Page 46 of Beginning Fate

“Are you dragging me out into the middle of the woods to murder me for leaving you hanging like that?”

I burst out laughing. “That hadn't crossed my mind. But now that you mention it . . .”

Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

I chuckled. “Kidding. You'll always be safe with me. I could never get mad over something like that. I'd have felt horrible if you hadn't spoken up and later regretted it.”

The dark look that must have passed over me seemed to have calmed her nerves. I meant every word of it.

“Well, where are we going?”

“You'll see. Trust me. It's worth it. Do you trust me, Lauren?”

I held my breath awaiting her response.

“I do. I don't know why. I don't trust many people, but I do trust you.”

My heart swelled and I reached for her hand, linking our fingers together. I was sure I was grinning like a loon because my cheeks hurt from the act, but I couldn't stop smiling. She made me this way. She made me happier than I ever knew was possible and all the shit from back home and the uncertainty of my future, all the things I secretly stressed about while brushing it all off like I had no care in the world, they all melted away as we walked hand in hand through the woods.

She was the first to break the silence. “It's so quiet here it's almost terrifying.”

I stopped and listened. I could hear the trickle of water from a nearby creek, the birds chirping, and a squirrel scurrying away nearby. It wasn't quiet to me at all.

“What do you mean? There are lots of noises in the forest. Just close your eyes and listen.”

She did, but then shook her head. “I hear the animals, the wind, and such, but there's no sounds of cars, no horns blaring, and people yelling. It's all so quiet. How do you stand it?”

I snorted. “Okay, now I believe you really are a New York wolf.”

“Don't tease, I'm serious.”

“It's nice here. I like the quiet. New Orleans isn't quite as loud and crazy as New York. Plus, there's always the bayou to escape the insanity. But I understand what you mean. The quiet here in these woods settles my wolf. I love it.”

“Is that why you don’t want to leave here?”

Sighing, I decided there shouldn’t be secrets between mates and knew I was going to have to allow myself to be vulnerable to this woman if we were ever to have a true chanceat making it. But honestly, this subject wasn't within my comfort zone.

“No, it's not.”

“Then why?” she asked.

I was quiet for a moment as we continued to walk, but she stopped and looked up at me more curiously now.

Nodding in resolution, I told her the truth.

“The reason I stay is simple. It's safe here. I know you've been through a lot, more than just about anyone I’ve ever known, but I don't get the feeling you know what it's like to be so scared that you can't sleep at night.”

“But you do?” she asked softly.

I shrugged. “My Pack lives in one big building in the city. We have outlying properties in the bayou that we can escape to, but only with permission. My Alpha is basically a dictator and thrives on ruling with fear. The apartments are assigned by his set hierarchy. He and his family live at the very top. I grew up somewhere in the middle, but you never knew when that would change.”

I wasn't sure how much I should tell her. It wasn't something I was supposed to talk about even within my Pack, but this was my mate.

“What happened?” she whispered.

“I had an older brother, and he decided it would be fun to screw with the Alpha heir. Leo isn't a bad guy, and I know he didn't rat him out, but there are eyes and ears everywhere in the city and word got back to his father anyway.” I took a deep breath. I'd never told anyone what had happened. My parents thought my brother had killed himself, but I knew better. “It was all made to look like a suicide.”

She gasped.

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