Page 15 of His True Mate

“Can’t keep this showgirl down, but maybe a raincheck on the carnival afterwards,” Dad told him.

Rendall’s disappointment was clear, making for an awkward breakfast with my family.

“Well, I gotta get going. Lots to do today and all,” he finally said.

All three of us jumped to our feet and helped usher him out quickly.

As soon as he was gone, I turned to find both my parents standing there, arms crossed and waiting for answers.

“What was that all about?” Mom demanded.

I huffed and sat back down.

“Rendall is trying to court me,” I blurted out. “And Dane’s in total agreement and happy about it.”

“I’ll have a talk with him,” Dad said.

“When are you leaving?” Mom shocked me by asking.

“What?” Dad and I asked at the same time for two very different reasons.

“Winnie, answer my question.”

I sighed. “After my performance tonight.”

She nodded with a stoic look on her face.

“Do you have a plan?”

I shrugged. “I think I’d like to stay in the open lands for a while. Maybe here or a bit further west even. My wolf hasn’t been happy for a long time. I think open fields to run in would do her some good.”

“No, no, no,” my father said. “This is a terrible idea. Packs stick together.”

“It’s time,” Mom told him. “Do you have enough money?”

“For a while,” I admitted. “I’ve been saving, just like you taught me.”

She opened the cabinet and dug a coffee can out of the back. Inside there were hundreds if not thousands of dollars. She removed half of the can and shoved it into my arms.

“Take this just in case.”

Then she went to her bedroom as Dad stood there in silent confusion.

She returned with a cell phone and handed it to me.

“Is this real?” I asked. I’d never had a phone before.

“It is. Our number is already programmed in. You keep in touch, you hear?”

Tears sprang to my eyes as I nodded and then hugged her.

“You don’t have to leave. I can talk to Dane, make him understand,” Dad said.

I shook my head. “He wants me to mate and help expand the Pack, Dad. Like I somehow owe him that, but I don’t. I can’t. I will never love Rendall. I want a true mate like you found with Mom.”

He sniffed and pulled me into a hug.

“Your mother and I want nothing more than that for you. We just want to see you happy. You don’t have to run away.”