Page 7 of My Mate

None of this made any sense to her, but yet, the moment Dex gave her that warning look that she had come to associate with him, she didn’t linger. Hell, no, she turned on her heel and ran like crazy. She had no idea where she was going.

She couldn’t believe she was running away from Dex in her underwear. There had better not be any of the pack around as she felt this was going to require way too many questions and she didn’t have a clue how she would be able to answer them.

But once again, Dex was at her rescue, trying to make her feel better. She didn’t know why he was always there whenshe needed him. It had been that way for as long as she could remember. Even before they started school, Dex was always there.

At first, running through the forest naked didn’t feel special, other than the fact she was in her underwear running from her soon-to-be Alpha.

Casey didn’t quite know when that feeling changed, but she felt the air on her face and the earth beneath her feet. It was fast, and it took her breath away. She didn’t want it to stop.

And then, she heard Dex as he began to make chase.

She started to slow down, as she knew she was no match for Dex. He’d be able to do whatever the hell he wanted. Everyone knew how good he was, faster and stronger than everyone else. She knew she wasn’t going to make this easier for him, but she was going to make him work for it.

Running as fast as she was able, which she didn’t feel was a great speed, she was feeling like her lungs were about to explode. It felt incredible, and with Dex gaining on her, she didn’t know what he was going to want from her.

Dex never told her what he wanted. He never asked for a single thing, not even back in high school. Whenever he saw her getting bullied, the person doing the bullying would end up on their face, and he’d hold out a hand for her to take. Everyone knew they messed with her at their own risk. Sometimes they tried to do it in secret, but Dex had his ways of finding out. Most of the time, she didn’t even need to tell him what had happened or who had done it. He’d been able to detect who they were by simply scenting her skin.

To some people that was weird, but she also knew it was the Alpha part of him that was able to do the things he did. She also knew, one day, when he did take over from Klaus, he would be just as good as his father.

Dex had a heart, although he tried to hide it. Her motheronce said that the only problem with Dex was that someone he cared about kept getting hurt.

Casey suddenly came to a stop as she realized who she was talking about. The pack hurt her. Dex cared abouther.

She spun around as Dex came toward her, and she stared at him. For so long she had wondered who he cared about, but it would seem for the longest time it had been her.

“I’ve got you,” he said.

Her back was to the tree. She kept panting, and much to her surprise it only took a few seconds to catch her breath.

“It’s me,” Casey said. “I am the one you care about.”

Dex stared at her, and he took one step, then another, until he reached out and rested his hand against the side of her head.

She didn’t know what to say or do, she could only look at him. “That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Did you not know?” he asked.

“I … I … no.”

He smiled. “You know, for a clever woman, Casey, you sometimes are a little dumb.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you didn’t know it was you I cared about.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “No, not why I’m dumb, but why did you not tell me?” she asked. “Why do you care about me?”

Dex could have any other girl or single woman in the pack. Besides the fact he was handsome and sexy, he was also going to be the next Alpha, and to a lot of women, that was a draw no one could deny.

She didn’t care that he was going to be the next Alpha. When they were little, her parents would always tell her to be nice to Dex. She didn’t have to be told to be nice. Once again, it took her a little time to realize that Dex was the Alpha’s son. Shealready cared about him by then. He was her best friend and in his way, her savior.

It would seem there were a lot of times when fellow peers from the pack didn’t like her. She had no idea what she did to irritate them, but either way, she was not going to let it bother her. Dex cared for her.

“How could I not care for you?” he asked. “You’re smart—”

“You just called me dumb,” she reminded him.

“You’re smart and dumb at the same time. You do not know what is right under your nose, and you’re … beautiful. Even when people are being assholes to you, you haven’t changed. It has not made you bitter. You don’t think about getting them back. Even after what Buddy did to you, you’re not thinking about hurting him.”

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