Page 88 of Confusing Hearts

“How long?” I asked calmly, stunning them in mid-conversation as we sat in Kyle’s office.

“What?” Kyle asked.

“How long does the challenge period last?”

“Typically four months, but I made notifications the second Chase told me you’d mated and so you’re well into month one already. So far, no challenges have been made. I think people are still stunned by the two of you. That’ll wear off a little bit since people have met you, Jenna.”

I shrugged. “You two look worried. Don’t be. The odds of someone challenging Chase are slim. After all, what other wolf would actually want a panther mate?” Chase growled at the thought and I shot him a look. “I can handle your stupid challenges if it comes to it. My panther is as big, if not bigger, than your females. I’ve been taught fighting techniques since before I could walk and extensive training once my panther emerged. My daddy saw to it that Tessa and I would always be able to defend ourselves. I’m not fond of the idea of killing another being for sport or placement, but I know it’s not uncommon among other animal species and I’ll do what I have to do.”

Chase’s face beamed with pride, while Kyle’s jaw dropped a little.

“Okay, well, I’ll be sure to warn our females that you are a lethal fighting machine ready to accept their challenges then,” Kyle finally said when the shock wore off.

“That’s my girl,” Chase said, proudly. “Kyle, you and Kelsey had your challenge period lowered. Can Jenna and I get in on that?”

I looked over at Kyle curiously, wondering if that was true and if they made exceptions because of his Alpha status. He looked slightly uncomfortable by the question.

Clearing his throat, he answered. “Chase, there were some extenuating circumstances regarding that.”

“Oh, I know. You guys always ignore me since I’m the baby of the family, like I’m too young to understand, but I’m listening. I know all about how your mating signs came on faster and stronger, and why they really shortened the challenges for you,” Chase said, staring his brother down.

I found it odd that Chase was looking directly at Kyle, though I saw him squirm a little in his chair. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that no one truly looked the Alpha in the eyes, except his mate. Panthers and other big cats averted their eyes to my dad as a sign of respect. To look at him directly was a threat and challenge. I had thought maybe the same was true for wolves, but Chase was clearly staring Kyle down. When his squirming became shaking, I watched him drop his gaze and made a mental note to ask him about it later.

“So, what are you trying to say, Chase? If you really know the details of all that, then you know our bond strengthened faster because of Kelsey’s, um, extra circumstances. You and Jenna have a strong bond, it’s easy to feel it when you’re together, but are you really saying it’s more than it should be at this stage?”

Chase grinned back at his brother. “Did you know that the sacred mating signs differ among species?”

Kyle perked up with interest. “Go on.”

“For example, talking to my new little brother, Chad, who’s a squirrel and rarely shuts up, I’ve learned that the first sign of a squirrel mating is telepathy.”

“How’s that possible? That’s one of the last stages,” Kyle argued.

“Yes, for a wolf, who dominates in the emotional connection phase, first sensing his mate in location and emotional state,” he paused, letting it sink in a little as he reached over and threaded his fingers through mine. “Panthers’ dominance is in physical connections, Kyle. Whereas that is the final stage of bonding for us.”

“Are you saying you can already feel each other physically?” Kyle asked.

“It’s not enough to kill him, but if I go into the challenges right now, he would endure every emotional and physical impact I faced from it. As best as we’ve been able to determine, both of our bonding symptoms are coming on equally at the same time. We’re in what my people would call stage two only times two because the signs are different for both of us,” I explained.

“If I were to cut you right now, would he feel it?” Kyle asked me, seriously. Chase growled in outrage. “Simmer down, pup. I need to know.”

“He would feel the sensation of it, yes. It would hurt him, but if I bled, it’s not like his skin would slice, too. Yet. That will come in time, but usually takes a little longer,” I clarified.

“Shit. The pain of it might be enough. I’ll take it to the Council and we’ll make a determination. Thank you for letting me know. I realize it’s not exactly easy to discuss your bond—at least it wasn’t for me—but this is the kind of information I do need to know. I would never have suspected anything like that was possible, but I’m not exactly up to speed on interspecies bonding, especially for true mates. Until you two, I didn’t even know such a thing was possible.”

It warmed my heart that Kyle believed we were true mates, and I fought down the emotions welling up inside. I had seen the looks and heard the whispers since word of me dating Chase had gotten out around campus. My hearing had improved significantly since the bond, and I didn’t really like it. I hated hearing what everyone was saying about us, but I knew the general consensus was that it was only temporary because a Westin would never settle for a compatible mate, and dogs and cats could never be true mates. They were wrong, but having someone like Kyle acknowledge it as truth caused overwhelming gratification.

That wasn’t the only meeting we had with Kyle during our visit. We also met with the Council, which I found a little more intimidating. Everyone was fascinated with the idea that a wolf and a panther could really be true mates. We did find a few skeptics, but nothing like I’d imagined.

We were originally supposed to leave on Monday—that’s what I’d agreed to—but Mary had been so welcoming, taking me into her home and her family, that I couldn’t disappoint her by missing out on my first Westin family Tuesday night dinner. I could feel Chase’s happiness through our bond when I told him I thought we should stay over till at least Wednesday.

Tuesday came much too quickly, and I was surprisingly nervous before dinner. My family only ate formally on holidays. Most of the time Daddy was too busy with work, and Mom was too, with her various fundraisers and ladies’ groups, to ever spend much thought on dinner. I liked the idea of big family meals, though. I thought I would be stressed and overwhelmed with Chase’s large family, but it wasn’t like that at all.

“Jenna, can you help me in the kitchen?” Mary called up to me.

It still amazed me that my hearing had become so sensitive. I was upstairs in Chase’s room going through my wardrobe for the hundredth time, trying to decide what to wear, and I knew she was downstairs somewhere. It was the craziest thing.

“Coming,” I said in my normal voice, because I knew she’d hear it without me having to yell.

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