Page 28 of Beginning Fate

“I like Oscar. I think he's the one leading the charge for everyone to learn ASL for Kylie,” Lauren said.

“That's really cool,” Damon said.

“I've honestly never heard of a deaf wolf shifter before. I didn't even know such a thing was possible. Was she born this way?” Karis asked. “If that's rude or too intrusive, I apologize. I'm just so curious now after meeting her.”

“It's okay,” my mate said. “She wasn't born deaf. It was a boating accident when she was five. We lost our parents that day, too. I'm all she's got left. I mean, there's our Pack, and my aunt let us stay with her until I turned eighteen and got my own place for us. It's more support than some orphans have. So, I guess you could say we've been lucky.”

Something inside me snapped hearing her story. I knew right then and there I would do absolutely anything to protect Lauren and Kylie going forward.

“It was good your aunt took you in like that?” Damon said as a sense of unease washed over the table.

She shrugged. “It gave us a safe place to sleep. If she'd refused, I'd have found somewhere else for us. I always did what was necessary to keep food on the table, clothes on our backs, and to ensure Kylie got the best medical care and schooling possible.”

“That's incredible. But you had to have been just a kid yourself,” he argued.

I glanced over just in time to see her lips purse.

“I guess you could say I grew up quickly after the accident. Someone had to be a voice for Kylie. No one in our Pack knew how to communicate with her, so I found a program to teach me and then I held classes to teach anyone and everyone I could.”

“How old were you?” he asked.

“Nine. But like I said, I grew up fast after that.”

“That's awful. Did you even finish high school?” Karis asked.

“Of course. There was a great night school program I got into. That allowed me to work during the day and be there to take Kylie to appointments and see she got to school and back home safely each day.”

Karis reached across the table and took Lauren's hands in hers. “That couldn't have been easy. You were just a child yourself.”

Lauren shrugged. “You do what you have to do for family, right? I'd choose to do it all over again a million times if it got us here. I mean, look at her.”

We all turned to look over at the table as Kylie smiled and laughed with her new friends.

“See. It was all worth it. I really think she's going to be okay here.”

Her eyes misted over as she tried to discreetly swipe tears away.

“You are an amazing woman, Lauren. Maybe even the strongest I've met in a very long time. To sacrifice yourself the way you have for your sister is just remarkable,” Karis said as the two women shared a moment.

I couldn't stop myself. I wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and relaxed when she leaned into me. I left it there while we ate. Might as well stake my claim. I had nothing to hide. This was my mate, and the best part of all was that she didn't seem embarrassed and didn't even try to pull away from me. The calm and joy that brought me was indescribable.

After lunch we said goodbye to my friends. Damon and Karis were about to head out needing to return to Alaska, seeing as how they were kind of important and definitely missed there.

He hugged me. “She's a keeper. Best of luck to you. Trust me, don't bother fighting it.”

“I certainly don't intend to.”

“Smart man. I trained you well.”

I went to move to Karis next, but she was talking to Lauren.

“I just want you to know how impactful your story was to me. Thank you for sharing. If you ever get tired of life in the Big Apple, know you have a place in Alaska, even if it's just for a visit. We'd love to have both you and Kylie visit us sometime. And sure, you can bring this guy, too.”

She casually nudged me before hugging my mate.

Seeing the two of them embrace did something to me and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to wipe the stupid grin off my face anytime soon.

Next, she hugged me.

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