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Still, I can’t be angry with Daisy for pawning Lottie off on me. I was able to speak with her as a man rather than a wolf, and I was unable to answer her questions with more than just a growl or headshake. It’s nice. It shouldn’t be, but it fucking is.

I had to get away as fast as possible, but the beast inside nearly forced me to take her in my arms then and there and claim her as mine. I don’t know what the fuck is going on with me lately, but it’s causing me to lose focus.

I find Daisy hiding in the back, indeed distracted by the dry soil in an enormous potted plant with dozens of vines growing out of it and up the wall. I send her in Lottie’s direction with instructions to help her finish her bouquet for my mom.

I can’t go back to her, not now. My dick is so hard I have to readjust before making my way to my truck. My knot already swelling. Something it rarely does so fervently, no matter how horny I’ve been in the past. The scent of her arousal turned me hard in an instant, preparing to respond in kind and make use of her growing desire, and apparently wanting to do more than just satisfy her physically.

Normally I only feel the need to fuck and mate this strongly during a blood moon which only happens once every four yearsor so. Even though the lunar eclipse happening in less than two weeks is a blood moon, this is something else entirely.

If I hadn’t left, I have no fucking idea what would have happened.

You probably would have bent her over and rutted her right there in the middle of the snapdragon garden. That’s what would have happened, you fucking moron.

Her influence on me is greater than I thought it would be. She’s just a human; how can she affect me like this? Only a possible mate should make me act like this. Pulling at that thing inside us that makes us more than human. Calling to my soul in a way that relays . . . rightness. There’s that word again, the one Tobias used to describe Lottie. But she couldn’t be a possible mate. As far as I know, mates have always been other non-humans, whether they be shifters or something else. I’ve never heard of a mate pull from a human. Is that even possible?

Fuck this is so messed up. I should call Fynn and ask him. He knows everything about this kind of shit. With his nose always buried in those books of his and his extensive personal collection of historical non-human records, maybe he’ll know what this means—what this is. Until then, I’ll just keep my distance. Better to not cross a line I can’t come back from until I know I want to.

And no fucking touching.

Touching potential mates activates mate bonds and begins the process. If a mate bond were possible with a human, I can’t touch Lottie until I know how it will affect us. I can’t start something so precious and important with a woman who has no idea what it means.Can I?No, that would be wrong. Even though I want to touch every inch of her body so badly, my skin itches with irritation from not doing so immediately.

Is this how the mating pull works? Driving a male insane until he gives in and falls to his knees in subluxation just to get a taste? Would she even feel the other end of the pull as a human?

Fuck this is so confusing. I need answers now. Pulling out my phone, I text Fynn, asking if he’s available to talk. He doesn’t like when his reading and research are interrupted by ringing phones. I text and wait for his response.

My feet stop abruptly halfway to my truck in the parking lot, and I curse. I still have to go to dinner tonight with her there. For a brief moment, I contemplate calling my dad and having him cancel the whole thing or bailing at the last minute and ignoring their phone calls. But that’s a dick move. Lottie doesn’t deserve that.

She’s right that my dad is just trying to help her acclimate. If I bail, it will just make things weirder and my family more suspicious. Ryder and my dad won’t say anything, but I’ll never hear the end of it from Ginger and Mom.

Looks like I’m going to dinner, whether it’s a good idea or not. But first, I need to call Fynn.

~

Although I had resigned myself to attending dinner tonight, I was taken off guard once more when my father called and asked if I would give Lottie a ride. You know, since I’mso close and she doesn’t know where she’s going. It’s only polite.

I make sure to wear thick jeans to help restrain the inevitable hard-on I’m no doubt going to have at some point tonight, pairing it with a black button-down shirt, cuffing the sleeves, and popping open the top button to be more comfortable.

Sadly, my call to Fynn resulted in few answers regarding my predicament. He didn’t have any immediate information on hand. Recalling hearing something about a non-human feeling the mate pull to a human, but he has to check his records to be sure. Never one to jump to a conclusion without all the data first. Once he knows more, he’ll call to tell me. Until then, I just haveto hold my shit together. I can’t make any assumptions or take any actions with Lottie until I know more.

Telling her what I am and the world I come from is a big step, and I need to ensure she is what I believe she is before sharing such private and guarded information. It’s not just me that could be affected by such a revelation.

It’s not unusual for non-humans to marry and have children with humans but a mate bond isn’t something I’ve heard of others having with a human. It’s very sacred and strong. Not what you would consider rare among non-humans, but it also doesn’t happen for everyone. To find a mate is an incredible thing and can’t be ignored. At least not for long. If a mate pull is ignored for too long, it disintegrates, and you may never find one again. Although possible, it is very improbable.

At half past four, I leave my house to get Lottie. Ryder leaves at the same time, heading to our parents’ house early. He hates being late. We live together in the large house I own. It might not be normal for siblings to live together among humans at our age, but in shifter families and communities, it’s very common, especially since Ryder is my beta.

It’s typical for the beta to live with the alpha even if they aren’t related. Makes it easier to communicate and handle situations that may arise. We don’t just deal with our own pack and town. If needed, we could be called upon by other alphas for assistance, and being close to my beta just cuts down on the hassle.

He doesn’t give me words of encouragement or assurance, just a simple “see you there,” and he’s gone in his truck down the driveway without a backward glance.

I make the short drive to Lottie’s—mycabin.When did I start thinking of it as hers?This is already not a good start to the night.

I park my truck and get out, walking sluggishly to the front door, dreading this night and her mood. I did ditch her at Daisy’s earlier. Hopefully, she’s not upset about that.

Raising my fist, I stop just inches from knocking on the door. Lottie’s voice drifts through the open window, and I hear my sweet nightingale singing again. This time, it’s something more upbeat and newer. I’ve heard this song before but can’t place it. I’m sure they’ve played it atBlue Moon, or maybe it’s one of the songs Ginger blares on her radio as she drives through town.

I stand frozen, listening to her move about the cabin and sing the poppy song a cappella. I can feel her joy, and it echoes through my heart, lifting the weight of dread that sat on it. I feel lighter and more optimistic about the evening now.

When my fist finally falls and I knock on the door, Lottie’s singing immediately stops. Not ten seconds later, the door swings open, and there she stands. The calm her singing just created is washed away by burning lust, and I’m glad I situated myself in my jeans before arriving.