Page 22 of Can't Be Love

“You told her?” I asked, wondering if there was anyone he hadn’t told already.

“I had to. I’m sorry if that bothers you, but I had to do the right thing. You were busy leaving town while I did it.”

Guilt punched me in the gut. I had been a chicken while he was clearing up his past to make room for me. And he had come. He was here, for me.

“What do you want, Thomas?”

“I want you to come home.”

“I am home,” I said, cutting him off in a knee-jerk reaction. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Sorry. Continue.”

“I want you to come back to Collier with me. I’ve seen what happens with unresolved true mates, so unless you’re telling me right now that you’re breaking the bond without even giving us a chance, then I’m asking you to come back with me. Maddie and Liam leave in one week. Give us that time to get to know each other, before you make your final decision, because make no mistake, Lily, it is your decision.”

“You do have a choice in this,” I pointed out sensibly.

“No, I don’t. My heart already knows where it belongs.”

Huh? How do you come back from that one?I wondered.

“One week, slugger. That’s all I’m asking. If at that time I’m still the biggest douche on the planet, I’ll mutually break the bond and you’ll be free of me forever.”

My heart rose into my throat, and I thought I might be sick just from considering breaking the bond. I stared at him, searching his eyes for some clue he was the man I thought he was. I started to protest, but Cole’s words came back to me.Take your own advice for once.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Okay to what?” he asked.

“All of it. I’ll go back with you.” I swallowed hard. “I’d like to get to know you before making such a monumental decision.”

He grinned, and I knew that crooked smile was about the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

Thomas

Chapter 10

My body was still shaking from the reality of what had happened. I was calming under Lily’s touch, but my wolf was still on edge. The fact that she had agreed to go back home with me and give us a chance had me elated, and my wolf was slowly finding contentment even while still on full alert.

I had heard about mating males losing it, but never in a million years had I thought it could happen to me. I shuddered and tried to push it all from my mind.

“We have to go by the house before leaving. I need to explain things to my parents and pack,” she said softly. A part of her looked defeated and it worried me. She had agreed too quickly and too easily.

“Are you okay?” I asked, sincerely concerned.

She looked at me and smiled. “I’m fine.”

She surprised me further when she reached over and took my hand, linking our fingers together.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to send mixed singles. And I did mean it when I said I would give it a try. It’s just that my wolf is still edgy, and it helps her to touch you.”

I smiled and squeezed her hand. I didn’t want to admit just how happy such a small gesture made me feel.

“It helps mine, too,” I admitted instead.

She led me to a car and let go of our hands as she walked around to the driver’s side. We sat in silence as she drove us to the Alpha house, then parked and walked in unannounced. Logically I knew that was normal, but it felt a little odd for me being a visiting Alpha-heir.

“Come on,” she encouraged as if sensing my hesitation.

“Mom?” she yelled when we entered.

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