Page 26 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“Dude, there’s no reason for you to leave. But you’re acting like Miranda is your mate…”

“She is my mate,” I say with a growl.

“Okay, fine.” Carter holds his hands up in a placating gesture.

I do not broadcast the fact, but it’s known in the wolf community I’m the next alpha of the wolf shifter pack of Scotland. Hopefully, I won’t assume the mantle for many years because my father shows no sign of wanting to retire, but as heir to the oldest pack, I outrank everyone. Now pack wars are handled diplomatically rather than by force and pack Alpha is mostly a ceremonial role, but in a battle, my wolf is one of the largest and strongest. Like I am on the ice.

“But,” he says, “if my mate suddenly showed up and moved into the room next to mine, I’d be making sure everyone knew she was my mate. I’d be claiming her.”

Does he think I don’t want to?

“Man, she’s been here four days and is practically a zombie from not sleeping enough. It’s not like I can throw her over my shoulder and take her to my den like in the old days.”

Carter shrugs. “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.”

“Good luck with that.” I run my hand through my hair in frustration. “Seriously,” I say, “she is my mate in the truest sense of the word. Since childhood. There has been no one else. There will be no one else. It’s more than love, it’s fate. I would do anything, give up anything, for Miranda. If I had my way, we’d be married, hopefully with a few kids already. I gave my word to our parents I’d give her time and space. I have. Now fate has brought us back together, and I’m done waiting.”

“When has she made you breakfast?” Carter asks, circling back to the start of our conversation.

“When she’d visit me at Cornell. It’s our thing. She’d make French toast, and I’d make scrambled eggs and bacon.”

“I’m not saying this to be an asshole, but Miranda has never mentioned you in the six years I’ve known her.”

I shrug, unconcerned. “It sounds like there are many things she hasn’t told you. She gives the impression she’s an open book, but she’s an extremely private person.”

“Are you lovers?” Carter asks.

I pause in pouring the tea I prepared into mugs for me and Miranda.

“No. Not yet.” That’s the best, most honest answer I can give.

Carter looks me in the eye, the most serious I’ve ever seen him.

“Don’t hurt her. I like you, and if you hurt her, I’ll have to fight you.” He grimaces. “As much as I hate to admit it, you can probably break me in two.”

I match his somber tone. “I will do nothing to hurt Miranda. I’d endure anything, give up everything, to keep her safe and happy. I love her.”

“Does she know?”

Sighing, I add milk and sugar to our mugs. For this blend, this is how she likes it.

“I don’t know.”

“You haven’t told her?” he asks incredulously.

“No. I didn’t want to burden her.” And I knew fate would bring us together again. Now it has and it’s time. But it doesn’t mean I can be careless about it.

Carter gets up and refills his coffee mug from the pot he made earlier.

“Dude. Maybe she would have stayed.” He shakes his head like I’m insane. Maybe I am.

“She probably would have. But she needed to go. We needed to live our lives separately before we got together. It is going to work out as fate wills it.”

Our conversation is over. Enough heart to heart—that’s not how we work.

“Good luck with that,” Carter says, echoing my earlier sentiment as he reaches out to open our apartment door. “I’m not leaving things to fate. I’m making them happen.”

13

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