Page 69 of His True Mate

Maxi was really the only true friend I’d ever had. I knew plenty of others between the carnies and the rodeo, but there hadn’t been a lot of girls around my age growing up. Just me and Maxi.

Making friends was a foreign concept to me.

I wasn’t usually the type to stress about such things. Either people liked me or they didn’t, and I was okay with that, but something told me I needed these women to like me. It felt like I was walking into a test of some sort.

What would happen if I failed their test?

I shivered to think about it. Would they somehow come between me and Clay? Would I be tossed out of the Pack? I mean Lily was Pack Mother. Her mate could easily banish me from his territory even though he had told me I could stay as long as I wanted.

I was suddenly stressed and worrying about things I’d never really considered before.

I sighed.

I had no idea how to make these women like me.

I had to hope and pray that just being me would be enough.

That thought certainly did nothing to quell my nerves.

Clay

Chapter 17

My conversation with Thomas this morning was still not sitting well with me. I continued to stew over the idea of Winnie’s Alpha trying to come here and take her away from me. It made my wolf very edgy, and I had this insatiable need to just be near her.

When she called to tell me she was going to go to ladies’ night with Lily, I wanted to tell her no. I just couldn’t do it.

This was going to be hard on me, but good for her. I could grin and bear it.

More than anything, I wanted Winnie to make friends, be comfortable, and want to stay. I desperately needed her to want to stay.

I tried to settle into my office, but my need to pace had me back up and walking around to check on the girls instead.

Ruby came out of her office and joined me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just restless.”

“You were late this morning.”

“Thomas called and wanted to have breakfast.”

“Oh. Is everything okay?”

I shrugged. “I hope so.”

“Tell me.”

“Winnie’s Alpha was notified and let’s say he’s not too thrilled with this arrangement.”

“He’d have to be an idiot to come into Collier territory to try and take her back.”

I growled at the thought.

“Sorry. I’m just saying.”

“I know. Logically I know.”