Chapter 2
Ivan didn’t really want to go out with his brother and friend.
He had shit to do at home that needed his attention, and going out to be a third wheel didn’t sound like fun.
He knew that he could pick her out of a lineup by her personality because Devlin had talked about her so much, but he just wanted to stay home.
But he’d go because his brother didn’t want his friend to think it was a date.
He didn’t know why he’d been thinking that, but this was Devlin, and who knew how his mind worked sometimes.
Since he’d told the woman that they’d be having steaks, he decided to wear a suit.
He didn’t get to wear one much, being the county vet, but he did like to dress up on occasion just to be dressed up.
Tonight he was going to have a nice dinner with his brother, and if the girl didn’t cause too much trouble, he’d be all right with her, too.
Ivan really did have a lot to get done in his house.
He’d got two bedroom sets at the last auction, and he’d yet to get them put together.
There were dressers that went with them that he had to clean up and polish nicely.
They were lucky for him to be in the bedrooms that he wanted them in, but not even close to being ready to put together.
They were dusty and needed to be polished up as well.
Once he got them put together, the rooms would be ready, with the exception of a mattress set.
He’d have to order them tomorrow once the beds were put together.
When Devlin picked him up, he noticed that he was dressed the same way he was in a nice suit that looked good on him.
Ivan didn’t have much use for a suit, but when Brandy, Lica’s mate, came to the family, she made sure that all of them had a nice suit or two so that if needed, they’d have one.
He used his for meetings and going to funerals.
And that’s all. He was sure that Devlin used his every day as he was the family attorney.
He’d never seen Lica in one, so he had no idea if he wore them all that much.
He probably did because Brandy was into a lot of things.
Once his brother picked him up, he was feeling better about this non-date.
“She’s a nice lady, just been dealt a shitting hand in her mother.
She reminds me of our mother in that it all has to be about her.
I don’t think she’s ever hurt her physically, but she does treat her badly when it comes to being mentally abused.
” Ivan asked what they were going to be going out a lot. “No. I’m hoping she’s your mate.”
“This is a setup? Take me home right now. Damn it, Devlin. I don’t want to be set up.” He pointed out the other day how he’d been smelling flowers. “You must be wearing something flora. I smell it on you today, too. So what is it that you’re wearing?”
“She hugged me. That’s all, she just hugged me a couple of times, and that’s why I smell like her.
” He said that might not be it. “Well, you won’t know until you meet her.
And the thing is, you and I will be the only ones who know.
You have until the others get back to see if she’s your mate or not.
That should be enough time to convince her that you’re a good guy and have no designs on her money.
She’s wealthy, too. Did I tell you that? ”
“Should you tell me that?” He said probably not. “Sheesh, Devlin talk about breach of promise or whatever it’s called.”
“I shouldn’t have told you, but I didn’t want you thinking that she’s after yours.
I honestly don’t know why I told you. I just feel really protective of this girl, and I’m hoping that she’s your mate.
She’s not mine. Her mom is going to be trouble, so it would make me feel better to know that she has someone from the family in her corner.
” He pulled up in front of her apartment; he got out of the car to help her across the snowy steps.
As soon as he was near the beautiful woman, he knew without a doubt that she was his other half.
Looking at his brother when he got out of the car, too, Devlin backed off when he growled low in his throat.
He might have only been helping, but she was his, and he wanted him not to touch her.
Dinner was a little tense at first. He didn’t know what to do with this newfound information, and Devlin didn’t seem to know what to do about her hugging him. After a few minutes, he settled down and no longer cared if his brother hugged her or not. He was just feeling good that she had found him.
After they ordered, he wanted to talk to her about her life with him from now on.
He didn’t mean that he was going to make her do things that she didn’t want to, but he would make sure that her mother wasn’t going to be bullying her again.
He’d also make sure that no one hurt her ever again.
He had a feeling from listening to Devlin that her mother hurt her heart all the time when she was around.
He wanted to put a stop to that as well. If she would allow it.
When their plates were taken away, he was really enjoying himself. They’d talked about everything and anything while they ate, and he had learned through Sen that she was sitting on a billion dollars that she’d just inherited from her uncle and aunt.
“They were killed recently, and your brother has been helping me get things squared away. Mostly it’s with the houses that they left me, but money too.
I’m going to be moving into my new home as soon as tomorrow.
All the locks have been changed, and I’m ready to start my new life without my mother around.
” He asked if she was that bad. “She will be if she finds out what I really got from my aunt and uncle.”
“Are you planning on telling her?” She said it would be her luck that her mother would find out and try to take it all from her. “But she doesn’t know now, correct?”
“No, I don’t plan on telling her anything.
But she’ll figure it out is what has me so afraid.
I don’t know what she’ll do; she already said that she was going to sue me if I did her wrong.
I honestly don’t know what she’ll do for billions of dollars.
Hurt me for sure to get it back from me.
” She looked around the restaurant, and he’d bet she wasn’t seeing anything but whatever was going on in her mind.
“She will hurt me. Will she kill me? I don’t know.
I really don’t know that she wouldn’t stoop that far to get the money that was given to me. ”
“She sounds dangerous.” Sen turned and looked at him, and he could see the tears as they fell down her cheeks. “Oh, love, don’t cry. I’ll make sure that she doesn’t hurt you. I’ll protect you with my life, as will my family.”
“I have no one to protect me. And I know you’re just saying that, that you’ll protect me.
You don’t know me. I’m just a stranger that you agreed to have dinner with because your brother bullied you into it.
You’re sweet. Handsome even, but we both know that if it came right down to it, you’d want to save your ass over my own.
” He told her that he’d die for her. “Die for me? You don’t even know me. ”
“I know that you’re afraid of your mother, and that hurts me too.
I know…I know that you’re my mate and that everything about you makes me want to be there for you.
You’re funny and articulate. You have a good sense of humor when it comes to having fun.
You’re wealthy beyond what I have, but I think we can still get along.
” He grinned. “I think you’re the most beautiful creature that I’ve ever laid eyes on since I’ve been born. ”
“Mate?” He nodded. “I know what that means, but not in the context of you and me. You must be a shifter of some kind.”
“Wolf. My brother Lica, the oldest of us, is the Alpha of our pack. And he’s well respected, too.
He and his mate run the pack very nicely since we’ve been getting help from some of the outside help.
” She asked him what sort of outside help, and he wished he hadn’t said anything.
“My brother Ayden got hit in the head by a baseball bat. Once that was done to him, he could see ghosts. I know that it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth.
Something else you should know is that I can never lie to you. Not that I would, but I can’t.”
“You can’t ever lie to me?” She looked at Devlin, and he was nodding. “I’ve never known anyone who couldn’t lie to me before. That would be kind of strange.”
“What do you think about you being my mate for all time?” She told him that she had to think about that. It seemed like a big deal. “It is for us both. You’ll get some magic too. I don’t know what kind. You should be able to dress yourself with just a thought. I can do that now as well.”
“When you shift, are you naked?” He said that he used to be before she came along. “Well, good for you. And me. I’m not ready to see you naked just yet. Where do you live?”
“I have a condo that’s not far from here.
I used to live in the same complex as Ayden did.
They’ve all found themselves houses now and have left me there.
The only one left is Devlin. But we don’t live on the same end as each other.
” She said that he knew where she lived, and it was just temporary.
“Yes, you live in your new home starting tomorrow. Have you been in it since they passed away?”