Page 172 of Labor of Love

“You know who I am.” Anatoly tilted his head, watching his young omega mate peer up at him from behind the arm he now had rested on his raised knees. He sat on the ground, his legs pulled up as if to protect him, and Anatoly could scent some traces of fear.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Want to tell me why?” Anatoly moved closer, saw the way Kael tracked him. “I mean you no harm. You have to know that.”

A shrug, then Kael looked away. “It doesn’t matter,” he repeated.

“Are you already mated?” Anatoly didn’t think so. He couldn’t scent another intermingled with Kael’s.

“I will be.” Kael quickly glanced at him, then away, and Anatoly wished they had more light so he could see the color of his mate’s eyes. The color of his hair.

“You’ve been promised to another?” Anatoly knew some packs still did that and maybe that was the case here.

Kael nodded. “In a few days, I’ll be mated.”

“And you’re fine with this?” Anatoly most certainly was not fine with it. Kael was his. His mate. No one else.

“I don’t have a choice. You had to have picked up that I’m an omega. I don’t get to decide who I mate.”

“You know we’re mates.” Anatoly sat opposite Kael, who watched every move he made. “You have to know I won’t let you mate another.”

“It’s been agreed. Contracts signed.” Kael blinked, and tears slipped down his cheeks. Anatoly reached over and gently wiped them away, surprised Kael didn’t flinch away from him. “You should leave me.”

“Why would I leave you when I’ve just found you?”

“You’re a vampire. Our species don’t get along.” Kael sat up and wiped his face. “My pack would never accept you.”

“I don’t care about your pack accepting me. I only care that you accept me.” Anatoly watched Kael swallow and drop his head, so his chin rested on his raised knees. “How old are you?”

“It’s my birthday today,” Kael whispered. “I’m eighteen.”

“What happened that made you cry?” Anatoly slowly shifted his body around so he sat on the ground next to Kael. Kael tensed, his eyes glued to Anatoly, and he only relaxed when Anatoly settled. “I’m not going to do anything, Kael. Not without your permission.”

Kael snorted. “That’ll be a first.”

“What happened?” Something had to have occurred for his mate to be in the forest crying. Alone.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me anyway. I’d like to get to know you.”

Kael snorted again and shook his head. “Fine. It doesn’t matter if you know or not. My pack’s alpha has sold me another pack’s alpha. Nigel, that’s the other alpha, wanted to make sure I’m a virgin, so he…” Anatoly heard Kael swallow. “He made me kiss him, and he has rank breath. Then he wanted to touch my ass to make sure I was tight enough, because that’s how you know a male shifter is a virgin.”

Hot anger pulsed through Anatoly, and his hands fisted, the knuckles turning white. He held his breath, willing his anger to disperse, and when he felt that he could respond, he asked, “Were you hurt?” To try touch an innocent like that disgusted Anatoly. More so, because it was his mate being abused.

“No, but Nigel got what he wanted.”

Kael curled in on himself, and Anatoly raised his arm and placed it over Kael’s shoulders. He felt the young shifter tense, then he sighed and leaned into Anatoly. “I will never take something from you that you don’t freely give.”

“I shouldn’t be like this with you.” Kael turned his head and rubbed his face on Anatoly’s shoulder. “I don’t know you.”

“I’m your mate. Your wolf instinctively trusts me, and he can scent the truth in my words. Just rest against me. I’ll keep you safe.”

“I know you will. How do I know that when we’ve just met?” Kael moved away, then shook his head. “Why did we have to meet now?”

“Maybe fate knew that you needed me. I know that I need you. I’m…” Anatoly searched for the word to describe how he was feeling. “Lost, maybe. Despondent. Tired of beingalone. Tired of fucking men and women and not remembering anything about them.”

“Like tonight?” Kael shot him a look. “I can smell you had sex.”

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