Page 12 of Fearful Mate

I feel my face heat with shame.She shakes her head trying to hide her smile and failing miserably.She is even more beautiful in this moment, and I can’t help but smile at her.

“Why don’t you let me speak first?”she says, taking one of the seats at the counter.“That way, you can take your cues from me.”I nod in agreement and wait for her.

“We’re mates.That much is obvious,” she states, staring into my soul with those stormy grey eyes of hers.“I think we both have baggage.Just taking what you said earlier, I assume you are afraid of being rejected?”

She is so calm, her tone even.I nod in reply.

“I have the same problem.I’ve been rejected before and I just assumed with you keeping your distance in human form that you weren’t interested.Add in the fact you don’t want to eat what I cooked...”

Her words fade away and I take that as my cue to say something.I breathe deeply before I speak, getting my rage under control at the idea of someone hurting her by refusing her.

“I didn’t know you cooked.I’m just too nervous to eat.As for the rejection fear, most of that is because of my wolf.I don’t trust him not to hurt someone.Hurt you.”

She smiles brightly.“Your wolf is actually quite docile.I think that’s because you’re not a pureblood dire wolf.”

“Dire wolf?”

“Do you not know your heritage?Where are your parents?”

I knew this was coming, I just hoped it would be a while and I could have some time to prepare.Now, I need to just tell her everything and get it over with.

“I don’t know my parents.My mother died in childbirth, and I never knew my father,” I say.“I grew up...”The words desert me and all I can do is stare at her.She waits patiently.The next words are simply blurted out.“I was raised in captivity.The Hunters caught my mother while she was pregnant with me.They started experimenting on me while I was still in the womb and continued until we were rescued.”

****

Lola

Rage sweeps through my veins and flows through my body.How could those monsters do that?It’s no wonder he says he has zero social skills.Growing up in a prison, separated from any semblance of pack life, never getting to build relationships.That is fucking disgusting.Barbaric to say the least.

“I’m sorry,” I say through clenched teeth.“I still don’t understand why you thought I would refuse you.”

He gazes over my shoulder.“They did experiments on me.Things that changed my animal...”

My heart breaks a little once our gaze connects.He truly thinks he isn’t worthy of a mate.I may have issues about being refused because I’ve lived through the pain of actually being rejected.He just thinks no one could ever love him.

I stare at the gorgeous man in front of me.Dark hair, hazel eyes, and tan skin.He is taller than I am, around six and a half feet, and muscular.Dark ink decorates his arms and I want to see where the rest of the tattoos lead.To tell the truth, I want to climb the man like a tree.I can’t see a single outer reason to not want him.He is a great specimen of male physicality, and no one should be pushed aside because of their history.Especially not if they didn’t have any choice in the matter.

“Your wolf seemed perfectly fine to me,” I say with a small smile.“Exactly the way I would expect a territorial male with an unclaimed mate to act.”

“Really?You said I was mixed.My breed, that is.”Once more he looks self-conscious.

“Most wolves are mixed.Some are two different kind of wolves and some are dire wolves mixed with regular wolves.I think you have some Yukon wolf in you.That could be something the Hunters did or either of your parents could have been a Yukon,” I explain.“I’m full-blood dire wolf but my best friend has arctic wolf on her father’s side.It happens.”

He nods, working through my words.“So, you’re not here to refuse me?”

“Not at all but I do think we need to decide how we would like to move forward.”

“I have no idea how to do that,” he says sourly.“I honestly don’t know what the hell I’m doing.Yesterday, my wolf was leading me, but I don’t trust him.”

She smiles.“I think that’s the first thing we need to do.”

“What?”

“We need to get you better acquainted with your wolf.To show you he is trustworthy and won’t hurt anyone you care for.And he definitely won’t hurt me.”

****

It takes me an hourto convince him nothing bad will happen.When I finally lead him out of the compound, gripping his hand tightly in mine, I know this was exactly what he needs.We are going to run together, my wolf and his.

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