A Second Chance (Fated Mate)(14)

“I hate to have to do this again. I’m sorry for, once again, freaking out on you. You must think I’m insane.” He was looking at her with a combination of sympathy and sadness. Try again, “It must be the hormones, ya know, from the pregnancy.” She groaned feeling pathetic. “Okay, maybe I’m just irrational. No excuses.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one at fault. I haven’t exactly gone about this in the best way. Although, I’m willing to give it a shot if you are.”

He looked amazing, and she couldn’t focus on what he was saying because she was so aroused. Bizarre. She was still mad but with him being so close, smelling like heaven, pine and soap-yum. Her anger was diminishing rapidly.

“Uh, I think we should have this conversation after the ice cream, and out of the bathroom.” She gave him a half smile and licked her lips. His eyes traced the movement, and he groaned.

Holding out his hand he said, “Come on, before I jump you in the bathroom.”

She sat on the bed and dug into her ice cream. Ohhhh, ecstasy. She loved coffee ice cream. It was one of her favorites. “So, since we’re having a kid and all. What’s your favorite color, your favorite ice cream, your age, and your last name?” That was probably poor form. “My name is Katie Ward in case you didn’t know.”

He simply chuckled, “Hello, I’m Conner Matthews. We met officially at the wedding, you were probably too stunned by my good looks to remember. I love the color black; it’s the color of my wolf. I’m partial to cookies and cream ice cream, and I’m thirty years old. Does that answer all of your immediate questions?”

His voice was rough with emotions she couldn’t identify. “I think Shana said we’re mates. I think I should know more about your werewolf culture.” She noticed his grimace. Oops, was it something I said? “What is to be expected of me? Am I going to turn into an animal? Aw, crap. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or say.” She suddenly felt panicked.

“It’s alright. We prefer the classification Shifters. We are not ruled by the full moon and we are unable to make humans turn into wolves. We can breed them.” She scowled. “We’re a part of a pack that’s like a big family. Do you have family?”

“Shana and Trevor are all I have. I lost my parents long ago when they were killed during a drug bust; they were cops not drug lords. I was raised by my grandmother who died shortly after I graduated college.”
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“I’m very sorry to hear that. I have a big family, not including the pack. They all live in Australia though, so I rarely see them. I do however spend a great deal of time with the pack. I’m second only to Jake’s Alpha status. We’ve been friends a long time. I’ve taken to Shana and Trevor as well.”

Katie beamed up at him.

“You aren’t expected to do or say anything. We are mates, which means, in shifter culture that you are my other half, I know you by your scent. When we’re together, we’ll find contentment and bliss.” His eyebrows waggled. “There will be no other female for myself, and if you choose to accept me I will be your only male, forever. You will take on some of my magic by scenting emotions and feelings, and your life will be extended because of our bond. I love you already, and am willing to wait if you need time to process this mess I’ve made. Did I say I was sorry already?”

“What mess are you referring to? Why were you and Shana fighting?”

And here was the sticky part. “When a mate is found, the shifter should consent the human before mating. Unfortunately, I was caught up in the moment and completed the bond without…informing you. I am truly sorry and if I had to do it all over again…I would still take you, but I wouldn’t have bonded with you.”

“What’s the difference between a mate and a bond? I still don’t understand. If I’m your mate and we bond isn’t that what’s supposed to happen?” She was more puzzled with all this shifter talk than when they started. And, why did he suddenly look petrified?

“You are my mate. I will know you by scent, and be able to follow you anywhere tracing your scent-within a reasonable distance. The bond is when a mated pair…Mate.”

“That’s it? Come on, what are you hiding?”

She was gonna be pissed. “We bonded when I came inside of you, and mauled you. Sorry again.” At her further look of bewilderment he said. “I bit you.”

“And…”