Page 19 of My Mate

“It was Buddy Anderson’s father,” Klaus said. “He doesn’t believe that having a non-transitioner is good for the other wolves. Also, he doesn’t think it would be ideal for his son to be around someone with such lower blood.”

“That piece of fucking shit.”

“Son, you will not respond to this. I took care of it, and some things are best left alone.”

Dex shook his head.

“Promise me.”

“Damn it, Dad.”

“Now.”

“Fine, fine. I promise I won’t go after Anderson’s father.”

“Or Buddy.”

Dex gritted his teeth as he’d hoped his father wouldn’t see through his attempt to break through the promise.

“Fine, I won’t go after any of them. Not while I’m not Alpha.”

Klaus nodded. “And understand, Casey is safe here. While I am Alpha, and while you are here, nothing bad will happen.”

Dex nodded. “Now can I go?”

“Yes.”

He got to his feet and left his father’s office. Then he left the house and started in the direction of the forest.

Dex felt like someone was watching him, and he turned, catching sight of Buddy Anderson. The other man had stopped in the middle of the street, and Dex caught sight of the anger in the other’s face.

He might have promised his father he wasn’t going to cause trouble, and he wouldn’t, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to respond if Buddy decided to take him on.

****

Casey’s parents had wished her good luck.

Did they even know she still didn’t feel different? There was no magical change within her. Plain and simply nothing.

Heading out to her favorite spot, she usually spent many hours watching the full moon, praying that something—anything—would happen. This time she had brought a blanket tolie on, as well as one to wrap around her. Even though it was still summertime, they were getting toward the end, and that meant it was getting colder, especially at night.

Once she was at her spot, she didn’t even bother to look at the full moon. Instead, she rolled out her blanket, threw it down on the ground, and then lay on her stomach so her back was to the full moon.

She reached for the book she had decided to bring with her—a romance her mother had told her was pretty good. She didn’t spend a lot of time reading anymore. Her spare time had been consumed with trying to figure out how to bring forth her wolf.

“I’m just not going to bother,” she said, opening her book.

It didn’t matter to her. She was not going to turn into a wolf. What was the point in trying?

She read one page and then the second, but none of the words registered. She didn’t understand it. And she couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift to Dex.

After they had been together in the lake, he’d helped her out, taking the towel she had brought along to dry her. Dex had taken care of her, and it had been so sweet and loving.

Now, with the full moon at her back, she couldn’t help but feel those doubts. They completely flooded her.

Dex deserved someone who could run beside him, be with him. The very thought of him doing that filled her with such sadness, and she also felt this anger. Could she give him up? Did she even want to? It would be the right thing to allow him to be with a mate who could give him children, the right kind of children.

Her eyes glistened, and that was when she realized she was crying. She didn’t want to cry. No, she wanted to be defiant, but the truth was, she felt so lost and alone.

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