Page 62 of Home: Posy 5

"You didn't want to live with your brother at the alpha house?" I tilted my head with curiosity.

"He and Leyly found out they were mates a week after Liam became alpha." Camille giggled and her cheeks flushed pink. "They were both eighteen and didn't need a fourteen-year-old little sister in their love nest."

"They kicked you out?" My eyebrows flew up, and my opinion of my older cousin - who I hadn't even met yet - took a nosedive.

"Oh, no. Of course not. I kicked myself out." She giggled again. "Besides, Grandpa was so lonely out here by himself. Grandma had died just a year prior, and he suddenly went from busy alpha to retired, lonely old man with nothing to do. He needed me. He still does."

"Then I'm glad he has you." I smiled.

"Hmm. Hopefully for a long while before I meet my mate." Her eyes dimmed a little as they dropped to the floor.

"Millie?"

"I'm not too eager to find my mate," she admitted quietly. "I have three more years of college, and I don't want to transfer. I chose that college because it was small and close enough for me to commute every day, and I don't want to jeopardize my scholarship."

"Oh. Well, your mate will be open to listening to your concerns. I'm sure they're not going to make you quit school or anything."

"I'm also worried that he won't want to live here," she mumbled. "Crystal Caverns isn't near a big city like Five Fangs is. Around here, it's simple country folks who either farm or work at the steel mill. My mate will make me move to his pack. I just know it."

"Wait. You're ruling out that he might be from Crystal Caverns," I pointed out.

"I've already met all the eligible boys in the pack, and it's none of them."

"He might not have turned eighteen yet."

"I know, but I hope that isn't the case. If it is, I hope that he's only a couple of years younger than me. I don't want to turn into a cougar!"

"Acougar?" My face screwed up in confusion. "How can a wolf shifter turn into a cat shifter?"

"No, not like that! Sorry. A cougar is a slang term for an older woman who, um, mates with younger men," she explained with a giggle.

"Oh!" I said with big eyes, then giggled, too.

"I have a gut feeling that he's from another pack," she said as we quieted down. "I don't know how or why. I just do."

I wanted to encourage her about finding her mate, so I thought about all the selling points Crystal Caverns had.

"You probably don't notice it because you've always lived here, but this territory has a lot of natural beauty and space to run. Not to mention that exploring the caves is its own adventure. Besides, no matter where he's from, I've discovered that mates will do just about anything to keep their other half happy. If you don't want to leave your pack, he'll understand."

"It's not only my pack. I worry about Grandpa. He's buried his wife and all of his children, and I'm worried that he'll start to give up if I leave. And I want to see my nephew grow up. I don't want to move away from my family." She smiled sadly. "But I know he might have a job he can't give up, or maybe he won't want to leavehisfamily or pack. And what guy would want to live with his mate's grandpa?"

With a soft sigh, I wrapped my arm around her waist and gave her a side hug.

Girl's too darn tall, I grumbled to myself.At least eight inches taller than me. That's just unnecessary.

"One thing I've learned," I told her, "is that all the anxiety in the world won't affect the future, just like no amount of regret will change the past. What's meant to be will be. Unless you plan on rejecting him?"

"No. I want my Goddess-given mate. I'm just— I'm just scared." She leaned down and laid her head on my shoulder.

"There's nothing wrong with being scared. I've been scared a lot in my life." I didn't go into details, not sure how much the Swifts knew about my past, but not ready to share it, anyway. "We still have to get up and keep going, Millie, even if we're shaking in our boots while we're doing it."

"Sorry, Posy. I shouldn't be burdening you with my silly worries. Besides, I know I'm being selfish, wanting my mate to make all these concessions for me, but not wanting to make any myself."

"They're not silly, and it's not a burden. And it's okay to be selfish sometimes. We can only give so much of ourselves away before there's nothing left." I smiled up at her. "When you meet your mate, tell him whatyou'dlike, then ask him whathe'dlike. A mate complements you in every way, so I'm sure the two of you can work out a compromise."

"Thanks, Posy," she murmured and stepped away. "Is that what you did with your mates?"

"Um, we had a different kind of first meeting." I grabbed the end of my braid and played with it as I quickly changed the subject. "But my brothers' mates did! Those girls don't play!"

---