Page 26 of His True Mate

The overwhelming need to protect this girl was almost too much to handle.

I held her while she cried; I wiped her tears away; and then I gently laid her down on the bed as she started to drift off to sleep.

She was comfortable with me, and it felt so right just holding her like that.

As she slept, I sat there staring in amazement. This was my mate. Out of all the shifters on this planet, this one was meant to be mine. It was such a surreal moment.

I’d held my breath after asking her to come home with me and when she’d said yes it felt like I’d taken the first real breath of my entire life. Nothing was more important than this moment.

I’d already witnessed enough to know she wasn’t some meek woman who needed me to watch after her. I had no doubt that if she had said no, she’d have gone on her way and been just fine. But I also knew I would never have been okay with that.

Mine!my wolf growled for reassurance once more.

Yes, she is,I thought.

My mate wasn’t going to make life easy, or so I suspected. She was stubborn and feisty. She made rash decisions without thinking them through. The way she rode that bronco in the show told me there was fire within her soul. She needed to be set free.

Would that even work once we were home? My life was so structured and simple. Would it be enough for her?

The only way to know for sure was to try.

One step at a time.

For once in my life, I didn’t have to know everything was planned out. I could just live in the moment and be spontaneous. Well, I could try at least.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

I hesitantly got up and went to answer it. As suspected, Cruz and Brady had returned.

“Man did you miss out on a shitshow,” Brady said loudly.

I shushed him.

“That hottie riding the bronco before you took off is apparently missing. And one of the guys we met earlier that got his panties in a ruffle when you showed up, well he’s trying to blame you. Says you knocked him out cold. So their Alpha sends for us and of course we have to go out of respect, I mean it’s sort of his territory, right? And he asks us all these questions about the girl. We’ve never met her before, don’t know anything. So he starts questioning us about you. I laughed. Told him Clay’s a in bed by eight kind of guy and already fast asleep back in the hotel. Anyway, they’re scouring the area. We figured you were already settled in for the night, but on the chance you cross paths with any of them in the morning, we wanted you to know what’s up.”

“Why are we whispering?” Cruz asked.

“Shit! Maybe we should just pack up and leave tonight. I don’t want any trouble.”

“You didn’t really hit the guy, did you?” Cruz asked.

I growled. “Of course I did. He had no right to lay hands on her.”

“No way,” Cruz insisted. “Clay, tell me you do not have that girl in your room.”

Brady walked past me, and I didn’t stop him. They were going to find out sooner or later.

“Are you insane? Are you trying to start a Pack war or something? You have to give her back.”

“She’s not going back. And keep your voice down. I don’t want you waking her.”

“Too late,” Winnie grumbled. “What’s happened?”

“Your Pack is looking everywhere for you,” Cruz explained.

She shrugged. “Wasn’t sure they’d put much effort into it honestly, but it is what it is. Those I care the most about already knew I was leaving.”

“You had this planned all along?” Brady asked.