Page 107

Chapter 27

“So you and Maddison seemed to get on alright?” Alec was holding my hand and we were walking along the beach. The moonlight was casting shadows across the ocean waves, and the stars were sparkling above. It was hard not to get lost in the beauty of the night.

“Yeah, I need to really make an effort with her. Dan loves her and she will need a friend.” I was still looking up at the beautiful night sky, remembering the rest of the afternoon.

Dan and Maddison hadn’t missed my and Alec’s moment, though they didn’t focus on it. I had to admit talking to Maddison was easy. We actually had a lot in common and that would help our future friendship.

“So, about us.” Alec pulled on my hand, stopping me from walking, and I turned around to face him.

“What about us?”

“I need you to tell you about someone.”

“Should I be worried?” I kept calm, but to say I had come to expect another woman to take the man I was with away from me was an understatement. “Who is she?”

“Gabby. She is my mate.”

“And let me guess. You want to be with her?” I didn’t hide the bitterness. “Why did you string me along?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions, Chloe.” Alec held my hand tighter as I tried to pull away from his grasp. How could he do this to me? I can’t take any more! Surely he could see this?

“Chloe, I’m not stringing you along. Gabby and I aren’t together for a reason. But I thought you had a right to know I have a mate. But we aren’t together. To say she didn’t want me would be an understatement.”

“Why wouldn’t she want you?” I frowned, no longer tugging my hand from his grasp.

“Not all humans take to us as well as Maddison did.” Alec’s grim smile said it all, and his simple answer answered all my questions. There was nothing more to ask, and nothing more to know.

“So she didn’t want to be with you because of what you are.” I said out loud, understanding, and once I understood, I felt guilty. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. It’s just—”

“Chloe, I know. It’s ok. You don’t have to tell me,” Alec cut in, most likely knowing what I was going to say.

I lightly bit the bottom of my lip, before stepping closer into Alec, placing my other hand over his. “So this is for real then? We are actually going to be together?” I couldn’t come to terms with it, but could I blame myself? After everything I had been through it was natural. Well, I thought it was.

I had come to believe I wouldn’t get a happy ending. The calm waves washed up the beach. It was the perfect setting.

“We are most definitely for real.” Alec smiled softly, his eyes gleaming with happiness like mine were. “But you still have to talk with Xavier.”

“The last person I want to talk about is him.” I stood on my tippy toes and brushed my lips against his. “I don’t want this moment ruined.”

Alec let go of my hands, and they naturally found their way around his back. I linked my fingers together behind his head, and softly we kissed. Alec was right. Everything happened for a reason. And because of that, we were now together and I was happy, finally finding a man who wanted to be with me.