Page 53 of Mismatched Mates

My heart, fickle as it was, leaped in greeting.

“I saw you on TV,” I said after a second, holding onto the door with white-knuckled determination so I wouldn’t throw myself into his arms.

“That was only half of it.” His eyes were unusually serious. “And I only agreed to do the interview if I could say that much. My father doesn’t usually allow us to mention our personal lives when discussing business matters, but I told him that I needed to make a public statement.”

“And he agreed?”

His scar twisted as he gave a crooked smile. “He did when I told him I was your mate.”

I blinked, opening my mouth then closing it again. Over the past few days, I’d come to the same conclusion—Luke and Victoria were right, there was only one explanation for it. But to hear him say it was another thing entirely. The impact was like a knife to my gut, but instead of pain there was only relief.

Grant stepped closer, pulling me into his arms. “I told him that you’re my mate and that I love you, and if I had to choose between my pack and my mate, I would choose you every time, even if you didn’t choose me back.”

I stared into his face. The face of my mate, so perfectly crafted to appeal to me. My heart sang for him.

“But,” he murmured, his head bending until only a whisper separated our mouths, “I’m hoping that you will choose me back.”

My heart stuttered. The world stopped spinning. I tried to drag in a breath, but all I could smell was him.

“I've spent my whole life thinking I wasn't good enough, that I'd never measure up to what my father wanted. And then I met you, and suddenly I had this incredible connection that I didn't earn, didn't deserve."

“I want to make a life with you and work out what that looks like. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, but I want it. And I’m sorry for not figuring out how much I wanted it until I almost lost it.” His thumb stroked my cheek. “And I needed to say all this in person, because it was killing me not being able to tell you how much I love you.”

Because I’d blocked him.

“The article said it was the night after the wedding,” I whispered.

“I know. I know, and I don’t have any explanation for it except that someone has been trying to ruin my reputation for a long time now. Or maybe it was an honest mistake. But I was home that night, sitting on my sofa and pretending to watch a movie while I messaged you.”

I choked on a sob. “It killed me to think you played me like a fool.”

“God.” He pulled me closer, like he could put all the splintered pieces of hurt back together. “I’m so sorry,sweetheart. But when I said it’s only ever been you since the first day we met, I meant it. You’re it for me. I could never, ever want anyone else.”

If this were anyone else, I’d probably tell them to be very cautious about trusting someone who had hurt them so badly. But the sincerity in his voice rang in my chest, like I could taste the truth in his words.

He was my mate, and I knew he meant every word he’d said.

“I missed you,” I said, and tipped my face up to his, not caring that the neighbors could see, that my mom and brother and little boys were in the back room. He kissed me eagerly, and the fire that had never been extinguished in my belly burned hot and bright again.

I caught his wrist, holding his hand against my face as I broke away. “We’ll have to take it slow,” I warned. “I need stability for the boys.”

He nodded, still holding me. “I need to figure out what good parenting looks like. I was hoping to learn from you.”

The last of my resistance broke down. He was here, pushing back against his family’s expectations the way he hadn’t about any of his father’s other decrees, and if it was all a misunderstanding, then what reason did I have to turn him away?

“Everyone’s in the living room,” I said. “I think they’re hoping I’ll bring you in.”

“Well.” He linked fingers with me and brought the back of my hand to his lips. “It would be a shame to disappoint them, don’t you think?”

We stepped into the living room, and I swear I could hear the collective intake of breath as everyone pretended they hadn't been eavesdropping.

Amateurs.

"Mommy!" Lance yelled, launching himself at me. "Is Grant gonna be our new Daddy?"

I choked on air.

"Whoa there, buddy," Grant chuckled, ruffling Brandon's hair. "Let's start with being friends first, okay?"

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