Page 14 of Home: Posy 5

Her dark eyes flew to mine, and it felt like one of Alpha Mason's hard fists had slammed into my chest - something I'd experienced more than once during fighter practice.

Mate!Birch pushed me forward, making me stumble a step before I regained control.

My girl's eyes widened at my sudden movement, and she let out a little, "Eep!" before disappearing behind the door.

Mate scared?Birch asked with a puzzled head tilt.

Maybe. Or maybe shy like Adam.

Follow mate!

Taking his sage advice, I strode toward the door that I assumed led to the kitchen area. As much as I wanted to go busting through it and sweep my mate up in my arms, that would only frighten her more or spook her into running.

Instead, I controlled myself and my bouncing wolf and pushed the swinging door open just enough to stick my head in and have a look.

I was right. It was the kitchen, and my mate stood in the center with her head bowed and her arms wrapped around her tiny waist. Another fairy - this one with baby blue hair - stood next to her and rubbed one hand up and down her back.

"What's wrong, Reggie? Did something scare you?" the blue-haired fairy asked my mate.

"Um, I think it was me." Moving very slowly, I eased the rest of myself around the door. "Although I didn't mean to."

"Delilah!" called a female voice from the front of the store, and I assumed it was Adam's mate.

The blue-haired fairy looked toward the door, then bit her bottom lip as she glanced at my mate, obviously hesitant to leave.

"It's fine, Dellie. Go," said the softest, sweetest voice in the world.

Delilah nodded at her, then sprinted around me and out of the kitchen.

My mate finally raised her head, and I got lost in her huge brown eyes.

"Hello. My name is Regina."

"Hi, Regina. I'm Nick Sylvestri. Do you know what I am?"

"Yes. You're a werewolf, and you're, um, my mate. Do you know what I am?"

"Of course. You're a beautiful fairy!" I smiled and risked taking a step closer to her. "I'm so happy to meet you!"

"I'm happy, too." She ducked her head as a smile twitched on her lips. "So happy."

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" I asked in a gentle tone, desperate to not scare her again. "Or even stay here in the cafe and talk with me? I'd love to spend time with you and get to know you."

"Could we go to the park? We can leave through the back door," she paused to tilt her head toward it, "then it's only a block away."

"Of course we can." I slowly raised my elbow and held it up as if we were in one of those cringe romance movies, but it felt like the right gesture for this lovely, shy creature. "It would give me the greatest pleasure to accompany you anywhere you want to go."

She moved closer and slipped her hand in the crook of my arm, and mate sparks danced up and down my skin. I couldn't hold back my grin as joy fizzed through my veins like champagne bubbles. When the edges of her full lips tugged up in a smile, I knew she felt the same way, as if we were caught somewhere between a dream and a miracle with only the grandest adventure awaiting us.

"Shall we?" she asked quietly.

I nodded and opened the door, and we stepped out into the bright sunlight.

#

Gamma Adam Bishop

Mate!

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