Page 45 of Wolves Always Bite

“I’msure.”

“Ican’t sayI’mnot a little disappointed by that, but okay.He’sstill an awesome amazing cat, who could use some good role models.Pawsand that shifter dude in the corner would be perfect.They’dgive him someone to look up to and aspire to be.”

Pawshissed atJeremy.Thenthe mysterious cat creature jumped off the table and strutted away with his tail in the air.

ChapterFourteen

JEREMY

WhenAshandDillondropped us off at theTarbeckMotellater that night, my head was spinning, and only partially because of the amount of alcoholI’dconsumed.IfollowedAdrianup to our room in silence.Hekept looking back at me like he was worried.

Assoon as we were in the room,Islipped off my backpack and flopped onto one of the beds.Ilet go of the little bag of toiletries and cheapT-shirtsAshhad insisted we shop for at the late-night convenience store on the way back.Itfell to the floor.Istared at the pale purple ceiling and yawned.Ifelt the faint urge to make notes about everythingI’dlearned, butIdidn’t have the energy.

“Areyou okay?”Adrian’shead entered my line of vision as he leaned over me.

“A-okay.”

“Yousure about that?”

Ithought about that for a moment, then nodded.

“Whatdid it mean whenDillonsaidAshwas his fated mate?Itsounded significant.”ImeanIknew what all those booksIread said about mates, but they’d been wrong about so many thingsIfelt the need to clarify.

Adriansat down on the bed beside me and leaned against the headboard. “Itis.I’venever heard of someone finding their fated mate.Notfor years.They’rerare.”

“Soit isn’t the same as falling in love and marrying someone?”

Adrianshook his head. “ThestoriesIwas told as a kid described a fated mate as the other half of your soul and that theEternalMagicherself blessed the union.Otherssay it is the one person in the world made just for you.Fatedmates are supposed to share a deep and unbreakable bond.Asmuch as most teenagers dream of finding their one true mate, most adults give up hope and settle for someone they can love or respect or tolerate.Theystill call that person their mate, but they don’t have the same connection that fated mates are rumored to have.”

“So, what…?Someonemight search the world for the other half of their soul and never find them because the other person was impatient and settled for someone else?”Mychest tightened. “That’shorrible.”

“Idon’t know if being involved with someone else would stop a person from sensing their fated mate.”

“That’salmost worse.”Jeremygrimaced. “Ican’t imagine loving someone and then one day fate decides to step in and match them up with someone else.”

“Thewise woman in my old pack didn’t believe there was only one.Shesaid there were potential mates all around us; we just had to be brave enough to see them.”

“Whatdo you think?”

“Iwas never sure if she believed that or if it was her way of keeping couples together.”Adrianshrugged. “Thepack was always keen to expand and grow.Theeasiest way to do that is to make babies.That’sharder to do if everyone is wandering around searching for a fated mate who may never show up.Mostmagical beings have a difficult time conceiving, so the pack encouraged couples to get together at a young age so they’d have as many years as possible to get pregnant.”

“Howcan you tell if you’re fated?”

“Idon’t know, really.Ialways thought fated mates were more myth than reality.”Heshook his head.

Thatwas okay.Iwasn’t sureIwanted to know the answer to that question tonight anyway.Notreally.Itwasn’t likeIwould have a fated mate.Iwas just a human, which meantAdrian’sperfect match might still be out there somewhere in the world.

Andthat person wouldn’t be me.

Mychest tightened uncomfortably.

“Weshould get some rest,”Adriansaid. “It’sbeen a hell of a day.”

“Iguess,”Isaid asIyawned.Mybrain wanted to stay up and talk toAdrianall night long, but my body wasn’t cooperating.

IhummedLionelRichie’s“AllNightLong” as we got ready for bed.Adrianwent into the bathroom first, thenIdid.WhenIreturned to the room,Adrianwas in the bed closest to the door.Hisduffle bag was open on the other bed.

Mygaze darted back and forth between the two beds.