Page 18 of Run Free

“No, I’m in Oklahoma on a job.”

“And something happened on the job?”

“Yeah. It’s bad, Lizzy. I found him,” I confessed.

“Found who?”

“My mate, my one true mate.”

“Oh sweetie, that shouldn’t upset you. Just because Cole and I had a rough start doesn’t mean you should be scared of mating, Clara.”

“He doesn’t want me. He’s overcome so much and he’s so strong, but he doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for me. He’s going to leave me and I’m afraid the bond’s already started. Tell me how to break it,” I cried desperately.

She laughed. “Clara, don’t you think if I had that answer I’d have tried it ages ago?”

“No,” I said.

“No? Of course I would have.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. You loved Cole too much.”

“Maybe. Is it not the same for you? Do you think you couldn’t love your mate? What’s his name?”

“Gage. And that’s not it. It doesn’t even matter, because he’ll never allow himself to love me.”

“How long have you known him? Maybe the bond hasn’t really started yet and you can just go about your own way.”

“About a week, but Lizzy, I know it’s already there. I can feel it.”

“If you can feel it, then so does he, and unless your mate is truly as stubborn as mine, then he won’t be able to stay away.”

“He can’t,” I said, realizing what she was saying. I laughed. “Lizzy, he can’t stay away. He’s here. He came back. He thinks he can just walk away from this and he doesn’t want me to know he’s here, but I do. He said he couldn’t leave while I was here, but do you really think he just can’t leave period?”

“I guess. You haven’t exactly given me much to go on here,” she muttered.

“Tell me it’s worth it.”

“What?” she asked.

“All the craziness the bond makes you feel. The ups, the downs, the heartache. Tell me it’s all worth it. Tell me I should fight for my chance with my one and only true mate.”

She sighed. “It’s so worth it. If you’ve found the one, Clara, you can’t let him just walk away. Be braver than I was. It’s worth it.”

“Thanks, Lizzy. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

“So what are you going to do?” she asked.

“I have no freaking clue!” I admitted.

She laughed. “Clara Raye Collier, go get your mate. And keep me posted. I want to hear all about it. Poor Gage. He won’t know what hit him, because when my sister makes up her mind to do something, no power on Earth can stop her.”

“Love you,” I said. “And thanks, Lizzy.

“Anytime, Clara. Love you, too,” she said, ending the call.

I sat in my office staring at the picture that I drew of him. “I don’t really know you yet, but I know you are mine. I understand you’re scared, I am too, but I’ve been waiting my whole life for you, and I’m not just giving up on our chance.”

I wiped the last of the tears from my eyes and focused on coming up with a plan.

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