Page 21 of Twisting You

“You say that a lot. Sorry,” I shot back and glared at a nearby tree. “Sort of sick of hearing it, you know.”

“Yeah I know,” Xavier replied kicking a stone with his shoe. “I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

I grunted. “Yeah, how do you tell your mate you want to stay with a human?” I snapped, venom leaking into my words.

I saw him flinch, and I immediately felt bad. Sighing, I walked over to a bench and sat down. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” I ran a hand through my hair.

Xavier slowly walked towards me and slumped down on the bench next to me. “I should have told you about them.”

“Yeah you should have.” I played with the zipper on my hoodie. “Can I ask you something?”

Xavier turned his head to the side and his dashing good looks made my breath hitch, as always.

“Shoot.”

Pulling my eyes away from him, I asked, “Does she know about you? What you are?”

“No.”

I snapped my head at his quick reply. “You’re kidding?”

He shook his head. “She doesn’t know.”

I scoffed and grunted through my nose. “I don’t believe you.”

Xavier shrugged his shoulders and leaned back against the bench. “I can’t tell her. It’s better this way.”

“You won’t be saying that when she notices how slowly you age, or when one of her kids bursts into a wolf after a tantrum.”

“The boys might not be—”

“But they could be.” I turned to face him. “Are you even thinking about them? What this could mean for them?”

Xavier sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why do you think I am staying? I have to be near them.”

Shaking my head. “You don’t have to stay with her to ensure their safety and bring them up.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “I can’t actually drag them around with me. They love their mother.”

“So they should,” I shot back and turned to face forward again. “Why? Why did you mate a human?”

Keeping my eyes glued on the happy children playing on the playground, I added, “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“I couldn’t find you. I searched for you, for years. As soon as I turned 18, I went everywhere looking for you.” I noticed Xavier shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “If only I had known I should have been searching elementary schools.”

“Don’t try and hide your disgust, Xavier.” I growled low, my fingers beginning to curl into fists and my blood beginning to boil. “So you gave up on me?”

“No.”

I glanced at him slightly and my eyes locked with his as he stared at me.

“I had a fling with Emily one night. Then a few months later, I ran into her again she was pregnant.” Xavier shrugged his shoulders. “I fell in love with her and that’s when we got married. Been together ever since. Then we moved here and I met you.”

“Please spare me the details,” I scoffed. “Then you met me. That really threw a wrench into your life didn’t it?”

“You are my mate, Chloe. Of course it has changed everything.” His voice was low and soft. His leg brushed against mine.

“But you were already with her.” I attempted to cover my hurt, but I knew he could hear it. “You already had your family.”

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