Page 38 of The Alpha's Silent Mate

When he speaks, his voice is strained. “Lexa, that might not be a good idea.”

“Why not?”

After releasing a heavy breath, he turns. I glimpse the heat in his eyes, and I can guess what he will say before he does. “It’s getting harder to want to stop at a kiss.”

Oh.

I clear my throat. “Because of last night?”

He shakes his head. “Because it’s you. Everything about you calls to me.”

“You do too,” I admit in a low voice. “Is it like this with all mates?”

He shrugs. “Maybe for some. My dad wasn’t like this with my mom before she died.”

“What was he like?”

“Well,” Shay drawls, “let’s just say that the only thing that mattered to him was the pack. Nothing else.”

I search his face as I try to read how that made him feel, but there’s no outward change to his expression. Even when he told me stories as I hid under the bed, he never mentioned his mom, so she must have died when he was young or her death was too painful for him to want to bring it up.

Before I can think up a response, he steers me toward the bath. “Come on.”

With his hand in mine, he helps me into the steaming water. Despite him saying he would look for clothes, he sinks beside the bath with a pleased smile curving his lips. “You look relaxed.”

I smile back. “The water feels nice.”

“Good. You want me to wash your back for you?”

“My dad loved my mom. I think they still would’ve chosen each other even if they weren’t fated mates.” The words slip out before I knew I was going to say them. But I don’t regret it, and I wouldn’t take them back if I could.

I hadn’t intended to talk about Mom and Dad ever again, but Shay has always made it hard to stay silent. Maybe it’s because he’s my mate that I want to share things with him. But maybe it’s just because it’s Shay.

“They would?” Shay asks gently.

After lowering my head to take in the bubbles that cover most of my lower body, I nod. “He was alpha, but even when he was busy, he always made time for her… and me.”

“Sound like a good guy.”

My eyes fill with tears. “He was.”

A tear slides down my cheek and splashes in the water. Not a second later, Shay is rising from his crouch and stepping into the bath behind me.

I lift my head and brush away my tears as he settles with his legs on either side of mine. “Shay? I thought you said—”

“Yes,” he interrupts, as he wraps his arms around me and draws my body back against his chest. “And I meant it. But the tears changed everything.” He kisses my hair. “I feel your pain, pup, and I have to do something about it.”

“You’re already doing something,” I admit. “You’re here.”

“Words like that will get you everything you want,” Shay says with a smile in his voice.

“You already give me everything I want.”

“Do I?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Then it means I’m a good mate.”

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