Page 44 of Tracking His True Mate

“Hey,” Trace said gently, reaching for my hand. “I’m not in any rush to have kids, but they might happen soonerrather than later if we continue on like we did last night.”

I stared back at him. I had always used a combination of the pill and condoms to prevent pregnancy in the past. But I hadn’t been on birth control since running away from home, and the stickiness I felt between my legs that morning told me that Trace had forgone using protection, too.

“I see,” Trace said after listening to my racing thoughts. “Well, we can take some precautions from now on. I’ll wear a condom until you get back on birth control if that works for you. I love imagining my cum inside you, but I want you to feel comfortable with it.”

I nodded, wanting to end the conversation quickly and not dwell on the mistakes we made the night before. Trace huffed at the idea that our lovemaking was a mistake. In my mind’s eye, my wolf sided with him on the issue. She felt great being able to commune with our mate without shifting. Trace’s wolf nudged her affectionately, showing his support, too.

“Can I please go back to work now?” I asked. With all the talk about having children, I had almost forgotten my purpose in showing him my classes.

Trace didn’t answer right away. His jaw ticked in the way it did when he was mulling something over. After a few seconds of deliberation, he nodded. I was going to rush to hug him, but he ruined the moment with a warning.

“This is only on a day-to-day basis, Mariam,” Trace said. “And I want one of my men to take you there and pick you up after dismissal.”

I scowled at him. “Do you really think Tumblewild is that dangerous? If people in this pack need guards with them, that should be your biggest concern.”

He narrowed his eyes at my sarcastic tone. “Watch it, mate. I said respectful questioning was fine, but you are walking a fine line with that attitude. And no, the streets are not dangerous to our pack members. We haven’t had an instance of real crime in years.”

“Then why can’t I drive myself?” The question hung in the air between us, leaving me to answer it for him. “You don’t trust me to come back home.”

“I—“ Trace sat up in bed, struggling to provide his feelings aloud. I probed his thoughts, trying to see if they could explain what he wanted to say. I saw him frantic, trying desperately to catch up with me in the Feldman parking lot. Then the image changed to me driving past in the truck, narrowly avoiding him in my haste. Other scenes, ones I couldn’t remember, showed him smashing items against the wall and screaming in Randy’s face. I caught a quick glimpse of Alexander in the hotel room before he cut me off, leaving me with just my own thoughts.

“I can’t lose you again, Mariam,” he whispered. My eyes watered at his desperation. I took his hand and sat beside him on the bed.

“You won’t,” I promised.

__________

I smiled to myself as I put the truck in gear. Trace had been reluctant at first, but my vow to return by four-thirty was enough to allow me the freedom of going to school alone. I rolled down the window, enjoying the wind caressing my hair. My mind felt oddly empty since Trace had cut me off, but it was a welcome break. I wondered idly if sharing one consciousness felt odd for my mate, too, since he didn’tappear to be in any rush to restore it.

I parked next to town hall, hoping to catch Gabe on his way to work, but I had no such luck. His empty car parked a few spaces over said that he was already inside the stately building. I grabbed my bag from the backseat and froze. A male’s scent collided with my senses. It was familiar and caused my wolf to spin in circles with excitement. I stood up slowly, not believing that it was possibly him.

“Patrick,” I breathed. I jumped into his arms, and he caught me easily. I hugged him tightly as though he might disappear at any minute. “How did you find me?”

He laughed deep and low. “You are the talk of Dark Claw, Mariam. At least, you are as of yesterday when Jeremy announced you were mated to the alpha of Tumblewild. You wouldn’t tell me where you were the last time we spoke, so I had no way of tracking you down. I drove all night to get to you. To rescue you.”

I held his face between my hands and searched for signs that I was dreaming, still not believing that he was there in front of me.

His wolf took control of his eyes, providing me with my only warning before his head dipped low to meet my lips. I instinctually closed my eyes to the familiar feeling of his mouth opening for mine, but only for an instant.

My eyes flew back open when I remembered Trace at home waiting for me. I pushed Patrick away, eager to put some distance between us.

He grabbed my ass to prevent me from falling to the ground, and I yelped in pain. He dropped his hands away and stepped back, eyes wide.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed. “Did I hurt you? Didhe hurt you?”

“It’s not what you think,” I said, hurrying to explain before Patrick’s wolf tore through him. “I was out of line, and he punished me last night.”

Patrick’s jaw slackened. “Since when do you consent to being punished, Mariam? That was always a hard limit when we were together, and I doubt you’re really okay with crossing those boundaries with him.”

I struggled to explain and defend Trace. Of course, I hadn’t enjoyed the punishment, but afterward, the sex had been mind-blowing. And part of me respected him for not letting me get away with the crazy Jess situation. Patrick scowled at my loss for words.

“Don’t even think about defending him, Mare. I’m getting you out of here before he has the chance to brainwash you more.”

“Patrick, people are watching,” I hissed. “You’ve got to put me down. If they saw that kiss--“

“Then they can just enjoy the view,” he said, snorting to show his indifference. He grabbed my lanyard with his truck keys attached and hopped into the driver’s seat. He kept me on the center seat, using his strong arm as a makeshift restraint.

“Patrick, please,” I said again, this time a little louder and more firm. I wouldn’t have even minded playing hooky with him for the day, but if it got back to Trace that he had kissed and manhandled me, I knew that this wasn’t going to end well. I wasn’t worried about effectively being kidnapped; Patrick wasn’t going to hurt me, and I had no doubt he would return me home before my curfew once I explained the situation.

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