Page 32 of Her Shifter Pack

He rolled his eyes and groaned. “With women who have tight asses but no brain? Small boobs and no heart? Yeah... so much competition you have.”

I was flabbergasted. Was he hinting that he was attracted to me, despite what I looked like? What was I supposed to say to that?

“Come back and we’ll explain more,” Ollie called from behind me. “Please.”

If I was being completely honest, I had hoped that both of them might want me, at least a little bit. A massively arrogant hope, in retrospect. In reality, I had no right to be jealous of Nancy, or any other woman they had slept with.

I had no proof they even liked me at all, really.

Except for the way they had just jumped to stop me leaving.

I didn’t understand what was going on. So, I turned around and stalked back to the only recliner chair in the room, separating myself from the guys. “Okay. Explain.”

Markus indicated to Ollie, not speaking, and I had to assume he was giving his brother the stage.

Ollie slid forward, perching on the edge of the couch in a casual, far too sexy way.

“Look, this is gonna sound so strange to a human—”

“You mean, stranger than finding out you two can shift into wolves and back?”

He barked out a short laugh. “I guess that is strange to you. But there’s more. Some of us in the various shifter packs are born as twins, called Perfect Pairs. We’re opposite in every way—brains versus brawn, serious versus fun-loving, dark versus light. But our attributes complement each other, and legend has it that there is one person out there in the world who is designed just for us, as we are for her—our perfect mate. A Fated Mate. Like—”

“Like a soul mate?” I asked. “You guys have them for legit? Not like romance novel, movie bullshit?”

Markus jerked his head in a nod that was almost non-committal, so I focused on Ollie.

Ollie kept talking. “Yeah. When we meet the one Fated Mate meant for us, an electrical impulse literally takes our legs out from under us. It’s the way it is with Fated Mates. The shock makes sure that we don’t miss the perfect woman when we happen upon her.”

Despite all the food I’d eaten this afternoon, my stomach began to feel hollow. Empty. Sick. An electric impulse that takes their legs out from under them...

“You can’t be serious.” They weren’t saying that I was their... “For both of you? No way.”

I couldn’t believe it. I was so far from perfect, I simply couldn’t be anyone’s perfect soul mate. Let alone for two beautiful men like Ollie and Markus. There was just... “No. No.”

I got up and began to pace and fidget at the same time. I would have looked crazy to an outsider, shaking my head about and twiddling my fingers, but I had so much nervous energy pulsing through me, I had no idea what to do with it all.

Ollie stood up but stayed close to the sofa, which I was glad about. I didn’t want him crowding me. I was already feeling overwhelmed.

“For me?” he said. “Yes. It’s true. Everything points to the fact that you’re my mate. I’ve been waiting for you, and desperately want you to stay here. Be my partner in life.”

I blew out an exasperated sigh. “You haven’t even kissed me yet. How can you put so much faith into some electric, pulsing thing?”

Ollie’s lips spread into a wide grin. “I can change that.”

And before I could think about the challenge I’d thrown down, he stalked forward, slid his hand around my waist and pulled me into his body for a kiss.

My eyes slid closed as he took my mouth, pressing my lips apart and sweeping his tongue inside. I gasped and pushed closer, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him back with all the pent-up need inside of me.

He tasted divine, and the way his tongue danced with mine was like he’d kissed me a million times before.

I didn’t stop kissing him, even with all the confusion and worry and grief I’d been through in the past. My old life was finished; I could feel it dropping away from me in the way a snake must feel when it sheds its skin. Slightly uncomfortable, but with relief and freedom following on swift wings.

I pressed against him harder, reaching for his shirt buttons. I wanted to feel his hot skin beneath my fingers. Explore the gorgeous body I knew was beneath his clothes.

But he pulled back, breathing hard. “Stop. We need to talk more. We have more to tell you.”

I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to have it confirmed that Markus didn’t want me. It was obvious he had issues up the wazoo. I’d had the shittiest few days—make that years—and I wanted to feel good for a while before my hopes were dashed yet again.

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