Page 21 of Chomp's Challenge

“I’d love to,” I say, and I mean it.

I wave from the doorway as she grabs her purse and dashes out, rushing to her car. It’s cute. Michael, her boyfriend, sounds like he’s a nice guy, and I’m sure I’ll meet him soon. Flipping the lock, I ensure I’m safe for the night, and head into the kitchen. I need snacks.

It’s odd to have the evening to myself. I don’t have to rush to cook or clean for someone else or worry that I’ll be hit or kicked during the process. After my popcorn is ready, I take it into my room with my Diet Coke and settle in for the night.

Just when I’m getting sleepy, I hear my phone vibrate with an incoming text. Since there are only a handful of people who have my number, I decide to look. It might be important. Before I can swipe across the screen, another text follows. I smile when I see who sent it.

Chomp: Goodnight, Ariel.

Chomp: Sweet dreams.

Me: See ya later, Alligator.

It’s impulsive. I don’t know what possesses me to send that text or the smiley face emoji after it.

I don’t have to worry Chomp won’t like it. His response is quick. A laugh emoji first, then his comment.

Chomp: In a while, Crocodile.

I’m grinning so damn wide, and it’s silly, but I love it. I turn off the TV and shut off the lights, and when I close my eyes, there aren’t any nightmares to greet me.

Chapter

Nine

CHOMP

Ariel messaged me. More than that, she shared a joke. I took a chance texting her after our initial exchange of numbers, and it paid off.

I’m ridiculously giddy this morning, despite spending most of the night awake, guarding Ariel’s house, and peeking in her window. No, it’s not stalking.

Not stalking if it’s our mate, my gator chimes in, fully in agreement. Of course, he’s not going to think so. He’s ecstatic. Half the reason I’m so jovial is because he’s ridiculously confident we can win our mate over after last night.

I’m nearly bouncing on my feet as I shower and dress, drinking practically the whole pot of coffee before I leave the house. I’m jittery, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I just need to see Ariel. The entire night was torture, watching her from a distance, and being unable to touch or hold her.

But if she had a nightmare, I might have texted.

Or knocked down the door, my gator interjects.

No violence. He chumpfs in response. As far as he’s concerned right now, since she now knows about shifters, as well as the fact that we’re her mate, it should be a done deal. What he fails to realize is her treatment by that fucker, whose name I refuse to utter, stunted her in a lot of ways. She was dealing with her mother’s illness then her death, so she failed to see any of the warning signs that he wasn’t who he proclaimed he was until it was too late.

She’s our mate, my gator argues. We will help her heal.

“She has to find who she is, gator,” I mutter out loud. Sometimes, when he won’t listen to me, I opt to talk to him verbally instead of in my head. It seems he understands better or something. “We will protect her and watch over her, though, while she heals. I know you think she’s perfect just the way she is, and I agree, but humans can be weird sometimes. Ariel needs to think she’s okay, and in order for her to get to that point, she needs to try things on her own.”

What if we’re not there for her and she needs us?

“If we can’t be there, I’ll see if one of the brothers will keep an eye out.”

It’s not the same, he insists. It’s our job, Chomp!

I shake my head because right now, he’s just being obstinate. She’ll be with us at the shop all day long, so it’s only in the evenings and while she’s sleeping that we’ll need to guard her without anyone finding out. Hell, even if someone does find out, it won’t stop me.

Us, my gator interjects with a growl.

“Us,” I amend aloud, trying not to comment on the fact that he’s gotten more stubborn and aggressive since we met Ariel. I know the reasons, but he still needs to chill out before we scare her. Because if he’s like this now and we haven’t even mated yet, how is he going to be when she’s eventually carrying our child?

It’s nearly time for Ariel’s first shift to begin and I’m a fucking mess. Anxious. Wound up. And truth be told, missing her like crazy. If even an hour goes by without seeing her, I want to give into my animal side and let the gator take over, ensuring she’s safe even if I have to follow behind her and snap at anyone who comes close. How fucking insane is that? I need to rein my wayward thoughts in somehow before Spike and Kodiak lower the boom on me. But in my defense, I’ve never had a mate, and Kodiak’s the only one who might even be able to relate to how I’m feeling. I don’t wanna have to go to that fuzzy fucker for any advice because he’ll lord it over me for the rest of our lives.

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