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“His mate is dying.”

“WHAT!” I screamed. Dad looked at me fiercely before gripping my arm and pulling me out the front door. “You mean dying dying?”

“Cancer, from what his mother told me.” A grim smile crept over dad’s lips. “He found her at the hospital.”

“Cancer. That means she’s human?” I arched an eyebrow. You had to be kidding me. Humans seemed to continually be entering my life at the moment.

“Yes, she is.” Dad nodded his head. “Which means…”

“We might be able to save her?” I prompted. “Werewolf blood is known for that.”

“Dan doesn’t want to.” Dad closed his eyes briefly. “He won’t talk to her.”

“Why?”

“Human and wolf bond isn’t as strong. You know that. Well, Dan is hoping he can...”

“Avoid it until she dies.” I rolled my eyes. Of course he would. Dan taking the easy way out. What a surprise. “I will talk to him. Make him see reason.”

“That’s the thing, Chloe.” Dad glanced behind me at the closed door and lowered his voice “Do you want to? I know you enjoy being with him. If his mate dies, he would be free and you both could have normal relationship together.”

“So you are saying for me to…”

“To think before you act. That is all.” Dad smiled briefly at me. “Also, it is important Xavier speaks to you now. Let him inform you of some things.”

“You mean why his kids have alpha blood?” I sighed. “I will let him explain.”

Dad nodded before rubbing his chin. “Chloe, I know you said you wanted to be apart from Xavier. Let the separation take its course and I supported that.”

I nodded my head.

“Well, my reasons for supporting it weren’t just focused on your happiness. I didn’t approve of him as a man and I didn’t want him with my daughter.” Dad shook his head. “The bottom line, Chloe. I want you happy now. So if that is with Dan, let it be with him or with that human boy. But if you and Xavier work together, your life won’t be easy, Chloe, and I don’t want that for you.”

“So you don’t want me with him?”

“Xavier has a past. Unlike me…us. His bloodline is…not as pure. Chloe, just don’t make any decisions until you know everything. I don’t want to influence your choice.” He reached for my hand. “It’s your decision, not mine. And you’re young. You have a lifetime ahead of you. Nothing has to be set in stone.”

I nodded my head and smiled, before being pulled into his chest. Life wasn’t made to be easy, but surely my life wasn’t meant to be this hard.

***

“So, we should talk?” I looked Xavier in the eye and he nodded his head. “Tomorrow?”

He held the front door slightly open. “Yeah, I guess it is late.”

“Yeah, it is. Enough drama for today.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I suppose you still need to talk to Emily, anyway.”

“Yeah.” He glanced over his shoulder and nodded his head, before looking back at me. “Night, Chloe, thank you.”

“Night, Xavier.” I turned and walked up the garden path, glancing back over my shoulder as Xavier closed the door.

Tomorrow felt too long to wait. Even though it was late now, I wanted answers.

***

I closed my bedroom door, leaning against it. What a night. I had to get some sleep so I could talk to Dan in the morning. Make him see reason.

Before it was too late.