Page 33 of Shifters' Fated Summer
“Like Luca and Cade?” I whispered, feeling guilty again for the way Luca was treating me.
Elowen nodded. “Yes. They’re an open pair. Some matings are closed, and that part can change over time. So with an open pair, they’ll have other partners, but they’ll always go back to each other.” She hesitated. “So if you hook up with Luca, that could be a great relationship, but Cade will always be his first priority.”
“I get it,” I said, my throat feeling thick.
My cheeks flushed, embarrassed she had picked up on my connection with Luca. He was all over me, so of course she knew, but I still wanted to hide.
“Anyway, sometimes wolves meet someone and when they first touch, a bond forms instantly. We call it fated mates. It’s a primal thing, like you can’t help but be obsessed with that person. You don’thave tobe their mate, but it’s reallyuncomfortableto reject them.”
“That’s what you guys have?” I asked.
“Yeah, Archer and I met when Cade was forming this pack. At our first meeting, I shook his hand, and ten minutes later he was fucking me on the conference table. Cade was not happy,” she said, giggling.
“Well, once you find your mate, it triggers your reproductive cycle. So, a couple of times a year, you go into heat. I got medication to make sure I didn’t get pregnant, but I’m pretty forgetful, and we were traveling to this territory at the time, so of course I missed a few doses and sure enough, baby.”
She rubbed her belly affectionately. “Cade would’ve liked to send me home, but then he’d lose Archer too. And they need him.”
“Of course,” I replied, echoing her sentiment.
“Most wolves don’t have a fated bond. It’s pretty uncommon, so it’s not something you need to worry about,” Elowen said, patting my knee.
“Yeah, I can’t imagine.” I scooped another big bite of ice cream into my mouth. “This is so good. You’re right, ice cream makes things better.”
“Totally,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“Elowen, thanks for this.”
Having more information about the wolves, their relationships, and how the pack worked made me feel more in control. Less like I was wandering around in the dark.
She smiled sweetly between bites of ice cream and I prayed that I had made a new friend, like Luca promised.
Archer retrieved Elowen, and I trailed behind themback into the pack house. Finn had returned to his place on the couch, and Jem sat beside him, chattering away as he worked.
I turned in a circle, looking for Luca, but he wasn’t in the open space. Unfortunately, Cade was.
His blond hair glinted in the sunlight as he glared at me. He thought I was on the vampires’ side, and once he realized I wasn’t, things would get better.
Steeling myself, I crossed the room to where he leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. Molten honey eyes tracked my progress, and my heart jumped into my throat.
“Look, Alpha Cade,” I started, stumbling over my words. “I realize I didn’t have an accurate perspective. I’m…”
Cade’s lip curled back. “I don’t want you here. You’re a liability. I’m sending you to another pack as soon as I can.”
I stood frozen, his words cutting through me like a butcher knife. He brushed past me and I flinched away.
“Hey,” I heard Luca say. Spinning, I watched as Cade stalked to him and grabbed his shirt, dragging him in for a kiss. Desire roared to life in my blood as I watched Luca’s hands come up to grip Cade’s face.
Finally, they broke apart, and Cade turned to Archer. “Keep an eye on ourguest.” Without waiting for an answer, Cade grabbed Luca’s hand and dragged him upstairs.
Tears pricked my eyes. Was I jealous? I couldn’t fault Cade or Luca for being with their chosen mate, but on somelevel, I felt left out.
At the top of the stairs, Luca looked over his shoulder and mouthed,Are you okay?
I pasted a bright smile on my face and nodded. To emphasize my point, I gave him a thumbs up. He nodded and allowed Cade to lead him to the bedrooms upstairs.
“You’d like to be in that sandwich, wouldn’t you?” Elowen asked in a soft singsong voice.
Pressing my fingers over my eyelids, I shook my head. “This is fucked up. Luca made it clear he wants me, but he’s with Cade. And Cade absolutely hates me.”
