Page 83 of One True Mate

“Okay,” I said, taking his hand and dragging him to the bed with me. I sat down but didn't let go. No way was Kyle getting away from me anytime soon. I didn't give a damn what the Council had to say about it either.

Micah was quick with his questions and basic checkup, or so that's what they told me it was. Since my stay in the hospital at age twelve I had successfully avoided doctors for fear they'd be able to tell I was different. This was an odd and slightly embarrassing process I only had vague memories of from my past. Kyle stayed by my side the entire time.

When the exam was done, Micah asked if he could run some bond tests and after consulting with Kyle, we agreed.

Okay, we'll start off with some basics. He took out a pen and wrote something on his notepad and showed it to Kyle, though I couldn't see it.

“Kelsey, what number did I just show Kyle?”

One thousand and twenty-one. Kyle told me through our bond.

“One thousand and twenty-one.” I repeated aloud.

“Good, now Kelsey,” he said, flashing the notepad my way.

I'm sexy and I know it.I snorted ,relaying the message Micah had written

“Yeah you are!” Kyle exclaimed and Micah knew his message had been received without further confirmation.

“Great, now Kyle, shift for me.”

He did without further prompting. Then he flashed the notepad to his wolf.

Micah's a dick and I'm not repeating that one.He said sullenly.

“Um, apparently, he wasn't happy with what you wrote. He said you're a dick and he's not repeating it.”

Micah laughed so hard a tear escaped his eye. “Okay, switch.”

I didn't want to strip in front of Micah, but looking down at my favorite pajamas, I didn't want to ruin them either. So, I scooted behind the bed and stripped and changed in record time. Kyle had changed back to his skin and sat gloriously naked, without a care. Part of me envied that about him. I knew I'd always be self-conscious.

Micah flashed another card to Kyle.

Now he's just being an ass.I heard him say loud and clear. It was so surreal, the first time I'd ever heard Kyle clearly when we both weren't either in human or wolf form.He wants you to howl once then turn three times in a circle.

I did as instructed, and suddenly Kyle was by my side nudging his muzzle into my neck. This time Micah pushed the big wolf aside, earning himself a small growl, before showing me the message.

He wants us to run into the living room and jump on Lily. This is so dumb.I know I rolled my eyes, and it probably looked ridiculously human, despite my animal shape, but we did as we were told, and after hearing Lil scream in surprise, we were called back and told we could return to human form

“Okay, now that the fun is over, let's get down to the important test.” He had us both sit side by side on the bed and he took out something that looked like a tiny tomahawk, only plastic, and he hit it against Kyle's knee. Without warning my leg shot up in the air in synch with his. He repeated a few other similar tests before pricking my finger with a needle and causing it to bleed. Kyle held his hand up and stared in wonder as his same finger bled too.

“Not exactly anything we didn't suspect, but man, this is insane, you guys. And I'm overriding anything the Council says and quarantining you both till the full challenge period has ended. This pack is not risking the loss of you both. Your bond is sealed. Challenges are over. I've already discussed security with your dad. You'll have round the clock guards surrounding the house on all sides. The Bulgarians are already causing a bit of stink saying your dramatics were faked to give Kyle the upper hand to defeat Andon. The Grand Council has been called in to assess. It's not pretty, guys, but it'll all blow over soon.”

KYLE

Chapter 30

I couldn't stop pacing the room and every few minutes I had to touch Kelsey just to keep myself grounded. Calling on Micah's medical assessment, my father shutdown the mating challenges and ordered all foreign wolves from our territory. I still couldn't believe it. It was too much.

Currently he was in his office arguing with the Grand Council over it. People still didn't know the full truth of Kelsey's powers, not even Micah, and everyone was so distracted by her screams and collapse during my last challenge with Andon from Bulgaria, that they didn't seem to suspect anything either despite the fact that I was a hundred times more powerful in his defeat than I should have been. Still the strength in our bond was enough to spread gossip quickly.

I cringed, haunted by her screams of pain and fear when Andon had attacked me at the challenge. My power, combined with hers, and even pulled through the pack line I'm told, had given me the force and willpower needed to defeat him. I could never imagine the fierce protectiveness that had overpowered me knowing my mate was in pain. And the two days I watched her lay there, still and unmoving, afterwards made my stomach roll just thinking of it. I thought I had lost her. It was the scariest moment of my life. I walked over and brushed a hand across her shoulders as I passed her in my pacing. It calmed me and I needed to touch her for affirmation that she was truly okay.

It was still unclear when the Grand Council had arrived exactly. My dad hadn't even mentioned them to me and I was furious because of it. All I knew was that they were here now and they were watching us.

My greatest fear was that the Bulgarians would cause enough trouble to instigate a formal inquiry into my mate's background. I had already heard from several sources that they were screaming foul play in the defeat of Andon.

Pack Councils vary in numbers based on the size and needs and politics of the pack. Westin Pack has seven council members overseeing pack needs. But the Grand Council only ever had five. And once on the Grand Council you were there until death. It was a lifetime commitment. They released all ties to their original pack, including their mates and pups. The thought behind it was that they have absolutely no loyalties aside from the greater good of the wolf shifter world.

---