Page 64 of His True Mate

She kissed me when I pulled to a stop.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I just smiled and nodded. “Have a great day at work.”

She got up with a little wave as she ran off to do her morning chores.

I sat there for a moment and watched until she disappeared into the barn.

My chest was tight, and I was reluctant to leave her.

Was this what love felt like? I wondered, not for the first time.

Eventually I did manage to drive away. Instead of going into the office, I headed over to Kate’s Diner.

The place was packed as usual for early morning. There weren’t a ton of places serving breakfast every morning and Kate’s was the best anyway.

Thomas was already sitting at his usual booth, and I was a little surprised to find him alone.

I slid in the seat across from him.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Kate swung by to take our orders first.

“So, I reached out to Winnie’s Alpha and let him know she was safe.”

“Oh. How’d he take that?”

“Not good if I’m being honest.”

“Shit!”

“He wants me to return her immediately.”

I growled. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him what you told me, that you did not kidnap her. She came on her own accord and was leaving his Pack anyway. He was furious and didn’t believe that could be true.”

“Her parents knew.”

“I mentioned that, and he said that when he spoke to them they were visibly upset by her disappearance, admitted that she was considering leaving, but not with some boy.”

“I’m not just some boy.”

“His words, not mine. And I let him know that out of respect for his Pack that was why I was reaching out to inform him of your mating bond.”

“So we’re good?”

Thomas shrugged. “We’ll see. He threatened to come here himself to get her.”

My jaw locked and my body shook.

Before a growl even escaped, Thomas was pushing his Alpha powers onto me to settle down.

“Geez Clay, simmer down. I’m not going to let anything happen to your mate. We’ll protect her. I already told him as much.”

“But you still think he’s coming?”