing how much the Council had been stressing the importance of us staying away from each other. I giggled thinking about it. If he didn't care, I didn't care. But when I walked into the office, closing the door behind me, I wasn't greeted in any way to be considered clandestine. Instead he was seated at his desk already talking on the phone and motioned for me to sit while he reached for his coffee.

“Yeah…Uh-huh... I understand… Dad, it is what it is... We knew this was a possibility, really an inevitability… It'll be fine… Yeah, just two more weeks.”

As he hung up the phone I could feel the stress wash over him. Whatever his dad had called about wasn't good news. I quickly got up from my seat and launched myself around his desk plopping ungracefully in his lap. It made him smile and stop mid stroke as he mussed his hair like he did when worried.

“What…” He silenced me with a kiss. I indulged him for a few before pulling back and giving him a stern look. “What's happened?”

“I don't want to talk about it. I just want to hold you.”

“You can hold me, but you're going to talk. Don't make me invade your brain to figure it out.” We had both gotten good about not constantly invading each other’s mind. My cheeks pinked as my mind headed for the gutter thinking of a few of the many thoughts I had managed to keep from him.

Oops. I knew he had heard my thoughts. His grin grew wider.

“I like what's on your mind a whole lot more.” He said nuzzling into my neck and taking a moment to breath my scent in deeply there. Oh, what that did to me was unexplainable in words.

“Not getting off the hook that easy. What did your dad want, Kyle?”

“Nothing I didn't already know or wasn't expecting at least.”

The challenge! My stomach rose in my throat as the crippling sick fear threatened to take over.

“Hey, hey, don't. None of that. I'm going to be fine.”

“How many?” I whispered.

“Three,” he sighed.

“THREE?!?!” I shrieked.

“It's okay.” He continued to soothe me.

“Who?”

“It's not Cole Anderson if that's what you're asking.” He teased trying to lighten the mood and I punched him hard in the arm, but it only earned me a small laugh in retaliation.

“I know about Cole. He explained himself last night and why he wasn't going to concede to our mating until challenges are over. Now, who?”

“Patrick O'Connell from the Irish Clan is in route. His Alpha called in the challenge ahead of his arrival to ensure his chance. I'm not surprised at all by it. Patrick is the third son of the Irish Alpha. His second son successfully won a mating challenge against an alpha heir somewhere down in South America. Doesn't matter to him who you are, just that his son takes my place as pack alpha here. With six sons, he's systematically strengthening his pack in this way.”

I nodded. “Who else?”

“Matt Snyder of New York City Central Pack. I honestly think he has the hots for you.” He laughed, twirling my hair in his fingers. “Cause seriously, I see no real challenge in him. I'm not sure if it should be a mercy killing, or if I should spare his life as you did Christine's.”

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