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Kylie wheezed. “Goddess, are either of you going to invite us inside? It’s been a long trip. I’m glad we’re not fighting, but I sure would love to sit down.”
“Sure.” Hector gestured for the door, casting a curious glance in my direction. I couldn't blame him. We were in a terribly strange situation together. “Right this way.”
Kylie took my hand in hers. “I was so worried about you. I just didn't know where you went. There was a huge struggle and…” she trailed off. I led her inside and kept my hand in hers, trying to get her to understand through my gentle touch alone that I wasn't in any danger. “You sure you ran awayon purpose, Faye?”
Though the mixture of feelings remained, all was well here, and I wanted her to know that. I sighed. “It's just hard to explain. We’ll tell you all about it in a minute. Tea?”
Her brows turned from folded in to spread out and up. The sudden jolt expressed astonishment. At least from what I could tell. I looked into her eyes for a while, trying to gauge whether she was cool with me being mated or not. Her lips turned down into a frown. “I don't understand what happened. There were signs of a struggle.”
I motioned to the table. “Sit, please.”
Fred ran his fingers through his hair. “You don’t seem to be struggling.” He looked at Hector. “Sorry about that, man.”
“Could have gone easy on the bludgeoning, but I’m good if you’re good.”
“All good here.” Fred gestured for Kylie to sit next to him. “Come on, honey. Don’t make them feel any more embarrassed than we do.”
Kylie sat down and then blushed while Fred wrapped his arm around her. How long had they been together? And she was still giggling like a teenager with him.
As soon as I sat down next to Hector, I realized that this was the first time anyone from my old pack had visited. It would be the first time anyone would see me in a state of being mated to another person and not just sitting alone in a bougie-looking apartment with a bunch of plants and birdhouses. I was so nervous about it. What was I supposed to tell them, that Hector kidnapped me because he wanted me to be his mate?
Not a good look.
But at the same time, I knew that this connection was right for me. I knew that this mating bond would be the onethat could potentially last. It was complicated.Iwas in a state of complication. Too many feelings again. Too much danger.
Then came poking through my certainty was a sense of doubt that seemed to originate from nowhere. Somewhere deep inside me, that strange voice came again.Turn around and run. No one has your best interests in mind.
I looked at Hector, who appeared worried.
But I do, the voice said.I can protect you. I can teach you how to use your power.
I shook my head. Where was that coming from? How did the voice know that I wanted to learn how to control my power? The clock struck three in the morning. Maybe I was still dreaming a little bit. It was odd to come across my mate fighting with my two best friends on my back porch. And if I hadn't, maybe I would have woken up in a better state.
As I went to the coffee machine to start making something for us to drink, the voice came again, taking over my ears, taking over everything, trying to convince me of something that I couldn't quite discern. It just kept saying that it could save me. It tried to convince me not to do the explanation.
For as long as they knew the truth, then they might take me away from my mate. They might take me away from this place that had finally accepted me.
I couldn’t let that happen.
***
I felt winded when I was done explaining everything. I decided to tell them the entire truth, that Hector came to my apartment, took me away to save me from a demon, and droveme all the way up here. Even though he had kidnapped me, I was staying here of my own free will at this point. I had chosen to go through the mating ritual, just as Hector had encouraged. I could tell Kylie was more than concerned at this point. She was in awe of my explanation, while Fred looked utterly bewildered. Which was funny to see on his face because he usually wasn't as expressive as other people.
It must have been truly surprising if Fred was showing any kind of emotion. Kylie and Fred shared an equally dismayed look. Then Kylie looked at me and held her palms out in a sign of surrender. “I guess as long as you're happy…”
I nodded curtly. “I am. He’s my mate.”
Fred leaned forward. “Are you sure?”
After Kylie set her hands down, her eyes kept drifting over to Hector, who was standing guard to my left. His hand was on my shoulder. His senses were on high alert. I could tell by the tension in his fingers. So much strain sat inside of his knuckles. And every so often, he squeezed me. I guessed it was a form of making sure that I was okay.
“I’m sure,” I affirmed. “We used to be in this pack together about seven years ago. This has been sort of…” I glanced up at Hector.
He shrugged. “Everyone expected it.”
I nodded. “Yes, everyone expected it.”
Kylie chortled with disbelief. “But didyouexpect it? I mean, you sought refuge with the Beauforts. Why would you leave that?”
