Page 113 of His White Moonlight
“The fire that killed your family was on the news.You were in the background.I think a firefighter was holding you.Bennett saw you and, without even smelling you, said you were his mate.We tried to tell him that wasn’t possible, but he was so insistent that we relented and arranged for Christine and Aaron to see you in person.
“Christine fell in love with you at first sight.Whether you were Bennett’s mate or not, she thought you were precious and wanted to adopt you then.But they were worried about what would happen if Bennett was right.You were human and didn’t know anything about our kind.He was too young for…well, everything.And most importantly, mates don’t find each other that young.Ever.
“It always happens after maturity.The youngest we know of was fifteen, and that was back when most females that age were getting married.”
“Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this?”
“We were afraid you would think you were only fostered because of Bennett.”
“Well, that’s what I do think.”
Grandma shook her head.“Christine was decided, but she needed to know for certain if Bennett was right, to protect you both.So she brought something of yours home for him.He reacted to your scent immediately, but not the way a mature mate would.He held your hair tie, looked at Christine, and said you needed their protection or you would disappear and he’d never find his mate again.
“You know Bennett well enough, I think, to know he isn’t overly emotional or dramatic.His firm certainty convinced us.So we made arrangements and brought you home soon after.”
The light above the door blinked rapidly.
“That’ll be our dinner,” Grandma said.
We waited for the server to enter, carrying a tray with burgers and soft drinks on it.Once he handed everything over and left again, I looked at Grandma.
“I don’t understand.If I’m Bennett’s mate, why did they send him away within a year of bringing me home?I thought he hated me.”I nibbled on a fry.
“Not at all.Just the opposite.He was…entranced by you.When you played with Aiden and Karter, Bennett hovered close by, worried you’d get hurt.He was very aware of your human fragility while Aiden and Karter were less mindful of it.His concerned attention along with his insistence that you weren’t his sister any time you tried to claim him as your brother, like you did with Aiden and Karter, began to upset you.
“Although not intentional, he was hurting you, and it was frustrating him.All he wanted to do was to protect you.His focus on school dwindled, and he began to snap at Aiden and Karter for being too rough with you, even though you were clearly enjoying their play.
“We sent him away so you could both continue to thrive separately.It didn’t work like we’d planned.You were slow to thrive, and Bennett struggled, often calling for updates or asking for pictures as if he needed proof that you were safe.The instructors at his school said he wasn’t sleeping well and would pace at night while the others were resting.We implemented more physical training, which helped for a time, but the only thing that truly helped him focus was clothes.”
I choked on the bite of burger I’d taken.
“Excuse me?”I knew he liked his suits, but they actually calmed him?
“Only the clothing you outgrew,” Grandma said.
“My clothes?”
“What clothes did you think I meant?”
“His suits!”
She laughed so hard she cried.When she was done wiping her tears, she shook her head at me as I kept eating.
“Your scent calmed him.”
“I want to say that’s disturbing, but I know that’s the judgy human in me not empathizing with your wolfy obsessions.So is that why I was sent away when he came home?Because he was still smotheringly annoying?”
“In part.”
“And the other part?”
“There were several, but the most important one was so you could experience life a bit more.”
I snorted.“By locking me away in an all-girl boarding school?Right.Is there a chance he’ll find someone else once I reject him?”
“Are you sure you want to?”
“Why wouldn’t I want to?I haven’t been free for the last twelve years.Why would I commit to a lifetime of that?”
