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“You’re human.” I explained if he had a beast, they would have met at the onset of adolescence.
He made a face. “I’m a little disappointed.” He pulled the bedding up to his chin before tapping his head. “I’m trying to piece together everything I couldn’t understand at the meeting. You said I was your mate.”
I couldn’t hide behind excuses or half truths or turn the conversation in another direction. “In the shifter community, some alphas and omegas are fated.”
Tony slid down in the bed and huddled under the covers. “Sounds bad.”
“No. They’re fated to spend their lives together, and they recognize one another by their scent. It’s a life-long relationship. It’s like marriage but the bond can’t be broken.”
He flung off the covers and bounded out of bed. “You and me? I’m the one fate chose for you?” he scoffed.
“Yes.”
“So a human with a shifter father who was part of the mafia is the shifter mafia boss’s one and only?” His voice rose and his hands fluttered in the air.
I took hold of his hands. “The universe chose for me, but you don’t have to abide by that decision. You can walk away.”
He paced over the rug, his bare feet hardly making a sound. “But we don’t like one another, and you kill people for a living.”
Gods, we were back to that. Even if I detailed what we shifters had suffered, he would never understand. To Tony there was black and white and no gray area in between.
He slid his shirt down, exposing his mark. “And what’s the purpose of this?”
“It’s the mating mark, a sign to every shifter you are my mate.”
He stomped over to me, shoving a finger in my face. “You took me as a mate without my permission.”
“Yes, and I’m sorry. It was to protect you. You are not bound by it, though I am. You can walk away and never see me again. You can marry. Have a family. Live a wonderful life.”
I choked and had to turn away until Tony padded over and put a hand on my arm. My wolf squeed, thinking we’d kiss and have babies, but I couldn’t allow Tony to feel sorry for me and agree to be my mate out of guilt.
“Oh, Flint. I’m so sorry. But maybe there’s another mate for you out there somewhere.”
No! Tell him no, my wolf implored me to set our mate straight.
“Perhaps.” No, that wasn’t happening. “I’d better get you home.” I had to be at the office for a meeting in a few hours, and I couldn’t allow the turmoil in my private life to mess with pack business yet again.
“I can stay a while because someone got me a month off from college.”
I took hold of his shoulders and swung him around. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?” He opened his eyes wide as if he had no clue what I was talking about.
“Feel sorry for me.”
“Listen, finding out I live among people who have an animal inside them is a lot.” He studied the almost-empty soup bowl. “I need more food.” He charged out the door and tore over the landing. “So many rooms for one person.” Him thundering down the stairs brought the house to life, and I imagined our children doing the same.
I craved his presence at my side, and I should’ve been pleased he was hanging around, but it would be that much harder when he left.
“Hurry up, Flint. I’m starving. Ravenous even.”
Me too but not for food. I’d lost all interest in eating this week, but I couldn’t blame everything on my longing for my mate. I was frazzled when Emilio had reported back about Sewell and Foley’s movements. Not that he’d discovered anything, but my insides were in knots.
Tony had his head in the fridge, giving me the perfect view of his ass. Sadly, it was encased in jeans.
“I’ve never seen you eat.” He twirled around, spots of pink on his cheeks. “What do you want?”
“You.”
