Page 13 of Forever Mine

"I'm sure. Steph owns that company. She's a good friend and does private tours on occasion, or at least when I ask nicely."

"Wait, you’ve been there before?" he asked excitedly.

I laughed. "Yeah, a few times."

That started a never-ending stream of questions and information flowing from him as we headed across the street to a bakery for lunch.

Maddie placed her hand on my arm and moved closer to me. "Thank you," she mouthed, genuinely smiling.

My mouth went dry and my hands started to sweat. My wolf instantly calmed under her touch. We had just pleased our mate for the first time and the emotions that surged were overwhelming. I swallowed hard and nodded, unable to speak.

Clam chowder in a bread bowl was a personal favorite and popular request. I placed my order quickly and waited as the others did too, insisting on buying for everyone. I'm not sure Jacob entirely appreciated it, but he eventually conceded.

While we waited, Oscar dragged me around to look at the crazy sourdough sculptures they had for sale, before finally settling on a bear. Maddie came over to protest, but I just looked at her and mouthed "Sorry" as the cashier handed me back my card. Oscar loved it. Sure it would probably never get eaten, but who cared. The kid was happy.

"Too late, Mommy," he gloated as I gently elbowed him in the back and gave him a serious look to be quiet.

She just shook her head and sighed. "Nothing good will come from you two meeting," she mumbled as she walked away.

Oscar helped me carry the food to a table they had secured outside. It was a beautiful summer day. Not too hot though, mild for San Francsico. The sun was shining and people were everywhere, some going about their daily routine, others clearly tourists.

"So what's next on the agenda, Oscar?" Annie asked.

"Cable car ride," he exclaimed excitedly.

Maddie looked at me and then back at them and before she could open her mouth to speak, Jacob intervened.

"That's what I've been most looking forward to doing with you. Would you mind if we ditched your mom and it was just you, me, and Mimi?"

Oscar looked at his mom and I noted the worry in his eyes. I instantly knew this seven-year-old felt responsible for his mother. Why? How did that happen? He was just a kid. I realized Maddie and I had a lot of catching up to do.

"Will you watch after my mom while we're gone, Liam?"

I was emotionally struck by the kid asking me. I could easily see his mom meant the world to him and his protective nature reminded me of Kyle as a kid. The boy was a natural Alpha.

I nodded seriously. "Yeah, I suppose I can put up with her for a few hours." He raised an eyebrow up at me in a comical way that made me laugh. "I'm kidding. Yes, I'll hang out with your mom. We have some catching up to do anyway. Won't let her out of my sight. Promise." I grinned at Maddie overtop of his head, but the look in her eyes reminded me of a frightened wolf that had just been cornered, and I didn't like it. Neither did my wolf.

After lunch, we said goodbye to them and Maddie looked at me awkwardly as I offered her my arm. She seemed hesitant, but took it as I led her across the street. We walked along the wharves in an uncomfortable silence.

When we finally got through the worst of the crowds to the end of one of the piers with relative solitude, I turned to her. "Mad . . ."

"How did you know?" she interrupted.

"Know what?"

"To call me Jane. Why didn't you call me Maddie?" She struggled to say her own name and I wondered just how long it had been since anyone had called her that.

"I heard Annie call you that when you stopped at the restaurant. I might not have even noticed you at all, but you were having some sort of attack and she was talking loudly enough to draw my attention. I honestly didn't know it was you. I mean, you still look like you . . . well, sorta. More like a grown-up, more beautiful version of the girl I once knew." I couldn't stop myself from reaching out and caressing her cheek as I said it, but when she flinched away from me and then turned her back on me to walk to the water's edge, it felt like a punch in the gut.

I suddenly felt terrible for everything Patrick and my brother had gone through finding their mates. Neither had had an easy time with it in the beginning, but was this really how they felt through that whole time? Kyle had fought the mating call for two years. How had he survived if this was what he endured every day of that time?

Taking a deep breath, I walked to her, trying not to let my pain show, but I wasn't an Alpha like them. I wasn't as strong as they were and I was sure one look at me would show it all.

"So you are following me?" she accused with her back turned toward me.

"Not exactly. More like stalking," I said. That got a strong enough reaction that she turned quickly with wide, shocked eyes.

"Wh-what?"

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