Page 26 of Wrong Mate

“How did you know about that?” Leah asked.

“You told him about that?” Killian asked at the same time.

She looked to Killian and frowned. “No, I didn’t tell him anything.” She turned to Mystic. “How did you know?”

“Word spreads. It’s gossip for us guys.”

“No one should be spreading gossip,” Killian said.

She held her hand up. “Hold on a second. You knew about this and you still didn’t call? I thought we were friends.”

“We are friends and I’ve been trying to call you, but each time I did, I didn’t know exactly what to say. What do you say to someone who’s just been very publicly rejected?” he asked.

Leah winced. “I see your point.”

“What would you have said to me?” Mystic asked.

“I don’t know. I’m here.”

Mystic raised his brows. “Seriously?”

She wrinkled her nose. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have a clue what to say to you.”She shrugged. “Well, Mystic, this is Killian. We’re kind of on a secret mission. I don’t know what we’re doing. But it involves his pack. Killian, this is my good friend, Mystic. He’s a bear, and this is his town. I knew I recognized this place.”

Killian and Mystic shook hands, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

“I better take you to my father. He’s going to want to see you,” Mystic said.

She hadn’t seen Mystic’s father in a long time.

****

Killian didn’t like how the bear was familiar with his mate. He didn’t like the bear touching his woman, hugging her, or being close to her.

“They’re like brother andsister,” Charlie said.

“What?” Killian looked away from the two who weresitting together, talking.

Leah had left him alone with Charlie, while she went and caught up with Mystic and a few of her other friends.He could see that they were all young.

“Mystic and Leah. Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved her to be my son’s mate, but that was never meant to be. I waited until Mystic was of age and transitioned. She stayed at my request, but I knew the two were just good friends.”

“He likes to touch her.”

“He’s a bear. We bearslike to touch and cuddle. Leah always came for sleepovers. We don’t want to harvest her magic, or sacrifice her. We care for her, and for her coven. They have helped us over the years.”

Killian averted his gaze and looked atCharlie. “We need a place to stay for the night.”

“There’s a cabin on the outskirts of town. Mystic will take you both to it. I hear the rumors are true.”

“How do you get gossip?” Killian asked, hating that people knew what he had done to Leah.

“When a well-respected alpha finally finds his mate, and rather than mate with her that very night, rejects her and sends her packing, there is no way news is not going to travel.”

Killian ran a hand down his face. “She’s young.”

“But that is not all that bothers you.”

Staring at Charlie, he saw the sadness in his eyes, and on closer inspection, the light shining in them seemed to resemble a silver star.

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