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Mila shook her head at him and headed into the kitchen. They followed her and sat at the island because that was what they always did when they were in the kitchen with her.

Holding Babette with one arm, she put the kettle on the stove. With the water heating, she then turned to look at Gio. “Are you hungry? Would you like some blood while Carter and I have our evening tea?”

Gio mutely shook his head.

Carter finally exploded. “How are you so calm?” His voice was loud enough to startle Babette and make her whine.

“Carter, not so loud,” Mila admonished, soothing Babette with long strokes down her back.

“Sorry, Babette,” Carter apologized to the dog before returning to his question. “Mila, you know what we are, and you're still calm. How?”

“Probably because it’s so obvious I should’ve realized it sooner,” Mila said with a shrug.

“It is?” Gio asked.

She stopped petting Babette to point a finger at Gio. “Who keeps blood in their house?” Then she pointed to Carter. “I’ve lost count of all the people that referred to you as a wolf or alpha. It wasn’t only today while we were shopping, but almost every time we went out.”

“I was the only outsider, and they kept messing up,” Mila continued. “But I wouldn’t have figured it out if it wasn’t for all the other clues, like Gio never going outside in the daylight. When I confronted the women and demanded answers, they didn’t have a choice.”

“I’m going to talk to all their vampires,” Gio growled, upset.

“No, you’re not!” Mila said, finally sounding upset. “Those ladies didn't want to lie to me, unlike you guys.”

The serenity she’d had since leaving the Downward Dog bled away to reveal how hurt she felt.

“We can’t tell everyone,” Carter said. “If humans found out about vampires, they might try to wipe them out. Gio is powerful, but no vampire can survive the sun.”

Mila shook her head. “No, Carter, that excuse doesn’t work. Not after we all started sleeping together. Not after I shared all my trauma. Not after all the nights we slept in each other's arms.”

Tears filled Mila’s eyes. Gio could see she was trying hard to keep them from falling. Babette snuggled under Mila’s chin, trying to give her emotional support.

“We were scared,” Gio admitted.

“Scared of me?” Mila scoffed, her voice thick with unshed tears. “What’s there to be scared of?”

“You have the power to destroy us,” Gio said, reaching over to wrap his arm around Carter’s waist.

Mila scoffed. “I’m human, what could I do to you?”

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about yet,” Gio said gently. “Shifters like Carter have fated mates. Vampires have something similar, but we call those people our flock. The moment we meet these people, we know, but humans don't feel the same thing. They might sense a pull, but there’s no deep sense of connection at first sight.”

“First smell,” Carter countered. “We shifters know the moment we smell our mate.”

To his relief, Mila’s tears didn’t keep building. She looked calmer, although still upset.

“None of that explains why you waited so long,” Mila reminded them.

Gio sighed. “As long as we kept the secret, nothing changed. Telling you would risk losing you. If extreme situations hadn’t happened to many of the women you met, their vampires might’ve kept the secret as long as we did.”

“I guess so,” Mila said, giving Babette a last hug before setting her down. The little dog tippy tapped to the back door and scratched. Mila opened the door to let her out, then left it open so she could come back when she was finished in the backyard.

The kettle whistled, and Mila busied herself making tea for her and Carter. A mug of herbal tea in the evenings had become their nightly ritual.

No one talked until she turned back and slid one of the mugs across the island to Carter. She stepped back to lean against the counter behind her. It hurt that she was so far away, but Gio could understand that she needed space.

“Does that mean you don’t trust me?” she asked, staring down at her steaming mug.

“No, we absolutely trust you!” Carter protested.