Page 152 of As The Shifter World Turns

As time goes on. I liked the sound of that.

61

ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK

Ivor

Mates. Ryder and I were mated.

I’d put all my doubts aside and listened to my heart. And I was so glad. The time was right. We were meant for one another and we loved each other. My beast was content and so was his stag apparently.

I’d finally gotten rid of Kellan from my head. For a while I couldn’t say his name, just thought of him as the asswipe. But I’d banished him along with my other insecurities.

Hello, mate.

That was Ryder sending a text. He’d message me during the day just so he could use the word ‘mate’. It was adorable and I loved him so much.

I’m busy, mate. See you tonight,I texted.

Okay, mate.

Gods, I loved that stag shifter. I giggled, and my boss gave me a look as he walked past.

Ivor still picked me up after work, even though I could have taken the bus. Often he dropped me off at the manor and then headed back to the office. He was working long hours, more so than me at the moment and we hadn’t yet been out to celebrate our mating.

“Your chariot, sire.” He bowed and opened the door as I exited my office building. “How was your day?”

“Fine. There are some bigwigs coming to town next week so I’ll need to be at work earlier than usual.” I took a breath and continued, “And it’ll be fine. It’s only for a few days. Thebaby and I can cope.

Once I did up my seat belt, he spoke to my bump. “And did you have a good day sleeping and kicking, little one?”

“Mostly asleep but they got in a few good kicks,” I told him.

Ryder changed the subject. “Daire’s going to be happy with me.”

“Why’s that? Did you get him and Micah a new client?”

“No, a possible tenant.”

Seb’s apartment which had originally been Micah’s had been empty for a while. “That’s great. Who?”

“You remember Trey from my office?”

Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck!The gorgeous omega who worked with my mate? How could I forget? I'd apologized to the guy for being snarky but that didn’t mean I wanted him living in our building. “Yes.” The word got stuck in my throat but luckily Ryder didn’t notice as he was yelling at another driver for cutting him off.

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s?—“

But he interrupted me. “I shouldn’t be shouting around the baby. It’s a bad habit I need to control.”

I cradled my bump. “It’s fine. The baby will definitely recognize your voice after they’re born.”

While Ryder concentrated on the road and not yelling, I went over the idea of seeing Trey bouncing down the stairs each morning and meeting him on the roof on Friday nights. Not knowing if he had a vehicle, I pictured him in the back seat of Ryder’s car when my mate drove me to work. And when I got out, he’d pop into the front.

I glanced out the window so Ryder wouldn’t notice my eyes swimming with tears. But when I sniffed, I covered it with a cough and he glanced in my direction.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

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