Page 33 of Ronen
“And that’s when you knew?”
“Yeah,” I breathed the word out, making it longer than it was. “It was…indescribable. Even through the blinding pain, I knew what it was. It was like…my entire world shifted beneath me, but when it stopped moving, it was just so right. Something had changed inside me. I felt more…alive, but also calmer? More at peace. Like I just knew my world was right, somehow. It’s hard to explain.”
“And you don’t think he felt the same thing?” Connor questioned, and I heard the shuffling of horse’s hooves through the phone, their quiet nays and snickers.
“He didn’t come to the hospital to even see how I was,” I sighed, feeling sorry for myself. “He hasn’t even called or sent a text. Nothing. Radio silence. And I really like him, Connor. He’s so…beautiful, but not in a conventional way. His hair is always a mess, like he can’t be bothered to care enough to brush it. It’s perpetual bedhead and mayhem on top of his head, all the time. He’s always got every button of his shirts and cuffs buttoned up tight, like he’s super prim and proper. And he’s sharp tongued and snippy, all the time, but he’s smart. Really smart. The type where you can just tell someone is smarter than everyone in the room, ya know. And he has a sarcastic, dry sense of humor. But today, oh today! I forgot! Oh my Goddess!” I exclaimed, nearly sitting up on the couch in my excitement. “He had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, and the top two buttons of his shirt undone and open, and Connor!”
“What?” my brother exclaimed, joining in my excitement.
“He has fucking tattoos!” I almost shrieked the words, because how could I have forgotten that tiny tidbit of important information about Ronen. “A lot of tattoos from what I could see. His arms were covered, and there was one peeking out on his chest. I think that was a wolf.”
“Oh boy,” Connor whistled, “well, that’s your catnip. No wonder you’re gone on this guy. Maybe you somehow knew what he was hiding under his clothes.”
“No shit, I guess Fate does know what she’s doing.” I took another swallow of my water, my mouth suddenly dry. “It’s like he puts on this front for the world to see, all buttoned up, fussy and grumpy, but underneath there’s a…a…”
Connor laughed, “A tattooed bad boy?”
“I don’t know, maybe? But I’d sure like to find out. He just does it for me.”
“Oh, I’m aware. I feel like I know the guy already, you go on about him so fucking much.”
“I just wish I knew how he feels about us being fated,” I lamented quietly.
“Maybe he just needs a minute,” Connor’s voice turned serious. “I mean, I think finding out the guy you’ve been giving a hard time to, for how long now? Over a year? Is your fated mate…that might fuck with your head, ya know? But Mason, just be careful, okay? I don’t think you should show him your…” he hesitated, likely checking to see if anyone might be within earshot, “animal until you are both sure about what you want. You need to be able to trust him. If our secret got out…”
He didn’t need to finish his sentence or issue the warning.
“I know,” I whispered. “I just thought if I showed him…I don’t know…but, you’re right. Ronen and I need to talk before I make any rash decisions where my dragon is concerned.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Thanks for listening, Connor,” I yawned, covering my mouth. “Sorry, I need some sleep, and I think the ibuprofen might be kicking in.”
“Take care of yourself,” Connor ordered, before asking, “Am I to share any of this with the ‘rents?”
“Um,” I hesitated, nibbling on my bottom lip. “Just the parts about Cinnamon and her babies, and me falling. Make sure they know I’m fine! But the rest, I’ll tell them once Ronen and I have had a chance to talk.”
And if we decided we weren’t going to pursue anything further between us, I might not tell my parents at all. Theylonged for the day Connor and I found our own mates, hoping we would be as happy as they were, and I didn’t want to have to see the disappointment in their eyes if Ronen decided to walk away.
Because I had no plans on walking away, if I could help it.
Ronen Sinclair was my mate, and I intended to be the best alpha I could be for him.
Chapter Twelve
Ronen
“Ohhh, I love her dress,”Emily exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.“Gosh, I wish I could change outfits, just once. I mean, this was super stylish when I died, but it’s so outdated now.”
“Well,” I reminded her, turning off the ignition and staring out the windshield at the college students hurrying to and from classes, “retro always comes back in style. Why are you here? You rarely tag along with me outside the library.”
While Emily often vanished for short periods of time, she usually only manifested for me inside the library. It had been that way for as long as I could see ghosts.
She turned in the passenger seat, giving me a wide-eyed look.“Ro, it’s been a big day for you! Mason’s fall, finding out you’re fated to that hunk a hunka sexy man meat. I figured you could use a friend.”
“Please don’t ever put those words together in a sentence again, especially when describing Mason.”
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I ran my hands through my hair, trying to tame it into something that looked like a brush had seen it at some point in my life. Giving it up as a lost cause, I made my way into the building Matty had told me his office was located in.
