Chapter 6
LEYTON
Evette had handled me shifting into a grizzly and all the information I’d tossed at her about fated mates without freaking out.
But judging by her wide eyes and paler-than-usual skin, she wasn’t a fan of the idea of living next to a dragon shifter who could breathe fire when he was in his animal form.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t as though meeting Artemis would alleviate her fear since he was a grumpy bastard who tended to use one-word sentences when he bothered to speak to anyone.
“Artemis can be a little intimidating, even for me. But he’s a nice guy… deep down inside.”
She shook her head, and a lock of her hair fell over her shoulder to rest on top of one of her perfectly rounded tits. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
Twining the dark blond strands around my finger, I asked, “Then what is it?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t go back with you,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
For a moment, it felt as though the world came to a screeching halt. But then I realized she was upset because she didn’t want to part from me. Which I hoped meant she felt as though she didn’t have a choice. “Why not?”
“Today was my last shift at the hospital where Cressida gave birth. I’m a travel nurse, and my contract there was only for seven weeks while one of their employees was on maternity leave,” she explained.
“I’m due at my next assignment the day after tomorrow to fill out some paperwork and go through their hospital’s orientation. ”
Seven weeks wasn’t that long. If her next contract was the same length as the one she just finished, I didn’t see the problem. “How long are you supposed to be there?”
“Six months.” She grimaced and shook her head. “It’s the longest time I’ll be in one place since I started working as a travel nurse. Which I was looking forward to until I met you yesterday and it felt as though I was leaving something vital to my happiness behind.”
Being away from my pack for six months wasn’t going to be easy, but not having Evette close would be much harder. For me and my bear. “There’s a simple solution to our problem.”
“Really?” she sniffled, tilting her head back to meet my gaze with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
Her nose was a little red, and as much as I hated that she was upset, I loved that her feelings weren’t hidden. Evette was the kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, and I vowed then and there to be the one who helped to keep it safe so nobody ever took advantage of her softness.
The only way I could do that was by sticking close, something I intended to do anyway. “I’ll come with you.”
“You will?” she breathed, tears streaming down her cheeks as her eyes widened.
“Of course,” I confirmed with a nod, my bear chuffing his approval in my head.
For him, there wasn’t any other option. We belonged with our mate, so wherever she went, I should follow.
My beast was led by instinct, and his thinking was less complex than my human half.
It had caused a few issues in the past when he disagreed with a decision I made and was stubborn about it.
But this time, we were on the same page.
No chance would I let my fated mate drive away from me only hours after I found her.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing for you to say, baby. The decision is made, and there’s no changing my mind.” Dipping my head, I brushed my lips against hers. “Where are we headed?”
“Umm…” Her green orbs were hazy with passion as she blinked up at me. “I have the address in my phone. I can text it to you if you give me your number.”
I enjoyed knowing that a simple kiss was enough to fluster my pretty mate.
It was proof that she felt the connection between us, same as me.
And I was relieved that she didn’t try to talk me out of coming with her.
To most humans, the speed with which I made the decision to uproot my life for a woman I barely knew would’ve been shocking.
But Evette seemed to take comfort in it.
Stretching my arm out, I grabbed my cell from the table next to the bed and unlocked the device before handing it to her. “Here you go.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced at the screen. “Are all shifter guys as transparent with their mates as you’ve been with me? Because I have to tell you…you’re nothing like I expected my first boyfriend to be.”
The reminder that this beautiful woman hadn’t dated anyone before me eased my inner beast’s need to mark her.
But only a little bit. He was pushing hard for me to get her on her back, fill her pussy with my come, and sink my canines into her shoulder.
“My pack is small, and we only have a few mated couples. But from what I’ve seen when they found each other, my packmates haven’t tried to hide anything from their fated mates.
The bond strengthens when nurtured, so shifters have every reason to be open with their mates.
And it’s not as though it would even be worth trying to hide much about ourselves.
When we’re fully mated, you’ll be able to sense things about me through the bond anyway. ”
“From a scientific standpoint, that should be impossible. But I guess I’m going to have to get used to all sorts of things that defy logic.
” Her plush lips curved into a grin as her bright green eyes practically sparkled with pleasure.
“And as a woman jumping into a relationship for the first time, it’s really cool to know that I won’t have to spend a lot of time guessing what you’re thinking and feeling. ”
“You ever have a question for me, don’t be afraid to ask. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Her smile widened. “The same goes for me.”
I had no doubts about us having all the time in the world to learn everything about each other because I refused to leave my mate’s side now that I’d finally found her. But I was impatient to get to know the amazing woman fate had paired me with.
“Oh…umm…well, you already know that I’m a nurse.”
I nodded. “Yeah, and I gotta admit that I was surprised when you told me that you’re only twenty-two. You’ve accomplished a lot for someone so young.”
“My parents were really big on education, but we didn’t have a lot of money.
So they urged me to get as many college credits as I could while I was in high school,” she explained, blushing over my compliment.
“My parents passed away in an accident before I left for college, and I threw myself into my studies as a way to deal with my grief.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
I wrapped my arms around her, appreciating how she relaxed into my embrace before continuing.
“The upside was that getting my associate’s degree along with my high school diploma allowed me to finish my BSN in only two years since I took a heavy course load and summer classes.
About two months later, I took the NCLEX and was lucky enough to pass the first time.
Then I got my first job at the hospital where I did my clinicals.
But with nothing to tie me down to one place, I left after two years to become a travel nurse. ”
“I hit the trifecta with you.” At her look of confusion, I explained, “You’re smart, beautiful, and kind. I’m a very lucky man to have you as my fated mate.”
“That is…just wow.”
The surprise and gratitude in her gorgeous green eyes made me hurt for her.
Nobody as special as Evette should’ve gone through life without people telling her how amazing she was.
But that would change now that we had found each other.
She didn’t just have me in her corner, she had my entire pack.
Something she’d learn sooner than she expected since I couldn’t picture Keane waiting six months to meet my mate.
My brother was an excellent alpha, but he wasn’t really known for his patience. And if he visited, Laina and Atlas would be with him since he hated being away from his mate and young cub.
We chatted some more, getting to know each other better before it was time to leave. When we headed out to the parking lot, I circled her car to open the passenger door.
“You’re coming with me? What about your truck?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I’ll text my brother, and he’ll have someone come pick it up.”
Tilting her head to the side, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Just like that? Even though you’re going to leave it an hour from home?”
“It’s a little farther than that since our mountain is on the other side of the hospital, but yeah.” After helping her into the car, I added, “That’s what it means to be part of the pack. And it doesn’t hurt that I’m the beta.”
Shaking her head, she laughed softly. “It sounds as though I have a lot to learn about life with a shifter.”
“We’re not so different from everyone else. We’re a family, just like any other.”
She poked my abs with a sigh. “One full of people who shift into bears. And a dragon.”
“We also have a cougar, a couple of wolves, some human mates…and you’ll see for yourself what kind of animal Cressida is at some point.” Thinking about how she was bound to react to seeing a mythical creature that was only supposed to exist in fairy tales, I grinned.
She smiled up at me. “I guess I already know some of those secrets she mentioned when we talked before I left.”
Thinking about the surprises in store for her, I chuckled as I circled the vehicle to get into the driver seat.
Now that Evette knew about my grizzly and us being fated mates, I couldn’t wait for us to get to the next hotel.
With more than a full day between when we would arrive and her appointment with human resources, there would be plenty of time for me to mate and mark my gorgeous nurse.
And I intended to take full advantage of every minute.