Page 33 of His True Mate

“We’re going to head out for now. If there’s anything you guys need, I’m only a phone call away.”

“Switch kids with me,” Lily told him as she took the baby back and Thomas reached down to pick up the toddler.

“Talk to her, man,” Thomas advised before surprising me as he hugged my mate.

“Let me know when Kate and I can come by for some girl time,” Lily told Clay before kissing his cheek.

A growl of warning burst from me.

I froze, fearing her mate was going to rip my throat out for it.

Lily looked at me with a satisfied smirk on her face.

Thomas just shook his head. “Stop antagonizing her. They just met and you of all people know how crazy the mating call can make you.”

“What are you trying to say, handsome?” she demanded as Lily winked my way and followed her mate back around the house.

I stood there awkwardly scuffing my foot across the ground.

“Were you really going to leave without saying goodbye?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just got scared. I mean Thomas Collier? That’s a lot to handle first thing in the morning. He’s Alpha of one of the largest packs in the world.”

“I know. I don’t really think of it that way. I’m sorry if it freaked you out. To me, he’s mostly just Thomas. He’s family.”

Dane was literally my family but there was still a distinct separation between that and his Pack status as Alpha.

“What’s all this cult talk about?”

I shrugged again. It sounded stupid when Lily had said it. I wasn’t keen on repeating it now.

“Fine. If you’re going to leave, at least have the balls to tell me. And if you’re staying then why not wait until you’ve actually seen the place before forming opinions about us?”

I cringed, even knowing I deserved that.

He looked over my body making me warm all over despite the scowl causing a crease between his eyes.

I had the urge to reach out and smooth it, but I didn’t dare.

I’d upset him. I was waiting for him to yell or something, maybe grab me and drag me back into his house, but instead he just turned on his heel and walked away pausing a few steps later.

“Kate’s is open now. I’m going there for breakfast. If you’re hungry you’re welcome to join me.”

“And if I’m not?” I whispered.

“Stay here or go exploring. You aren’t my prisoner, Winnie. You’re my mate.”

He stomped off, slamming the door behind him.

I waited for a moment looking around and noticing a wide-open field surrounding us. I gasped. I’d never stayed near so much land. I couldn’t see another house anywhere.

I ran after him suddenly excited for a new possibility.

“Clay, do you run here? There’s so much land behind your house.”

“I know. That’s why I chose this location. It’s on the edge of the range. We mostly free-range cattle here, except my girls. My barn’s just a few miles up the road. And yes, you’re free to run here, sweetheart. No one is going to hurt you here. I don’t know how many more times I can say it before you start believing it.”

My stomach did a little somersault when he called me sweetheart again. I liked it a lot. But then it growled. I was starving.