Page 42 of Her Shifter Pack

“I found out about the existence of shifters last night. Like...” I glanced at the clock. “Sixteen hours ago.”

“Oh... you can do basic math. How quaint.”

I gaped at her, shocked at the rudeness of the woman who had raised my men to be such wonderful people. “What is your problem?”

“My problem is that I expected the woman my sons chose to be up to their level. In intelligence, beauty, and family connections. I have to assume that you don’t have parents watching over you, helping you?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t.” Quite the opposite.

She nodded once. “Just as I thought. You’re not good enough for my boys.”

“Your... boys?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes at the nasty woman who’d officially ruined my day. “Those boys are men. And as far as I understand, this Fated Mate electric, pulsey thing doesn’t make mistakes.”

Anne didn’t respond verbally. She paled and froze like I’d shocked her with something.

I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for another fireball to come out of her mouth.

“You experienced the Fated mate sign?” She gulped.

I stood up and put my hands on the counter, leaning forward to spear her with my look. “With both of your sons, yes. They were knocked right off their feet.” Part of me enjoyed the momentary horror that crossed Anne’s features, so I added, “Do you think I’d be here in their house if we hadn’t experienced that? Ollie fell sideways and into a store on Main Street. Markus literally keeled over and hit the deck, right over there near the fridge.” I pointed to the floorboards near her feet, and Anne took a big step back.

Then she turned and began heading toward the front door, like a zombie. “I have to go.”

I followed her because how could I not? She’d just burst into the house to tell me I wasn’t good enough for either of her sons. As if I already didn’t know that! But I didn’t appreciate someone else pointing it out in such a rude way.

“What were you expecting?” I called out to her. “That they’d just randomly choose some human they’ve never met before, and call her their mate?”

I couldn’t believe I was being so forceful. I was the one who hadn’t believed them when they’d told me about the soul mate stuff. But here I was, practically yelling at a woman who could probably rip me to shreds if she so chose.

Anne opened the front door and turned around. “What does Markus think about all this?”

“By ‘all this’, I assume you mean me and the human mate thing?” And why was she only asking about Markus and not about Ollie?

Anne frowned, the edge of her mouth turning down along with her brows. “Markus isn’t a monogamous male. Never has been, never will be. I don’t think... I don’t know if he can have one mate like a normal member of a perfect pair triad.”

I stared her down. “Well, that’s really up to him and me, isn’t it? But thanks for the tip.”

I was spitting venom now. Fucking bitch.

Anne walked out without shutting the door behind her, so I grabbed the handle and slammed the door as loudly as I could.

The sound ricocheted through the house, but my anger still bubbled too strong to contain. My hands tightened into fists, and I screamed out in frustration.

That’s when the door opened again, only this time Markus came running in. “What’s happened? Lexie! Are you okay?”

I marched up to him, not sure if I was going to hit him or kiss him. Neither, as it turned out.

Instead, I started yelling. “Am I okay? No! I am not okay! Your mother decided to pop in, thanks to your fuck friend Nancy!”

“Mom? What did she have to say?”

“She said I’m not good enough for her sons!”

“She fucking what?” His eyes flashed with silver, a trait I was noticing coincided with his lust as well as anger.

I began to pace the plush carpet, throwing my hands around with my words. “She said I’m not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Too human for you. And that you’ll never be satisfied with one woman. Especially me, I guess, with all my failings. Well, I know I’m not good enough for you guys, okay? I already told Ollie that! I’m sorry, all right? I’m sorry I’m human. I’m sorry I’m fat. I’m sorry I’m dumb.”

Markus grabbed me and hauled me up against his huge, hard body. “Stop talking like that. It’s not true.”

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