Page 32 of A Broody Mate for the Human

Luca chuckles. “I can’t wait to see him.”

I reach out my hand, taking Luca’s hand into mine. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Luca looks at me in surprise. “You’re not…” his voice trails off, and I wonder what he wanted to say?

“Going to force my mark on you?” I push carefully.

Luca looks flustered and a bit sad. “Wouldn’t that be normal? It’s just because I’m so weak you can’t do that.”

“Who decides on what’s normal?” I want to know. “I found my sweet mate today, and I understand you still have a few struggles. I’m ready to adapt to your pace, and once you’re ready, I’ll place my mark on you. You made me the happiest man alive by accepting me. You do…” I look at him nervously. “Accept me?”

Luca nods with a bright smile. “Of course.”

“Then let’s do this properly. I squeeze his hand. “I, Jun Noshimuri, accept you, Luca…”

“Luca Sullivan.”

“Luca Sullivan as my mate.”

Luca takes a deep breath, his eyes shining like two stars in the night sky. Goddess, I didn’t know I had this cheesy side in me. “I, Luca Sullivan, accept you, Jun Noshimuri, as my mate.”

I can feel our bond snapping into place, getting stronger just by us voicing our acceptance. Once we get closer and mate and mark, it will tie us together even more, but for now I’m just happy Luca accepted me, although he still seems to face so much trauma.

I feel unusually giddy. I can’t wait to get to know him more. “So, how about we go bowling today?”

Luca’s face lights up with a smile. “I’ve never been bowling.”

“Awesome. When can I pick you up?”

“At five?” Luca offers. “I have training before and some work.”

“Great, I’d like to meet a friend beforehand and tell him who I met today.” I smile. “We have a date.” I wink at Luca, who chuckles a bit.

After lunch, I need to let Luca leave for his training and work. However, before I attend to my own business, I decide to look for Garret. “You’re still here.” He beams at me when I find him in his office in the pack house.

“I have a favor to ask from you,” I admit.

“I’ll watch out for Luca,” he says promptly, easily guessing what I want.

“Thank you.” I sigh in relief. I’d hate to leave Luca behind and not know if he is protected or not. I look at Garret for a while. “What’s with the demons who haunt him?”

“They are dead,” Garret says quietly. “Jun… I won’t lie, but this won’t be easy. He is a great kid. Just turned eighteen. But he was abused for many years, and he has a few triggers. I’m not telling you this to blab about his most private secrets. I just care for him and… please be patient with him.”

Coming from anyone else these words would have annoyed me, but Garret has a way with people, and I just find myself nodding. “I’m going to court him like I would a human,” I say in a matter-of-fact tone. “Don’t worry. I know it will probably take us months before we can mark each other. I’m going to wait for as long as he needs.”

“Thanks, man.” Garret shows me a genuine smile. “Honestly, I’m so glad it’s you. I was hoping he would find a good mate, and he really just found one of the best.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.” I chuckle. “I’m just doing what every decent person would do.”

While talking with Garret, my mind drifts off for a moment. Did Matthew actually accept Dave as his mate, or didn’t he even do the absolute least he should do? Does he make sure he is protected? Fuck, after I’ve found my own mate, I’m even more pissed off by how he treats Dave. Luca and I just accepted each other, but even without being marked, even the imagination of sleeping or touching another wolf makes me sick to my stomach. I would never do that to my mate. I would never do anything to tarnish our bond or to ruin this beautiful, shy smile.

Chapter twelve

Abuse?

*DAVE*

I’mabouttogothrough some research papers for my PhD thesis when Jun calls me. “What’s up?” I instantly answer, happy for some distraction. I love my research, and when I work with my professor in a few months, I’m expected to also work towards my PhD, but still, my brain is starting to get foggy with all the information.