Page 37 of Protected Promise

“Sit back down, please. I really think we need to talk about this.”

I nodded and sat back down next to him. I knew I was going to have to tell him the ugly truth about my upbringing and prayed he didn’t reject me when he found out. I was a nervous wreck and oddly, I thought maybe he could tell too, even though I knew I was usually a master at disguising my feelings, apparently just not around him.

“Do you want to go first or shall I?” he asked patiently.

“Go ahead,” I said delaying the inevitable and trying to get myself back under control.

“Okay, so here’s the thing. I don’t really have much to offer you, Kaitlyn.”

“What? But you’re an Alpha.”

“I know. I’m an Alpha of the smallest pack recognized by the Grand Council. We have a lot of land, I mean alotof land. They believe territory wise it might even be the largest in the world, but it’s very remote, Kaitlyn, not at all what you’re used to. Some of my wolves live more in their fur than in their skin. It’s a natural environment where we embrace our surroundings.”

“But Tobi was always playing video games online with Jackson for as long as I’ve known him.”

He chuckled. “We aren’t quite that primitive. The main lodge where most of the families live does have Wi-Fi, electricity, cell service and even running water.” He was teasing, but I could tell he was concerned about my reaction to this too.

Honestly, it sounded like heaven to me, but I had no idea what I would do with my life in such a remote place.

“You’re concerned,” he said.

“Just thinking it through.”

“Talk to me.”

“I’ve spent the last five years studying and grooming myself to go into hospitality. Now what will I do?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you’d like. Hospitality skills are important for a Pack Mother too.”

“Pack Mother?”

He nodded. “Effective sometime last night, you have been promoted to Pack Mother. I hate this only because we should have discussed these things first. You should have had the opportunity to make a decision whether this is the life you want or not.”

I leaned my head into his shoulder. “I haven’t had a single clue what I want to do with my life if I’m being honest. But now that the decision is made, I’m okay with it. I’ll figure something out. It’s like a brand new adventure, a clean slate, and you don’t know how badly I need that.”

“Do you want to talk about that?”

I sighed. “There isn’t much to say honestly, it’s just been such a well-kept secret that it’s hard to talk about it.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he insisted.

“You’re my mate, Landon, you need to know so the next time you find me balled up and falling apart, you’ll hopefully understand a little.”

“Go ahead,” he said encouragingly.

I couldn’t look at him as I talked. I was still so embarrassed and ashamed. I stared at the floor instead.

“I was seven when my parents died. They were true mates and went into the beyond together, as it should be, but as their only child, I was left all alone in this world.”

“You had a Pack. You weren’t alone. Sawyer should have cared for you.”

“He was still young and unmated and decided it would be best if they placed me with my mother’s sister and her husband.”

“That’s good. Family is good.”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t good. My aunt is the sweetest woman in the world, and she means well, but she’s weak, too weak to protect herself, let alone a small pup.”

He stiffened. “He hurt you?”