Page 45 of Run Free

Clara snickered beside me. I looked over at my mate as she reached down on the console between us and flicked up a red cover, revealing the starter switch.

“So cool,” I said aloud.

“Okay, so you do know how to drive a manual, right?” Clara asked.

“Uh, yeah,” I said. Looking around the car, I didn’t get her point. Then I noticed the clutch on the floorboard. It looked like an automatic, but clearly it wasn’t.

Clara laughed. “Shift from the steering wheel.” She pointed out the paddle shifters to me and things made a lot more sense.

“Okay. You’re sure about this?” I asked one final time.

When she nodded I fired up the engine, listening to it roar to life. I looked over as Clara closed her eyes with sheer delight on her face. I knew then that there was nothing sexier in this entire world than my angel in a luxury sports car. I gulped, trying to tame the need rising up in me.

I slowly managed to put the car into gear as it jerked forward.

“It’s a little sensitive, but you’ll get used to it quickly,” she assured me.

It took some fumbling, but I soon found my groove and we were off.

“Turn right out of the driveway,” she instructed.

I shot her a quick look in confusion. “I thought the town was to the left.”

“It is, but I thought you’d want to take it for a spin first.”

As I pulled to a stop at the end of the drive, I leaned over and kissed her. “You’re right, I really do.”

We drove around town as she guided me, pointing out her favorite places. About an hour later we pulled up in front of the Alpha house. I parked the car and turned off the engine, taking a deep breath and trying to prepare myself for the inevitable meeting with Thomas.

“Come on. It’s going to be fine. This is my family. They’ll love you, because I love you,” Clara said. It was the extra boost of confidence I needed. I got out and then helped her out of the car. She took my hand and didn’t hesitate when we reached the front door. She just opened it and walked right in without even knocking.

I knew for her that was obviously normal, but it made me feel very uncomfortable not waiting and then being announced. I half expected her to just yell out our presence once inside, but she didn’t. Instead she led me to the back of the house and into the kitchen.

“Clara! Sweetie, when did you get in?” an older version of Clara asked. I had no doubt the woman was her mother. I could easily see what my mate would look like in years to come.

“Hi, Mom,” she said, confirming my suspicions. Clara let go of my hand long enough to hug her mother. “We got home yesterday. Didn’t the girls tell you?”

Her mother frowned. “No, they didn’t say a word.”

Clara shrugged. “Maybe they thought you’d rather be surprised.”

“Well, it’s always a happy surprise when my daughter is safely back home. Now,” her mom said, turning her full focus towards me, “what did you bring home with you?”

Clara scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “They didn’t tell you anything?”

The look on her mother’s face told me she had definitely not been forewarned about me. “What exactly should they have told me?”

I cringed. It was the “Mom face,” that look that stopped even grown men in their tracks.

Clara huffed. “Sorry, I thought Thomas would have at least made an announcement by now. Mom, this is Gage, my mate. Gage, my mother, Cora.”

“Your mate?” her mother spit out in surprise.

I smiled proudly.

“Yes, Mom, my mate.”

“And why am I just now hearing about this? How? When?”

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