Page 82 of His True Mate

“Honestly, I think you just need to let him know you’re not leaving. You aren’t, right?” Ruby asked.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, surprising myself by how sure I felt about that fact. I didn’t at consider that just maybe the liquid courage was helping me feel that way. “Except for right now. I’m going home and I’m going to take the bull by the horns.”

“Is that what we’re calling it these days?” Sydney sniggered.

“I’m going to tell him to claim me. Right now. Tonight!”

“Yes! You go girl,” Lily shouted.

“You can do this!” Sydney backed her up.

“I can have Oliver or Kenneth drive you home,” Peyton said.

“Yes. Right now. I’m ready and I’m not taking no for answer. I won’t go another day as an unmarked woman,” I told them as Peyton went to secure me a ride home because I was in no condition to drive.

The fact that I had never driven before and didn’t know how didn’t even occur to me in that moment.

Clay

Chapter 19

I couldn’t sit still or even enjoy my shows. It was no more than background noise as I paced the living room the entire time Winnie was gone.

It took a lot to convince myself that she was fine with the girls and that this was a good thing, that I shouldn’t barge into Peyton’s house to check on her.

But then I thought of all the crazy things Lily had managed to get herself into over the years, and how Ruby likes to provoke people into doing things they normally wouldn’t.

The ‘what ifs’ started snowballing in my head as I envisioned a hundred ways Winnie could get in trouble with just those two, let alone the others. I didn’t even know how many ladies attended these ladies’ nights.

What had I been thinking?

I should never have let her go.

I growled at myself for even thinking like that.

Who even was I?

Some moments I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.

I’d never been this possessive, controlling, growling, irrational man before. I hated it.

Others assured me that after we bonded my wolf would calm down, but I was struggling to imagine it. I would always want my mate. I would always want to protect her too.

She was mine.

I heard a car approach outside my house, and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I ran to the door expecting the worst, like Thomas was going to drive over to tell me something bad had happened to my mate.

I flew the door open hearing the hinges creek under the force.

Winnie jumped and then started to giggle. She swayed and Brady wrapped and arm around her to help steady her.

In a flash, I saw red.

I shook all over and gave a growl of warning, feeling like I was about to spontaneously combust.

I leapt off the porch and shifted in mid-air.