Page 50 of This Mate Thing

"Okay."

When she says nothing else, I sigh."I need help, Zahrah."

"Yeah, I don't know how to help you.It's...I mean, you could fuck him and bite him, then the bond should snap into place for him too, right?"

Simon makes a strangled sound.

"You're on speaker."

"For fuck's sake, Boris!"

"Sorry."

Simon stares at me, a bit more alert, but the distrust is clear to see.

"Simon, can you hear me?"Zahrah's voice is a lot gentler now.

"I'm here."He doesn't look away from me.

"You know Boris is an idiot, right?"

He nods.

"It has nothing to do with him being a shifter.The rest of us are pretty awesome.You've met several.Half, if not more, of the people who were in Beantopia when we were there are shifters.You remember Conan?"

"Yeah."

"He's a good guy, right?"

Simon shrugs.

"Not a single one of us means you any harm.We're all super happy Boris has found his mate.Do you know how rare mates are?"

Simon shakes his head, but Zahrah is waiting for an answer.He clears his throat."No."

"Very rare.Finding your mate is a miracle.Boris' mom was blessed.She found hers.Boris is blessed because he found you."

I gently curl my hand around his ankle.He has no idea how precious he is."Simon."My voice is nothing but a whisper.

Zahrah continues."You know the wolf who ran toward you and Ira back in June."

Simon stiffens, and I slide my hand up his calf, where I gently massage him.

"Do you remember?"Zahrah's tone is still soft, but it holds a little more demand now.

"Yes."

"Yeah, that was Boris.He wasn't about to attack you.He was there to sweep you off your feet."

A strangled sound leaves Simon, and he stares wide-eyed at me.I raise an eyebrow and shrug.

"Remember the idiot part?A normal person would've shifted back to human form, put on clothes, and gone to meet you, but Boris lacks a few brain cells."

"Zahrah!"I glare at the phone again.

"Sorry, hon.It's only fair he knows."

I huff."I think we're gonna hang up now.Thank you for yourhelp."I emphasize thehelp, so she'll know for sure I don't think she helped at all.Though she most likely helped a little.She got Simon to utter a few words.