Page 7 of His True Mate

I snorted. “Thanks a lot.”

“I’m a worthless friend, what can I say.”

I laughed. “No, you aren’t.”

“Am too.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Maxi.”

“I know. You’re lucky that way.”

I rolled my eyes and grunted in response.

“I heard Rendall asked you out.”

“Where did you hear that from?” I demanded.

She shrugged. “Just through the grapevine. You know how word travels around this place.”

“It’s never going to happen. He’s my cousin.”

“Isn’t that like the normal for your kind?”

“Not for me. I just couldn’t, you know, keep it in the family. I know the others don’t see it that way, but no thank you. They can thank my mom for that one. Her and my dad are true mates. I don’t think I want to settle for anything less.”

“What’s a true mate again?”

“Sort of like my other half, my soulmate. He’s out there somewhere. And if I’m lucky, our paths will cross.”

“That’s so freaking cheesy. Romantic, but super cheesy, Winnie. You’re more of a realist than that. I mean there’s like a gazillion people on this planet and you’re holding out for just one. The odds of crossing paths with him are like next to none, zilch, maybe even less than that.”

I gritted my teeth trying not to let my temper flare. That was another side effect from not shifting often enough, or so my mother had told me. We were all well known for our out-of-control tempers.

“Well, my parents found each other, didn’t they?”

She sighed. “Yeah, I guess they did. Their story is so romantic. Who knows, maybe there’s a Prince Charming somewhere out there just waiting to sweep you off your feet and take you away from here and into a crazy new life just like your mother.”

I laughed and sprayed her with the hose. “What on Earth could possibly be crazier than here?”

“Okay, you win on that. So, worse, a perfectly dull and boring life with two point five kids, a dog, and a nine-to-five job where you have to wear a suit and heels all day.” She shuddered at the thought, but minus the suit and heels, it really didn’t sound so bad to me.

“My life is not a fairytale, Maxi. It’s this,” I said holding my arms out signifying our current surroundings.

She scrunched up her nose. “Hay and horse shit. Got it. No fairytales for you. All my girl right here needs in life is hay and horse shit.”

She giggled uncontrollably as I shook my head and finished my chores.

“What are you two carrying on about?” Dane asked.

Maxi and I jumped at the sound of his voice.

“Just a little girl time fun,” I assured him.

Dane scowled at me.

“I heard things were going well between you and Rendall. He’s petitioned me officially to mate you, Winnie. I’m a little surprised, but happy to hear it.”

I scoffed. “When hell freezes over. Dane, you can’t do that to me. He’s my freaking cousin. And I don’t like him like that. Please reject it.”