Page 11 of Arrested By My Mate

“Shifter. Like car shifter,” I say slowly, and understanding dawns in his eyes.

Some of the happiness from earlier fades, and he looks sad all of a sudden. I take a step towards him to comfort him before I can process what I’m doing and freeze.

“Right? Car shifter? Or… what were you talking about?” I ask, and he clears his throat.

“I meant a shifter. Someone who can change between being a human and an animal.”

He says it so easy, so nonchalant.

It’s freaking weird.

He’sfreaking weird.

“Oh.”

That’s all I can think to say because clearly, I’m dealing with a crazy person.

I try to think about how the people in my true crime podcasts dealt with the insane person who kidnapped them. I’m starting to realize that I might be in the exact same situation as them, and I hate it.

What do I do? I need a plan.

I take a deep breath and try to come up with a way out of this.

Okay, step one. Remain calm.

Two, I need my keys or any car keys so I can get the hell out of this place.

Three, drive like hell to my uncle’s place and tell him what happened.

Maybe this whole town is crazy. Maybe that’s why my uncle hates it so much.

“I’m a wolf shifter,” he says, and I nod.

“Well, sure. It’s obvious.”

He cocks his head in confusion, and I paste a smile on my face.

“Shifters can be anything, though. We have bears and coyotes, even rabbits and hawks here in town,” he explains.

“How neat!” I say, my voice coming out way too high-pitched and excited.

I decide to abandon my bags and start to inch backward towards the front door.

His eyes lock on the movement, and I freeze, pretending to lean against the nearest desk.

“And all shifters have a fated mate, someone who fate picks to be yours.”

“Oh no,” I whisper, and he nods.

“And you’re mine.”

“Am I?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yes.”

“Listen, maybe you, or fate,” I rush to add, “Maybe they made a mistake.”

“They didn’t. Fate doesn’t make mistakes. I knew that you were meant to be mine the moment that I smelled you.”

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