Page 4 of Her Second-Hand Mate

That was less awful. Still not the warm welcome one might expect into her mate's life, but from the very moment my Father told me about Dominic's past, I knew that this wouldn't be easy.

I briefly looked into his eyes, nodded, and then looked back down at the button. My hips wanted to move closer to their mate's. My nipples too. It was the strangest sensation. It was like they were being pulled towards him. I gulped.

“How old are you?”

Good job, Penelope. A question.

He frowned, so maybe not so good.

“I'm 28. You?”

“I'm 22.”

He shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“Your father said he won't allow you to leave the pack unmarked, so we'll have to have the mating ceremony here.”

It was my turn to frown. He continued talking.

“I would like to head back to Greylock the day after tomorrow, so we'll have to have the ceremony tomorrow. Do you,” he paused and shifted his stance a bit, “have any wishes for the ceremony?”

I blinked. I knew how I always imagined my mating ceremony: grand, beautifully decorated with all my favorite flowers, a lot of lace on my dress, a male whose eyes radiated pure love as he held my hand...

I looked up at the male in front of me and his eyes reflected only impatience.

I knew what he wanted me to say.

“I'm fine with a simple ceremony.”

He seemed relieved and that helped loosen the knot in my stomach a bit.

“Are you sure? I know it's a big deal for some females,” his tone indicated that such a trait was not a desirable one.

“Don't worry about it,” I heard myself say. “The important thing is not the mating ceremony but the life ahead of us.”

“Okay. I'll tell your father to do it your pack's way then.”

I nodded, glad that I'd pleased him. I also briefly wished my Mother was alive. I had no idea where the thought came from, since it had been a long time since I'd last let myself indulge in such futile wishes. It must have been the stress of the whole situation.

“I will see you tomorrow,” he said and waited a bit, probably to see if I'd respond. I didn't, so he left. I went to my room and waited for tomorrow.

???

The morning was a whirlwind of preparations, packing my things, females around me crying, and just going through the motions.

Nana managed to find Mother's mating ceremony dress yesterday and spent the whole night fixing it up for me. That's what finally got me out of my daze and shoved me right into hysterical territory. I'd cried until my whole face was red and swollen, and if someone had asked me why I was crying – I didn't think I'd have a good answer to that.

The thought of Nana's dear, old, wrinkled, freckled hands working through the night to give me such a beautiful gift was simply overwhelming. She'd always said, “Love is seen and not heard,” and she lived by those words. Leaving her would be more difficult than leaving anyone else in the pack.

Father had always been cold and distant, Eden'd always focused on Evie, and Evie had always focused on Evie as well. Isaacwould be coming to Massachusetts soon, so I wouldn't have to be without my twin for too long. But Nana... the tears started up again at the thought.

“Hush now,” she chided half-heartedly as she wiped my tears. “Promise you'll write at least once a month.”

“Of course,” I sobbed.

“Promise, Penelope.”

“I promise.”

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