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“My mother,” he said quietly, which somehow made his voice even more gruff. “Then as I grew older, many females. They feared me.”

Mel sat in her chair, her mouth open in shock as Va’roush told her his own mother didn’t want him.

“All I know is the male that I see sitting here with me. The kindness of his heart as he’s watched over me since the day he met me. The selflessness he displayed as he volunteered his time and even risked his life to help people he didn’t know find a female that was lost. The concern you showed for me and my situation when you went to a friend to secure lodging for us and for my animals. The regard with which everyone I’ve met holds you, there is nothing undesirable about you. There is much to be respected. So much to be admired.”

“She didn’t want me. And no one has since. I was not good enough, and now I’m broken. You were not supposed to know.”

“Why didn’t she want you?”

Va’roush played with a fry on his plate.

“It doesn’t matter, you don’t have to tell me. But let me tell you what I believe. I believe that if any mother doesn’t want their child, it is not the child’s fault. There are many reasons a woman might not want her child, but the child can’t possibly be responsible for whatever her reasons are. The child didn’t ask to be born. The adults involved for whatever reason, gave life to that child. Those are their circumstances, not the child's. The child is innocent. Now, to take that a step further, if the child is made to believe they are at fault, then that is some bullshit! All kids are innocent, until they’re taught not to be by life. And it sounds like your life taught very early that life sucks. Well, guess what. That doesn’t mean you suck. It means that life sucks.”

He raised his gaze to hers. “And you don’t look at me all the time either. Sometimes you look right past me, rather than meet my gaze. Why?”

“You might see the damage in my soul.”

“There is no damage in your soul. There is only hurt.”

“I can’t take the chance.”

“Then why did you take the chance? You found me a place to live. Why would you go to the trouble if you planned to stay distant?”

A full minute passed before he finally answered. “You are my female,” he said slowly.

Mel waited almost as long as he had to answer her question, before she could think of something to say. “What does that mean?”

“I am a half-breed. I thought I didn’t have a female because I didn’t deserve one. But when I saw you, I knew. You are my female.”

She just looked at him. “I need more explanation than that.”

“Cruestaci warriors only have one female. She is destined for him, and after he finds her, he will never have another. You are mine.”

“Because you’re a Cruestaci warrior you recognized me.”

“Half.”

“Half Cruestaci warrior,” she corrected.

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure I’m yours.”

“Yes. But I knew I would only find rejection, so I didn’t voice it. I just did what instinct told me to do, whether accepted or not.”

“Watch over me,” she guessed.

“Protect you.”

“How long did you plan to do this?” she asked.

“Forever.”

“It’s why you stayed behind.”

“Yes. Do not worry. I will not claim you. I know I’m undesirable.”

“First,” she said, standing up and pushing her chair back. “Do not tell me what you think I believe. If you want to know something ask me and I’ll tell you. Second, you are as far from undesirable as it gets. You are, in my eyes, a handsome, huge, dangerous male, and that makes you very attractive. Third, I don’t care what you are Cruestaci, or anything else. All I care about is that you’re here, and I’m here, and that you don’t hide from me anymore. Do you understand?”

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