Page 18 of Arrested By My Mate

“No, that was all my mom. She loved the names Nora and Evie and decided to just smash them together.”

“It’s cute. I like it.”

“Thanks. What about Tucker?”

“Nah, as far as I can tell, my parents just liked the name.”

“Tell me more about shifters and fated mates,” I say, and he seems encouraged by my interest.

He tells me about the first time that he shifted, growing up in his old pack, and how he came to join the one here.

“I didn’t realize that you could leave one pack and join another so easily,” I comment, and he shrugs.

“They’re not that exclusive. Or most of them aren’t anyway. There are a few more remote ones that are wary of outsiders, but for the most part, it’s just like moving. It probably helps that all shifters follow the same rules. Don’t shift in front of humans, don’t talk about shifting or shifters to anyone that doesn’t need to know, be discrete, that kind of stuff.”

“What if I had talked about shifters to other people? Would you be kicked out?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“Probably not, though no one in town would be happy with me.”

“You really never wanted anyone before me?” I blurt out, and he shakes his head.

“No, that’s not how things work for shifters. We will always only love or want our fated mate.”

“What if I died before we met?”

“Then I would have never found my fated mate, and I would have died alone.”

“That’s so sad,” I say softly, and he nods.

He tells me more about what being my mate feels like for him, what to expect tomorrow on the full moon, and more about his time as sheriff here in Twisted Oak.

Before I know it, a few hours have gone by, and my stomach growls.

“I’ll grab us lunch!” He says, shooting to his feet so fast that he knocks over his chair. “What would you like?”

I can’t lie, I love how attentive he is, how obsessed he is with meeting every single one of my needs or wants. How much he seems to need and crave me being happy.

“How about a burger?”

“You got it. Be right back!”

He races out the door, and I watch him go. I could get used to this. To being pampered and spoiled. To being taken care ofby someone again. Hell, it’s nice just opening up to someone and sharing a piece of myself with them.

I can’t deny that I’m attracted to him. I want him. I have since I first laid eyes on him.

So, what’s stopping me from saying yes to him and being his?I think.

Time.

The answer is there so fast. It’s true. I’m used to human love lives. To people dating for months or years before they tie themselves to each other. All of this seems too fast.

It feels right, though.

It does, but what happens if this feeling fades? I doubt that shifters do divorce.

I mull over my thoughts, trying to decide if I should listen to my head or my body and heart. Tucker walks back in a few minutes later with a greasy paper bag in his hands, and he grins at me, brightening as soon as he sees me. He looks so happy, and I find myself smiling back as he takes a seat across from me and passes me a burger and some fries.

It takes me a few minutes to realize that he didn’t put me back in the cell.

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