Page 28 of Wrong Mate

He felt the firmness of the man’s grip. The threatwas real. Charlie was old, but he could take care of himself, that was for sure.

Getting to his feet, he approached the table where Leah was laughing at something Mystic said. She shouldn’t be so willing to give out her laughter or her joy. The moment she saw him, all smiles slipped.

“Killian?”

“We need to leave for the night,” he said, looking over her shoulder at Mystic who gave him a nod, and he was pretty sure there was a smirkon his lips, but he ignored it.

“We do.”

“Yes, our job isn’t done.”

“Yes, of course, right. You’re right.” Leah got to her feet and turned to Mystic. “We cannot stay strangers for long. I have missed this.” She gave Mystic a hug.

Killian clenched his hands into fists, wanting to tear her out of the other man’s arms. He had toconstantly repeat to himself that there was nothing going on. They were merely friends. The wolf inside him was not happy.

“You’re right. You shouldn’t stay a stranger. Killian, it was a pleasure to finally meet the man behind the rumor.”

Mystic was doing it to piss him off, he was sure of it.

He gripped the young bear’s hand and made sure to put all his strength behind the grip.

“Pleasure,” he said.

Leah said goodbye to some of her other friends and then they were on their way. He placed a hand at thebase of her back as they left the company of the bears, and headed out toward the cabin.

“You know, you’ve been quite rude tonight,” Leah said.

“And you think you’ve been polite?”

“Well, yeah, polite people make conversation, they enjoy their host’s company. Charlie could have kicked us out and sent us on our merry way. They didn’t have to invite us in, give us food and shelter,” Leah tutted.

“And you think I should be okay with another man touchingyou?” He walked several feet before he realized Leah hadn’t followed him.

“You’re jealous?” she asked.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Oh, my … yes you are. You are so jealous. That’s why you have a problem with Mystic. You are the jealous wolf. I don’t get it, you didn’t want to be my mate, so you shouldn’t be feeling jealous.”

“And I thought we had both agreed to give this mating thing a try.”

Leah’s lips formed a perfect O.

“Or had you forgotten about our agreement?” he asked. He didn’t even know why he was bringing that up. He didn’t like what he had to do. The very idea of having a taste of his mate, of making Leah his, and then terminating it was going to fucking destroy him. He didn’t even know what it would do to Leah. He tried not to think about how she’d feel at the end of it. He consoled himself with the knowledge that she’d be able to find another mate. That was the difference between them.

Leah reached out and grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He looked down at where she touched him and he even felt thecalmness of the wolf within him. It was the first time his wolf felt at peace in the last couple of hours.

“I didn’t think. Mystic and Iare best friends. Or, as close as friends can be when one is a witch and the other is a bear. I’ve known him most of my life.” She shrugged.

“Andboth your parents had hoped you’d be each other’s mate.”

“Charlie told you,” she said.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

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