AllFreeNovel
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“Do they, though?”
“Sure,” he said, “when they have sufficient motivation.”
“What was your motivation?”
“You. I was determined not to drive you away when I found you again, like I did the first time.”
“That wasn’t all you. I probably overreacted.”
“No, you didn’t. I was horrible to you when we met. I won’t make excuses for my behavior, but I want you to know I’m sorry.”
I murmured, “Go ahead and make excuses. Tell me what was going on with you.”
“I don’t think you’re going to like this story.”
“Tell me anyway.” I nestled against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.
“Well, alright.” After a pause, he said, “As you know, the majority of part werewolves don’t have fated mates. I’d gone eighty years without one and figured it wasn’t in the cards for me, so I ended up falling in love with a human. We wanted to build a life together, but then he was killed.”
“Oh god, Elias, I’m so sorry.”
Several seconds passed before he continued, “Four months later, I met you and our mate bond engaged. I felt so many things when that happened, including anger and confusion, all jumbled together with that overwhelming pull to be with you. I felt like I was betraying Jannik’s memory, even though I know you and I didn’t have any say in what was happening to us.”
I said softly, “You should have told me about him.”
“I thought you’d be furious that your mate tried to couple with someone else.”
“But it was before we met.”
“I know, but it’s not like our emotions under the bond’s influence are rational. Just the opposite, they’re intense and all-consuming, bordering on obsession.”
“You’re right,” I said. “But I like to think I would have understood.”
“There’s more.” He took a breath and said, “His death was my fault. I got in a fight with one of my shady business partners, and the man pulled a gun on me. Jannik got in the way of the bullet and died trying to save me. I begged him not to come to my office that night. I told him it was dangerous, but he wouldn’t listen. He never listened, and it got him killed.”
I said softly, “No wonder you were so adamant about my obedience.”
“You’re a lot like him—willful and stubborn, sweet and beautiful. I can’t lose you too, Mateo. I won’t survive it.”
“I’m not sweet.”
“Sure you are.”
After a pause, I asked, “Do I look like him, too?”
“He was a tall, forty-year-old, blue-eyed blond from Denmark, so no. Not even a little. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. I guess…I guess I just wondered if I was the universe’s idea of a consolation prize or something, after you lost your one true love.”
“That’s not how it works,” he said. “Even though the mate bond doesn’t engage until the younger of the pair turns twenty, it’s a part of us from the day we’re born, and—”
“I know, and I’ve always had a hard time with the idea that I was made for you. Like, the reason I’m gay is because you are, since I was literally born to be your mate.”
“Actually, we were made for each other,” he said. “I was born with the bond, too.”
“I never thought about it like that.” I tilted my head back to look up at him and grinned. “You know, that means you belong to me, every bit as much as I belong to you.”
“Of course I do.”
“In that case, do I get to tell you what to do?”
He smiled at me. “Your wish is my command. What would you like me to do?”
“Nothing right now, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
“Keep me posted.” He sounded amused.
After a while, we started walking again. It was definitely cold, but I liked the fresh sea air and the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below. The best part, though, was the feeling of Elias’s hand in mine. It was warm and comforting, and it made me feel secure for some reason.
As we followed the curve of the island on a trail above the rocky shore, I asked, “What happens when this week is up, Elias? The mate bond will kick in, I know that. It turns out we’re drawn to each other no matter what, so I guess it won’t make a huge difference. What’ll we do, though? Do we keep living on this island until you decide it isn’t safe anymore?”
“I think we need to wait and see how you feel about everything at the end of the week, before we start making plans. I hope you’ll want to stay with me, but that’s up to you.”
“If I wanted to leave, would you let me?”
He glanced at me and said, “I have no intention of holding you prisoner. I’d beg you not to return to L.A. though, because you really shouldn’t be that close to the brothers.”
