Page 40 of Held By a Monster

“Fated mates are much like you said. For shifters, there is one person who is your soul mate.

“Many years ago, the three fates became annoyed with Fenrir—essentially the father of shifters—and withheld mates. Just recently have they begun to find each other again.”

A million questions ran through my mind, but somehow I managed to stay silent.

“The mate bond is unbreakable once in place.”

He stopped and crouched in front of me, putting him at eye level.

“Do you understand, Kendal? If you choose to accept me as mate, and we forge the bond, it can never be undone.”

twenty-six

My eyes bored intohers as we stood frozen in the forest. I don’t think I drew breath until she nodded.

“I understand.”

“It is your decision to make, and I urge you to think well before you make it. To consider everything before you decide.”

She nodded and we walked in silence for a while.

“Do you not want me as your mate?”

Her voice was small and hesitant and I hated it. I whirled and wrapped my frame around hers. I had to bend and fold. She was so small, seemed so fragile, but I’d seen her strength.

“I want nothing more.”

I heard her swallow. “I sense abutthere.”

I sucked air through my muzzle and licked the side of her neck. I scraped my teeth gently against her flesh and felt her shiver in my arms. “But I am a monster, and I fail to see how you could be happy tied to me forever.”

She pushed at my chest and I let her go.

“My first instinct is to rail at you and tell you that you can’t decide that for me, but you said that already, so I’ll rein it in. I think the future is too uncertain for either of us to make big decisions right now.” She looked away and sighed. “Let’s deal with the problems in front of us, then decide how we can be together and both of us be happy.”

My brain caught on the ‘we’ part of her statement. I wanted to whoop for joy, but it was premature. She wasn’t choosing me… yet. But she was giving me a chance. Maybe she could learn to live with a monster. Maybe even come to care for one.

She checked her phone and said, “This is far enough.”

She pulled up the shifter’s contact and I heard the line ring.

“Kendal, is everything all right?” Zeus’s voice was clear.

I thought she’d reach a receptionist or secretary. Why did she have his direct line?

“No, not really. We’ve found some new information and it’s important to share.”

“Understood. Will you come tonight?”

She looked up at me, but I didn’t understand the question in her eyes.

“Actually, I think you should come to us this time.”

I nodded in agreement. It was a risk, allowing them to see where we hid, but it was also an advantage to be on our turf for this discussion. I think the shifters were trustworthy, but seeing them in our space might help solidify those feelings.

And if they betrayed us, it would be easier to conceal the bodies.

Kendal gave him our location and chuckled. I’d lost the thread of conversation, so I didn’t know what she thought was funny.

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