Page 2 of My Mate

Dex let him go, and then took one last look before he left the changing room, then made his way out of the building. He should have known his father would be there, waiting with the car. Dex had walked in the hope of burning off some of his anger, but it hadn’t worked. He was just as angry now as he was before.

“Dad,” he said.

“Son.”

“He’s still alive.”

“Good.”

“But there is blood,” Dex said.

“I already called the family, and they have apologized.”

Dex nodded.

“Son, do you want to explain this to me?”

He shrugged. “The bastard beat the shit out of Casey. She can’t stand up for herself, or won’t, I don’t know, and I can’t allow her to get hurt. What could I do?”

“I’m not talking about this situation. You actually made it easier for Buddy and his family. I don’t take kindly to bullies, and I believe I heard correctly that he was attempting to force Casey out of the pack. That is not going to happen.”

Dex looked toward his father. “You don’t think her not being a wolf is a problem?”

“Her not transitioning is not unheard of.”

“Seriously? It’s never occurred in the pack,” Dex said.

“Doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened before,” Klaus said.“I’m interested in whether you’re aware of why you’re fighting this?”

“Dad, stop—”

“No, you need to understand that you’re acting like a mate. You’re acting like her protector and behaving exactly as I’ve seen all other mates react. When are you going to face the reality that Casey might not be your mate?”

Dex looked toward his father. He had never been honest with him. From the moment he first saw Casey Scott across the town square, nearly fifteen years ago, he remembered feeling this pull. They had been three years old at the time, but he knew what he felt. It had been powerful and strong.

That feeling hadn’t faded. Not as they entered kindergarten, or high school. He’d felt this pull to be with her. Every time she entered the room, he didn’t even need to look around to know it was her. She was like a magnet to him.

Casey made him feel, she made him want to be a better guy, although he did everything he could to be hated, especially by his peers. He didn’t flirt with the girls, hook up, or do any of that shit. The only person he wanted was Casey.

He also couldn’t stand when other males tried to fight for her affection. That had the ability to piss him the fuck off. Casey belonged to him.

Again, he’d never said anything. His father was convinced he and Casey were not mates, but Dex knew differently. He also knew something was blocking Casey’s ability to turn into a wolf, and he’d figure it out. Until then, no one was going to hurt her.

“Dad, she’s a friend, and she needs someone to watch her back.”

****

Casey slid her hand up and down, holding onto the paintbrush as she worked on the fence. Her dad was convincedshe was too stressed. Turning eighteen and being the only one in her eighteenth year not to turn sucked, big time.

She had never been a popular kid at school, but when news had gotten out about her lack of wolf, she’d been treated far worse than she ever thought possible. Like most of the pack, she was still being given the year to adjust and to acclimate herself in with the pack. There was no school, just jobs that needed to be done around the pack. Allowing each new transitioner to get used to the unpredictable feeling of being the wolf as well.

For the past five months, she’d watched other people her age struggle. They had been serving coffee or taking care of people, and their wolf gene had suddenly manifested. It resulted in the Alpha being called to help guide each person to have complete control over their wolf.

She had nothing. No feeling, no sensation. Not even the conversations she’d overheard others discussing. She was alone. No wolf.

For a short moment, she had wondered if she was adopted, and her parents had some kind of freaky secret. Again, she’d been wrong. She was her parents’ child, and there was no changing that. Now her father was trying to get her to relax and not freak out. This was proving to be very difficult, because the more time passed with not even a freaking tingle, the harder it was for her to not panic.

Painting a fence was supposed to help clear her mind from the fact she was beaten up the other day. Her parents were not happy, especially as she refused to attack back. What could she do? Get her ass kicked? She wasn’t a coward, but fighting didn’t seem to be the answer. Although the bruises were still on her face, the pain had lessened to almost nonexistent.

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