Page 6 of The Return
“And you’re sure? I mean, your father says you are, but I’d like to hear it from you myself.”
“Corey is my mate,” I said, leaving no room for discussion.
She lifted her gaze and smiled at me. “I’m so happy for you.”
And I knew it was true. Mom loved me, despite the hard times I was going through. I figured at some point, she’d kick me out and tell me to fend for myself. That never happened. If anything, she held me tighter, like she knew I was in danger of flying apart at the seams.
“Now, there are things you need to know,” she continued.
“Oh? Like what? Is this going to be the safe-sex talk?”
“Ew, no. I still picture you in your cute little suit and bow tie when you were in first grade. Please don’t destroy that image. No, what you need is to learn to properly care for your mate.”
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “What do you mean?”
“Corey isn’t a wolf. He has no idea how much his life will change when he finds out the world is larger than he realizes. You can’t simply walk up to him and say, ‘You’re my mate, get used to it.’” Then she frowned. “Please tell me that’s not what you were going to do.”
Well… yeah. I mean, he was the mate of an Alpha. And not just any one, but the future leader of the tri-county packs. What person wouldn’t want that?
“Oh, Jonas. No. Just… no. You need to be aware of his feelings. It’s easier for you, because you know about shifters. For humans, they’re things in movies and books. They aren’t real. To hear they are will likely rock his world.”
“Funny, I thought that was my job,” I teased.
“Again with the ew, okay? Who’s going to do the cooking? The cleaning?”
NowthatI had thought about during my confinement. My mom took care of those things for me and Dad, but I’d knew Corey had gone to college. Surely he wanted more out of life than taking care of the house. “I was thinking I’d work with Corey on them. I mean, that’s okay for an Alpha, right?”
She reached out and put a hand atop mine. “That’s perfect for an Alpha,” she informed me, her grin threatening to split her face. “You’ve got rough edges, but I honestly think you’re going to make an amazing mate.”
And to me, that was high praise.
When I got the call from Doug, apologizing for being near Corey, I did my best to soothe him. Everyone was so afraid of getting me angry, they’d done exactly what I hadn’t wanted. They’d avoided Corey, thus threatening his business. I had to admit, I was so fucking proud of what Corey had accomplished. I knew about the shop, of course, but I honestly had no idea it would be as popular as it had become.
I wasn’t arrogant enough to think that people went to his place because he was my mate. I knew it was because he was Corey, who could win over the surliest of wolves with his soft charm and spine of steel. He wasn’t one to give up when he wanted something, and seeing him with the entire corner lot, green metal tables dotting the sidewalk…. I could imagine the place being full, with the people of the town clamoring for Corey’s wares.
When I finally got things settled and laid the groundwork to take over the pack, I came for Core, ready to lay my claim. I smiled down at him, but all I saw on his sweet, round face was confusion.
“Do I know you?”
It was surprising how easy it turned out for him to bring an Alpha wolf to his knees.
CHAPTER3
JONAS
I sat there,drumming my fingers on the tabletop, trying to think of how to broach the discussion. Inside the shop, I could see Corey as he measured something into a metal ball, then placed it inside a pot. I’d never seen tea made this way. I usually popped a cup of water into the microwave for a minute, then added the teabag. What Corey was doing seemed more like a show than anything else, but it was one I would never tire of watching. His slender body, firm yet giving, seemed to be dancing around the empty shop.
When he turned and headed for the door, I panicked. What could I say? How was I supposed to tell him the truth and deal with the fallout in an hour? What if he refused me and left? Could I survive without him?
The bell above the door chimed as he stepped out and placed a cork-covered tray on the table. He turned over the delicate cup and poured a dark, rich liquid from the gleaming pot, then placed a cup of coffee in front of his seat. “Okay, if you don’t like it, let me know. I don’t have Lipton—and I pray I never will—but I’m sure I can find something you’ll like just as much.”
I inhaled and hummed my appreciation. The smoky scent of the tea was bold and screamed, “Drink me.” I picked the cup off the tray and grinned up at Corey, then took my first sip. “Holy shit,” I gasped, staring into the liquid as if the secrets of the universe were contained there.
“Good, right?”
That was an understatement. This wasn’t tea—it was nectar of the gods. “It’s sweeter than the smell would have you believe. I can taste a hint of pine.”
Corey smiled, and my heart went into overdrive. I wonder what people would say if I bent him over the table to claim him. I didn’t give a damn if everyone watched. Hell, we could make it a pay-per-view special. They should all know who he belonged to.
