Page 167 of A Broody Mate for the Human

“Poor Raffy,” I mutter. “And Nero.”

“Liam is really good at helping others connect with their wolf spirits,” Ella explains. “It might take a while, but I’m sure Raffy and Nero will be able to reconnect.”

I nod thoughtfully. “When does a wolf go feral?”

“That’s when they spend too many years as lonely rogues,” Ella explains.

I pale a bit at her words. Raffy was a lonely rogue… how long would it have taken him to become feral? “Dave.” Ella takes my hand and squeezes it. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t think about the what-ifs. Raphael is here now, and he is part of the pack. His wolf spirit is slowly returning. And he has you now, his mate.”

“Do you think it’s enough?” I ask nervously. “Having me as a mate? I’m not a wolf…”

Ella raises her brows. “Say that one more time, and I’ll tell him.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t.” I narrow my eyes to a glare.

“I absolutely will.” She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Anyone who belittles you for being a human will need to take it up with me. For Raffy, you’re perfect. He looks at you like the sun is shining out of your ass.”

I snort into my water bottle. “The sun’s shining out of my ass?” I ask her with a grin.

Ella shrugs. “I thought I would try with something you’d say.”

I can’t help but burst into laughter. “I’d say this, totally. I think I even recently did.”

Ella laughs with me before she turns more serious. “I mean it, Dave. He looks at you like he sees nothing else but you. It doesn’t matter that you’re a human.”

I let her words sink in. She’s right, Raffy never once gave me the feeling that I was less because I wasn’t a werewolf. I should stop doubting myself too—even Matthew didn’t have issues with me being human.

“It’s scary,” I admit.

“What’s scary?”

“How much I love him,” I tell her. “We don’t feel the full force of the mate bond, but even the parts of it that I feel pull me so much towards him. I’m always scared of losing him.”

“I know what you mean,” Ella agrees. “It’s the same for me. A part of me… always feels scared when Dante leaves for a battle, and I’m sure for him it’s the same. He probably was terrified when he heard how Troi’s men attacked us. He is scared for me whenever I leave the house, as he knows my job is to defend the luna. And for you, it’s the same. I think all mates feel it to a certain extent. However…” She pauses. “The fear should never outmatch the good things we feel from the bond.”

“You’re right,” I agree. “I will try to remember your words whenever my insecurities kick in.”

“I’m happy for you,” Ella says all of a sudden, smiling at me. “Raphael seems like such a good person, and you are too.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” I admit. “Looking back now, you and Annie had to be so worried when I disappeared.”

“Well, you didn’t disappear completely; you left a message. One… without any details.” Ella grins. “And yeah, I wanted to track you down and kick your ass, but Annie said you needed the time off. So, I didn’t.”

I hug her. “Sorry for worrying you and Annie, El.”

“At least it worked out well for you, and you found your true mate,” she says.

For a moment, we just sit together in silence. It’s then that I feel it. It starts with my chest tensing a bit, and first I believe it’s just me having a little anxiety attack, but then it spreads from there, fear filling me and desperation.

“Dave?” Ella asks, alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” I breathe out. “Just something… feels off. I felt so good and relaxed, and all of a sudden I felt terrified.”

Ella stares at me. “Does it feel like they aren’t your feelings?”

“Kind of,” I admit.

“That’s the mate bond,” she exclaims. “You can feel if your mate is hurt.”